400ex Carb Help Please

[Here 2 help]

That's kind of a tough call unless you install an hour meter. I race and as a rule of thumb I began checking my valves every 4th race. After a year, I streched it out to every 6th race. Now, I have settled on an interval of every 8 races. You have to take into account that I may only ride recreationally 3 or 4 times between races.

If you race it's one thing - if you only ride recreationally it's another thing. If you ride 5 days a week it's one thing - if you ride one day a week, it's another thing. How long do you ride when you ride? The races I ride in are typically 2 hours long, so when I ride recreationally, I try to ride at least 2 hours also, but my recreational riding is like race practice, so many times my recreational riding is more than 2 hours and when I ride for fun I ride the same speed as I would in a race.

At a minimum, I would recommend you check the valves twice a year. And checking the valves in the 400EX is easy (screw tappet sdjusters) - mine....... I have remove the cam and change shims. Adjusting the valves in the 400EX usually takes about an hour - my motor requires about 2 hours.

[Honda4lyfe]

Turns out my main jet was loose and that was causing all of my problems...runs great now. What do i use to check the valve clearance? feeler gauges?

[Here 2 help]

I stand by my first suggestion that it was carb related.

Yes, feeler gauges - at top dead center of the compression stroke - in inches, about .003 intake and .005 exhaust. It's best to use two feeler blades, one under each adjuster on the same side of the engine. So you need two 3's and two 5's.

[Honda4lyfe]

Thankyou very much for your help and knowledge