I have noticed a clicking sound coming from my recons engine and was told that I have to adjust the valves. I have adjusted the valves on my old 87 CR80 but wondered if there were any special steps that I had to take.

Has anyone done this to there Recon before????

1998 Honda Recon, Sur Tracks on ITP aluminum, UNI air Filter
www.geocities.com/hondapride_98

 

Yep, it tells you exactly how to do it right in your service manual. You do have one don't you?

 

nope got mine used 2 years ago. never came with one. Where can I get one??

 

 

You can order the Service Manual from the Honda dealer. Its like $40 or $50 bucks.
I'll tell you what the manual says, but the pictures are quite informative.
Inspect and adjust the valve clearence while the engine is cold (below 95 deg F)
Remove the fuel tank and heat guard.
Remove the bolts, cylinder head cover, gasket and O-ring.
Remove the Spark Plug.
Remove the timing hole cap from the left side of the rear crankcase cover(looks like a hex head in the pic)
Turn the crankshaft counterclockwise using the recoil starter ****, align the "T" mark on the flywheel with the index mark on the rear crankcase cover. Make sure the piston is at TDC on the compression stroke. If not rotate the crankshaft 360 deg (1 full turn) and align the "T" mark with the index mark.

**I'm not sure how you know its compression stroke, I'm guessing if you hear air come out the exhast its the exhaust stroke so the next time the "T" lines up it must be compression. I could be completly wrong though, and if I am someone please let me know.**

Inspect the intake and exhaust valve clearances by inserting a feeler gauge between the adjusting screw and valve stem.
VALVE CLEARANCE:IN/EX: 0.13mm(0.005 in)
Adjust if necessary by loosening the lock nut and turning the adjusting screw until there is a slight drag on the feeler gauge.
Hold the adjusting screw and tighten the lock nut.
TORQUE: 17 N-m(1.7 kgf-m, 12lbf-ft)
Recheck the valve clearance.
Make sure gasket and o-ring are ok.
Install cylinder head cover and tighten bolts.
Make sure o-ring for timing hole cap is ok.
TORQUE (for timing hole cap) 10 N-m (1.0 kgf-m, 7 lbf-ft)

Thats basically it. Looks pretty easy. I am wanting to do this myself just not sure about that compression stroke thing.
Good Luck.

 

The simplest way to make sure you are on the compression stroke is to remove the spark plug.Rotate the engine with the electric starter slowly,you will hear air escaping out the plug hole,this is the compression stroke.Now put a finger over the spark plug hole and slowly tap the electric starter button until you feel the same air pressing against your finger,this is the compression stroke and thats where you start aligning them marks at,
Bill

 

Thanks for all that information.
I think I will get the service manual before I try to do this myself and really mess somthing up.
If you get it done before me tell me how it went.

1998 Honda Recon, Sur Tracks on ITP aluminum, UNI air filter
www.geocities.com/hondapride_98

 

That sounds easy enough, thanks for the info.

 

I think I'll try it this week-end since the Bear is down waiting on a fender I will not be able to ride, so I might as well check the valves and change the oil. I'll let you know how it went.

 

Alright, i know you talked to your dealer, but mine was doing that too, and it was caused by not using high enough octane gas, so i switched to the next grade of gasoline and my problem was solved! You might want to try that, it could save you alot of trouble.