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Valves knocking already?

9399 Views 25 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  cra5h
I now have 18 miles on my foreman and I think my valve are knocking already. I'm not sure but it sounds like it to me. Remember it's my first quad and I don't have any idea what they should sound like. Is it normal and should I not worry about it and wait til I have 20 hours and do the first service or take it in now? I know it would be hard to tell just by what I "think" I hear.
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usually loose valve adjustment makes a ticking sound obviously at the same rhythm as the engine rpms. although slightly loose valves are only annoying to the ears. i would not put off the adjuistment too long. it is a simple procedure if you do it your self. i hate paying through the nose at a dealer for something like that. as for the frequency, i have 2 03 ranchers that i have never touched the valves on and an 05 foreman that started getting noisy after about 10 hours. just goes to show there are no rules set in stone.
Wasn't there a tutorial on this? I've had the valves inspected once already and I think my 500 is due for one again. I agree, don't want spend the money at the dealer but I've never done a valve adjustment before. Everyone says it's easy but I'm no mechanic.
Buy a manual, it is really easy plus you will start to get the confidence about other things. Don't get me wrong a qualified machanic can be great (if you find a good one) but you will be able to do lots of other little things with the manual
Where do I find a manual at? I am going to take it to a dealer for the first service but after that my friend or I will do it. Unless I get the extended warranty, or do you HAVE to take it back to the dealer when you have this to cover everything?
Do a search for clymers on amizon, or there is a specific honda book, or I have even seen them at Fleet Farm. I got a Clymers and I think it is great, some people say the Honda book has more pictures in it which is always good.

Ask your dealer how much the first service is, I was told 100 or so then when I went to set up an appointment the or so was $80 so saving $180 was worth me figuring out the first service for myself

It tells you what to do for the first service right in the manual and it is not that hard. If you are not machincally inclined it may take a saturday afternoon. Just make sure you keep reciepts for what you buy and document when it was done and what you did, this makes the warrenty valid. I also have the extended warrenty but I am not paying them alot of money for what I can do. They get it when I break something good
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I just had my 1st servive done. It cost me $148.00. That included the first oil change, valve adjustment and whatever other stuff they did. I also had 2 recalls on my machine. One for a clutch plate and one for the tie rod ends. I am not that familiar with the mechanics of the engine, but if it is pretty easy, I may have to check out the manuel for myself. That kind of labor can be very expensive!!!
Hi guys,

Here's the link for the Honda Foreman Service Manual 2005

<a href="http://www.repairmanual.com/atvs/2005/27/4/16795/11462" target="_blank">http://www.repairmanual.com/atvs/2005/27/4/16795/11462</a>

This book has everything!!!

Nice images quality!

DuckyXpress
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Thats the one I have and use as well. Its very detailed and specific.

I ordered mine directly from Helm Inc.
What's the difference between 61HP000 and 61HP001 manuals besides about 17 dollars. Sounds like both cover my foreman with a difference in price.
They probably made a few updates to cover any changes to the 2006 model, since the 05 and 06 use the same manual.
Maybe, but seems like they would be same price?
QUOTE ("TexasForeman":reyqg68v)
I just had my 1st servive done. It cost me $148.00. That included the first oil change, valve adjustment and whatever other stuff they did. I also had 2 recalls on my machine. One for a clutch plate and one for the tie rod ends. I am not that familiar with the mechanics of the engine, but if it is pretty easy, I may have to check out the manuel for myself. That kind of labor can be very expensive!!!
The first service here in East Hanover, NJ at honda and yamaha dealer it cost me more like $350 and that is also the price of the full service too. I will go to a local guy that know what he is doing before going to the high prices at the dealers.

I had a Top End rebuild done a while back:

Dealer $1000 for top end rebuild

Cycle Pro Racing $450
Wow I guess it is bend over in Hanover
Dang, small world!

My friend used to work over at East Hanover Honda and I know most of the guys there. They are by far the most overpriced place in NJ, I just started to go to Sport Honda in Middlesex. I can still get nice discounted oil from East Hanover, $5 for 2 gallons of Honda GN-4!

spikemanjeff,

where do you go riding? I live about 10mins south of Morristown, there's some real good local trails me and some friends have made on over 400 acres of municipal land, but I'm always lookin for new places to ride.
The 61HP000 is the same manual. Mine is a 61HP000 and it came with stickers to change it to 61HP0001. Thats all there is to it. It also came with stickers to change it from a 2005 manual to a 2005-2006.
valve adjustments

The valve noise will be a very light ticking noise; someimes cosidered a loose cam chain...not worry, the cam chain has a hydraulic tensioner that comes from the engine oil pressure. If you attempt o do the valves yourself, be sure the engine is not at operating temperature. The motor should be as cool as possible...equal to the ambiant air temperature +/- a few degrees won't harm. Don't be afraid to snug the adjusment screw against the feeler gauge...as Honda motors allow the tolerance to open more when they warm up. You should notice this when you first start your engine and the motor is cool... then after a period of wram up you should notice a slight ticking. To be sure of your suspicions...try using a long screw driver placed against the rocker cover and the handle next to your ear...similar to a mechanical stethescope.
Do buy the correct square ended adjustment wrench...and use the correct sized mm wrench....don't make it any easier for the dealerships because you didn't have the correct tools to do the job.
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I bought 2 bikes at the same time, and the one I ride all the time went in for 1st service (20hrs) in October, I am getting ready to take the other one in this month. When I bought the bikes the Owner of the Dealership told me we like to do at least the 1st service, because we go over everthing with a fine tooth comb, and its only $80. Which seemed steep to me, but I figured I would let them do the 1st one. When I went to take it one of the mechanics told me $160. I got the owner and he basically brow beat the guy infront of me, because he had all their forms printed up to show 1st service $80. Foreman's "require" a valve inspection at 20 and 100hrs I was told. Therefore because of the amount of shop time for dissasembly, the cost was like double. The owner of the dealership said he would do both of my bikes 1st service for $80, and stood by what he told me. I was actually really happy. I was bitching in the begining because I did not know about the valve inspection and $80 seemed like Highway Robbery for just an oil change. I told the guy I run Mobil 1 full synthetic in my truck and it cost me half the price, I am pretty sure a Foreman doesn't hold 6 quarts of oil either! Once I found out what was going on $80 seemed fair to me. I figure I may try to do one of them at 100hrs and see how it goes.
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In order not to void the warranty, all you are obligated to do for the first service is that stated in the owner's manual. My dealership wants to do a couple of other things in addition to valve adjustment and oil change and charge $200 total. I will only be doing the two items in the manual.
In order not to void the warranty, all you are obligated to do for the first service is that stated in the owner's manual. My dealership wants to do a couple of other things in addition to valve adjustment and oil change and charge $200 total. I will only be doing the two items in the manual.
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