My owners manual says to take it in and have the valve clearance checked. Is this necessary? How much is it?

 

spend the money on a genuine honda service manual and do it yourself. it's fairly easy. and you'll need the manual in do time. Yes it should be checked but you probably can do it. (some people aren't mech. inclined and should take it to somebody)

 

I am not mechanically inclined, but I was able to do it with the manual. The hardest part on mine was removing everything to get to them. Once you can get to them, they are very easy.

 

I take mine to the dealer. I'm not a great mechanic, and it is $40 once a year. The engine is just too major. I think it is good insurance.

 

It's $40 a hour @ 2hr.roughly $130 for the first service,They check everything.But you should still buy a service manual(HONDA),I'm very mechanicly inclined, I still took mine in for the 1st service,for warranty purposes.Your dealer would have that record if something would fail in the motor.
2000 400ex
2000 400ex
1998 300ex
1986 250r

 

would i have to buy a special tool to use to check the valves???

 

nope, just a 8 or 10 mm box wrench and a flat bladed screwdriver.

 

You will need a set of feeler gauges,an 8mm wrench,and a flathead screwdriver. You should set the piston at Top Dead Center on the compression stroke to ensure all the valves are closed.You must also do your adjusting while the engine is completely cold.(overnight)Good Luck.

 

Redrider:
I am from perryopolis, where do you ride at? webster at all?? also hopw much are feeler guages

 

Definately get it done. We just had to take the whole top end apart because of the adjustment.

It turns out the decompression lobe on the cam, was stuck and the valve was always open. I was losing compression right out the muffler.

Performance cams don't have the decomp lobe, so we pulled it out, and pushed it off the cam.

Re-installed, and runs great. You have to be carefull with the starter though, so watch it.

Do not wait to look at your valves....

RM