I was wondering how to diagnose whether or not my valves need adjusted. It sounds like there's an awful lot of noise going on up there. I bought the machine a year ago this month, and had the dealer adjust them (supposedly) shortly thereafter. I have not had them adjusted since. I have made no mods, other than a slip on exhaust that I ran a weekend in the dunes and during the only two races I entered. I have never worked on a four stroke; mainly two strokes. Would this be something difficult to do myself even with the right tools and a manual? Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated.. Thanks

 

You can do it with the tools and the manual! any questions that arise this forum will be able to answer. Have no fear.

 

If it's been a year that's indication itself. I supposedly also had mines checked/adjusted on my 10 hour service but last weekend I was doing some mods to the airbox so I had to re-jet and thought it couldnt hurt to check the valves while Im in the area and to my surprise my intake valves were out of spec. and I had to re-adjust them.(my 10 hour service was aprox. 30 hours prior). It doesnt hurt to check, if you got a manual it's very easy, you will need basic tools, a feeler gauge and maybe a tappet wrench or a small adjustable wrench worked for me. Save the money you would pay to have it done and spend it on some other goodies, buy the manual if you dont alread have one and do it your self, to me this is part of the fun of owning a quad, and like raptorjay said have no fear.

 

i adjust my valves once a month reguardless,if you hadn't adjusted them since the dealer done it and they are rattling bad you need to adjust them before you ride again.jmo.
do some research on valve adjusting in this forum.gregv and the moose posted a good link here a while back on adjusting the valves.

 

I need to adjust my valves also. I have a manual and it looks very simple. Ive read that the exhaust are hardly ever out of spec. I figure im going to do it when it warms up a little. Im just going to adjust the intakes only. Would i still need to take the plug out and take off the exhaust valve covers?

 

Yes, you must take the plug out to turn the fly wheel to putting the piston at Top Dead Center, besides that and insures it wont accidently start up.