Honda 300 fourtrax valves

[Fastas]

ok what is the best way to test your valves and and adjust if need be?

[Helmut]

Anytime you hear a ticking in the top of the engine is a good time to check the valve clearance. Valves don't always loosen up, though, most of the time they will tighten up and if they tighten up enough, your engine will get hard to start. It's a good ideal to check the valve clearance, periodically, whether they're ticking or not. The maintenance schedule for the Fourtrax 300, says to check every 30 operating days, but that seems a little too often to me. I would say once a year would be fine. Most people probably don't check them that often and some people never check them.

[Fastas]

well i know when i kick start it i have to nearly put all my body weight on it to kick start it, my tick didnt start til i milked it could that cause the valves to be adjusted wrong?

[Helmut]

I don't think it would cause the valves to do that, but I could be wrong. I would check them and adjust them if needed, anyway. That might fix the ticking and if it don't, then you've eliminated the valves as the problem.

[Fastas]

yeah where can i buy 1 of those tools to check the clearance?

[Helmut]

You can buy a set of feeler gauges at any auto parts store. Get the ones with the ends bent to an angle if you can find them, because they will fit down through those valve inspection holes better. The straight ones are hard to get down in there to check the clearance. It's harder to find the ones with an angled ends, though.

[Fastas]

yeah i priced some the other day 4.99 for a set of 12