Well, after all this money spent, I afraid I might have internal issues...

I came back from vacation, went over to where my quads had been being babysit, changed my oil and filter to Mobil 1 20w50 V-twin and a Wix filter.

I heard a tap when I started it back up after the oil change. At first I thought the oil hadn't gotten to the top end yet. But then it persisted right on.

So then I figured it was the valve clearance. So I took it apart for adjustment and it needed nothing there. The tap is still there... I can get it to go away, and it seems to come and go on it's on some.

It's worst on a cold start... so for a bit there I thought it might be how piston slap sounds in the 400. But today I heard it go away while hot and then come back slightly.

Counting me, 3 people suspect the wrist pin is the noise.



Now, beyond that, today I held it at a steady RPM in neutral for just a bit. It started studdering a little and smoking. I can't tell by the color or smell if it's oil smoke though.... maybe because it's synthetic oil burning?...

I went to look for other evidence, but then I couldn't find my plug wrench to get the spark plug out. The best I could do is look in my exhaust tonight. It sure is black, but heavy sutty... not oily.

 

Nobody?



On only have two leads at this point...
Wrist Pin or 'stuck' Decompressor.

 

timing chain?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 270quadsportguy

timing chain?</end quote></div>

Could be possible.

 

those chains are known for strechin easy way to tell is take of top cover from head and check for slop. I just changed a buddy of mines and it sounded like a timebomb. Chain was wasted. Aint too bad changing the chain couple hours and a few gaskets

 

Did you try taking the screw out of the center of the tensioner and using a small screwdriver turn the tensioner to see if the noise goes away... Turning counter-clockwise will turn out the tensioner , if it turns out and the noise goes away then you need a tensioner , if it won't turn out anymore (already at it's limit) then you need a new cam chain ..

 

How do you check valve clearance?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: HondaMechanic

Did you try taking the screw out of the center of the tensioner and using a small screwdriver turn the tensioner to see if the noise goes away... Turning counter-clockwise will turn out the tensioner , if it turns out and the noise goes away then you need a tensioner , if it won't turn out anymore (already at it's limit) then you need a new cam chain ..</end quote></div>

No... haven't tried that...

At the "tensioner lifter" on the outside of the engine?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: mudlicker

How do you check valve clearance?</end quote></div>

Are you asking as in what are the steps?

If so I can give you detailed instructions.
It's not hard... but would be a pain without step instructions.