Running rich would foul the plug and push black smoke from the exhaust, not gunk up the carb.

 

yeah right..... I was confusing myself thinking about the plug and carb.....I meant to say was that the PLUG would get gummed up ......I meant to tie in the petcock particles getting into the carb and then passing through ..... What I was thinking was that if it is running rich, the particles would get passed through easier so the symptoms would come and go.....

Dunno I'm just grabbing at straws......

 

Did you figure this out?? if not go out and try and jump start it... tow it and pop the clutch its easier to do it in second gear.. if it starts that way then i would check your valve clearances. z400s are know for valves going out of clearence and need to be reshimed from time to time. i would invest in a service manual that will be your bible for as long as you own this quad.

 

Thanks for the info!

I'll try and jump start it. So if it does start this way, it is definitely my valves? Is valve adjustment something I can do myself or will I need special tools?
I would love to avoid hauling this ATV across town and taking it inot the shop.

Thanks!

 

you shouldnt have a problem doing it yourself. you just need a feeler gauge (available at your local auto parts store).

and a factory service manual is a great idea, too.

 

I have like a 300 page service manual, guess I'll do some research tonight and see how to do it. I'll pick up a feeler gauge tomorrow also.

So when you all say jump start it, do you mean like popping a clutch on a manual transmission car? I have done that many times....lol. I just never have done it with an ATV before.

Thanks for all the input!

 

this isnt one of the easier machines to do a valve adjustment on. its a shim type engine meaning you have to replace the shims if your valves arent in spec. this also means pulling the cams out, not too hard, but lots of room for error...

 

Hmmm.... I guess it would be safer to just let the professionals do this then. I am mechanically inclined, but not with small motors. And if it's easy to make mistakes on something, I'll probably make them...lol.

Other than compression, any other test I can perform before taking this into the shop?

Thanks for your input!

 

if you get the service manual it walks you through the steap on how to do it.. yes the cams have to come out and it is a shim over bucket setup. i found it very simple to do.. you can trade shims in at your local dealer or you can buy a hot cams shim kit for around 70 bucks. the main thing when you got to put the cams back in is getting the timing right if you follow the service manual and check and double check your timing making sure it alwasy returns to the marks and nothing is binding you should be good to go.. and yes if you jumps start it and it starts i would deff say your valves are outa spec w zero tolerance.

 

yes chances are VERY good for clearances being too tight...

and my bad, i completley forgot about those shims! im used to the standard system...

good luck