My son has a 2005 Raptor 350. Apparantly he ran it when it was low on oil and now it makes a ticking noise when it runs. I'm thinking that I need to adjust the valves, but have never attempted it. Is there anything else I need to look for while I'm doing the valve adjustments? I saw a video on Youtube on adjusting valves and it doesn't look like it's too difficult, but I would hate to put everything back together and find out that it's not the valves. Please help if you can. Thanks.

 

There is a big difference between knocking and ticking, first of all. Second, the valvetrain on the YFM350 motor is noisier than most, but you really should adjust the valves on a fairly regular basis. I would go ahead and take it down and check them out to make sure they are still within spec, and if so, let it rip.

 

Does it only knock at idle? Give it just a bit of throttle and the knocking goes away? My 89 350 Big Bear (same 348cc motor) did that for years and years . If your uncomfortable doing your valves just get the dealer to do it, I don,t think they charge that much to do it.

 

Thanks for the response fellas. It is in fact a ticking noise and it doesn't happen just when I accellerate. I can hear it as soon as I turn it on. It has always been a little on the noisy side, but not as bad.

 

yea i bet there just off spec a little bit, specially with the oil thing when they get hot like that they will start to go out of adjustment. just try re adjusting them

 

Yeah ticking is just the valves then, sounds like they just need a good adjustment job.