I just did my first valve clearance check on my new 2002 250EX (it's got over 100 miles on it)... they were way tight... there was zero clearance... is this normal? the Honda shop manual calls for .005... anybody else have this issue? Should I worry about it? I set them to .005...

 

Did you turn the engine over 180 to make sure you were on the right stroke?

 

Yes... I think I did it correctly... the manual indicated that there would be some play in the exhaust rocker arm when I was on the correct stroke...

 

Sounds like you did it right then. In my experiences with adjusting the valves on my Hondas (trx90, 250x, 250ex, Recon, 400ex) they seem to be a little tight the first time you adjust them.

 

Thanx for the help... how often do you adjust the valves on your 250EX? I'm thinking every 2000 miles or so... does that seem about right?

 

I usually do it twice a year... once in the spring and once in the fall.

 

What happens if you have never done it? Are my valves fried? My Recon has almost 350 hrs on it and the valves have never been adjusted. It runs and starts ok.
Chet [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

It could cause pre-mature wear or damage the valves... you will also lose power if they are way out of adjustment... the valves won't actuate correctly...

You should check them... it takes about 1.5 hours... the majority of the time is spent taking off and putting on the body parts...

Good Luck

 

<< [i]I just did my first valve clearance check on my new 2002 250EX

<< [i]



<< I set them to .005... >>



You might have made a mistake! If YOU did the first valve adjustment then you just ruined the warranty! They should tell you that when you buy it. You should have had the Honda shop to do it first then you do it afterwards. I took chances and had a guy to adjust my valves on my 400EX the first time and he even told me that it would ruin the 6 month warranty on it. So I did it anyway b/c I figured, well ya know, its a Honda so what could possibly go wrong. So after I had it 5 months and about 2 weeks (close time for the warranty to go out, but not quite) it had a blown head gasket around the head and I took it to the Honda shop to see if the warranty would cover it and the first thing they asked me was have I had my first valve adjustment. I told them yes and that the Honda shop did it. (luckily he didn't go look it up on computer to check and see, but ya never know....) If I was you, since you did your 1st valve adjustment, if anything went wrong, I wouldn't tell them you did it. But anyway, the warranty did cover it and they fixed it with no charge. But who knows, since its a Honda it should not give you any trouble. Good luck! And hope nothing happens to your motor...

 

Doing it yourself DOES NOT void the warranty. Read the owners manual!