I'm getting ready to ride silver lake dunes, I have an 03 ltz 400...I've always taken care of the quad from the day I took it off the showroom floor...many oil changes..I do race it and beat it from time(41) year old rider though! Question is I am hearing alot ticking that I think are valves????any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...does it have an auto adjuster or should I take it into a shop?

 

check the valve clearance and change the timing chain.

 

The valves in the z400 don't need adjusting very often ... I know they say every 6-mos but that is a default for everything. A guy I used to work with is a tech at a Suzuki/Kawasaki/Polaris dealer and he says that 95% of the z400's he checks are either perfect or so close that adjusting them is a waste of time ...

That said, a 2003 at this point could be a little out of whack.

I would suggest however to (and don't laugh) see if the noise changes when you pull in the clutch. So far on two occasions I've seen people think the ticking is valves, when it is actually the clutch plates. I know it sounds crazy, but if you pull in the clutch, and the noise changes it might not be the valves. It might be the clutch getting thin....

 

thanks guy for replying...I just got your message...went out to the garage and tried it...no difference in sound...I spoke with a few guys today and the suzuki dealer where I bought it, they told me pobably is valves, timing chain and will need guides also...what do you think? I never trust dealers...I would rather hear it from pros like yourself who deal with the real world!

 

They might only need shimming. The ticking could be just a worn cam chain. Id the tensioner a manual or a automatic cam chain tensioner? If its an auto, try winding it back and letting it "snap" back in.

 

since its an 03 your timing chain is to loose for the adjuster to work anymore, put a new chain and guides in it and have the valves adjusted and you wont be sorry