I've started disassembling my motor to do a valve check/job (if needed) by following my Clymer Repair Manual. It says to set the piston to TDC on the COMPRESSION stroke, so i did... BUT me being myself I went ahead and read ALL the instructions before removing any bolts. In the manual it says that when you go to reinstall the head cover to make sure that the piston is at TDC but it doesnt say on which stroke it says you can verify this by looking at the lobes on the camshafts. If they are pointing away from the spak plug hole then it is correct. WELL after reading this I started the removal of the head cover. Upon the removal I noticed that the lobes were facing inwards TOWARDS the spark plug hole. Is this correct and I just have to rotate the cranksaft before I reassemble the head cover?? Or is there a typo in the manual or are my camshafts in BACKWARDS??!! An help is much appreciated! Thank you in advance!

It should have no bearing whatsoever where the cam are when you are putting on or taking off the cover. I don't put mine to TDC until I take the cover off so that I can see the lobes and verify comp stroke. You can be at TDC and be 180 out and that's where you're at. Just make sure that when you check the lash you are right. If this link works, it may help... I did mine Saturday and decided to take some pics.
Checking Valve Lash/changing Shims - SuzukiCentral

sweet thanks!!! i checked them and i do need some adjustment where did you get your manual? i have a clymer but it doesnt give a chart. ill try a google search.

also that black box you had to move... what is that?? i don't think i have one of those. i bought a "parts" quad that was just disassembled with afew parts missing.

o yea almost forgot what shims would you recommend i use?

not that easy.
as for the chart it is in the factory service manual. I downloaded it from a website for like 15.00.
There are two black (about 1/2" ) tubes coming from the engine. One from the top of the cover and the other from the bottom right (standing behind the quad) of the cylinder. They should lead to a black box with another tube that comes out of it. The other tube goes into the intake boot, just ahead of the air filter. If you don't have it you will have issues. You need to have it. If you look at the picture it is kind of pushed up above where you can see a ractchet going into the back of the head.

I can't tell you what shims to use without knowing what is in there now and what your gap is.

i found a pretty good website that has charts and calculators.
Valve Shim Calculator

i dont think i have on of those better start searching. do you know the exact name of it?

sorry didnt mean like what size i meant what brand. :P

that calculator is very cool.
go here 2005 Suzuki LTZ400 2CZ OEM Parts, 2005 Suzuki LTZ400 2CZ OEM Motorcycle Parts - BikeBandit.com
Go to the engine/exhaust section then cylinder
it is part # 6
I tried to eliminate mine and it did not work. I would suggest finding an intact Z so you can see what else you may be "missing".

i have the camshafts and 3 out of the 4 buckets and shims out but my right exhaust bucket is getting hung up on the slightest lip on the camshaft rest. idk what to do bc i dont want to shave it bc then in have metal shavings everywhere and i dont want to tap it up and of the way bc then the camshaft will rub on it when i go to reassemble and ride. what do i do? im being very cautious. thanks in advance!

thanks for that link ive known about bike bandit idk why i hadnt thought about them! sweet now i can cross reference part numbers from other years!

what does k3, k4 , or k5 mean? bike bandit uses those "submodel"? codes but idk what they mean. how do i find out what mine is? thanks

not sure but I would start with the VIN.
I don't think it really matters as long as you get the year right.