I know this is bad but I am now ready to adjust them for the first time since it was brand new. Any tips on finding tdc compression, or clearances. Also the machine has little valve noise, infact much less than most newer quads I hear. It runs great , idels fine, it does puff smoke every now and then when I get on it pretty hard but nothing serious. Could the valves out of adjustment cause this problem with lite smoking at WOT. It gets regular oil changes and is never low on oil. Have I potentially damaged the valve train by not adjusting the valves ever.

 

Swampy I don't think you hurt anything. If it runs and sounds good like you
say the valve train is most likely ok. This should make you feel better by me
telling you that my 98 454 4x4 has 10,324 miles on it and the first time the valves
were checked were at 7400 miles and only 2 of them were only slightly out of
adjustment. I did notice is that it started a little easier and the idle was a
little smoother. I had my dealer do the adjustment so I cant help with the tech
stuff. Sorry. Some of the other members will probably get on here and help out
with the tech stuff though. By the way how is the o'l 454 holding up?

 

holding up great. Nothing really has went wrong with it so far. Outlasted any of the other quads my friends have had and rides and runs better than most new ones. I am very pleased and certain I have a great machine and AC is the best.