Bought it this summer and it rode great. Now it's getting hard to start and dying when my son is riding it. I first messed with the air/fuel mixture screw and idle screw. helped but did not fix the problem. So I just adjusted the valves but this is the first time doing it. I got my .003 feeler in there but after I tightened up the nut it felt loose again. Now it's really hard to start and won't stay running at all... Any help for a first timer???

 

that is to tight, set them both at .004 at Top Dead Center.

 

actually the meerkat owner's manual says .004 intake and .006 exhaust.

 

Ok.....when I adjust them should I have a little movement in the rocker or should they be completely tight?

 

I adjusted my son's Meerkat 50 to .004" for both intake and exhaust. When at TDC, you will have freeplay in the rocker from side to side, but no freeplay up and down.

 

The manuals are useless, just not another way to say it, we ALWAYS set them here at .004 & have no problems, at .006 exhaust valve you will hear ticking in our experience doing them.

 

I tried again and it will just turn over and that's it..... I want to make sure I'm at top dead center. There is a cover on the left side that has access to the crankshaft. Above that is a little cover and when you take that off there are some markings on it. When you turn the crank which mark is top dead center???? Or is there another way to find it out???