I have a 1983 Honda 185 and it idles good when cold. When it warms up it dosen't. I have been told by several people that I need to adjust the valves. So how do I do that?

 

If you do a search on this there is probably a thread that covers this but for a quick answer here goes: Pop the tank, remove the rocker arm adjuster covers(probably a 15/16ths wrench), turn the engine to top dead center (turn the engine as you watch the rocker arm it will push the valve down ,opening it, and then it will start to come back up, closing it, when it is fully closed this is where you adjust it. It is refered to as base lobe by some) there is an adjuster on the end of each rocker are. It is usually a 9 or 10mm nut that you loosen and then use a small flatbladed screwdriver to tighten or loosen the valve adjustment, when you get it where you want it you hold the center piece with the screwdriver and tighten the nut with a wrench. The make special tool to do this but i have never bought one and i have adjusted alot of valves. I dont know the specs for that particullar engine but in a pinch you can adjust it until you feel a little slack when you grab the adjuster on the end and move it up and down. If you crank it up and it rattles to much for your taste pop the cover back off and tighten it up a little. I have done so many i dont have to use a feeler gage unless i am doing it for someone else or if it is a high performance application.