In July I bought a new 2004 Honda Rancher 2By2.
Got the Extended warranty bla bla. Road it for awhile and started noticing the Valves were getting louder and louder. At 100 miles I took it in for its first Maintance (2 free services with extended) told them about the valves, they said its included in service. Picked my wheeler up road it and noticed that the valves still sounded the same.. Hmmmmm. I took the seat off and noticed right away that they did take it all apart, Things were all greased etc. Also noted what looked like an Eye Hook that held the Overflow Tubes together by the gas tank was not connected to anything. Doh.

Anyway 100 miles later and the valves got louder and louder. Got annoyed and decided that this placed sucked. Decided to do it myself. Little scared about adjusting valves myself.. But I read this forum alot on it and took the plunge. Well let me just say that I'm glad I did not take it back to those butchers. Once I got the plastic off and was taken the Gas Tank off. I noticed the Bolt that holds the right side of the Gas tank in was not even tighten, it was still half way OUT!!! Took the gas thank off, also noticed the Air Plastic tube that connects to the AirFilter was not tightened at all. Surprise the little screw never fell out of the thing.

Got to the valves checked them with the .006 feeler guage guess what? I could literally without any trouble push it right thru!!! I just about flipped! Anyway after figuring out the Exaust, combustion thing with the T (this took me the longest did it for like half hour before I was sure I understood it, also checked the valve and the did wiggle a little.) Anyway it was pretty easy took me a couple tries to get the Feeler guage just the way it was suppose to be, put the wheeler all together, this time RIGHT! And guess what sounds just like it did the day I bought it! Thank god. Now I regret buying the extended warranty.

 

So far, I've had great luck with my service people. *knock on wood*

Good job doing it yourself!

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are you sure its .006, my 02 rancher was .015

 

Yeah, believe it says in manual (double check) and also most info I got from this site.

Valve Change

 

LOL, were both right .006 and .015 are both the same just ones metric the other is standard. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Just looked it up in manual if your wondering. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Malkuth, Congratulations. I have been recommending that guys do their own valves mainly because then the job is done right and you are living proof of this. I just hope lots of others read your post and start doing their own valves. Your Rancher should never need to see the inside of the stealership again.