Igetby

Hey everyone! Just posting an update. These kids keep me so busy I hardly have time to get anything done.. I started getting into it this morning but went no further then the valve cover. At tdc on comp stroke intake clearance was .005 and ex im thinking was around .007mm. Didnt have 007 on my gauge but 6 glided through easy and couldnt have taken much for .008 to slide in. Got them both at .005 and it no longer sounds like its about to grenade. I did notice it still has the slightest chatter.. when I revved it up once I seen the exhaust heat shield vibrating enough to move.. its missing a bolt on left side. Im really hoping that’s the rest of the noise im hearing. Plan on taking it off tomorrow just to see.. will try to get a vid too. Keeping my fingers crossed it’d sure be nice to putt around through the summer without having to tear it down.

Ahh makes sense. & that sucks! That they cant be replaced.. i’ve tried looking up the one way bearing but only find the one im assuming is for the starter clutch / reduction gear..? Thats not the one-way your referring to is it? Sorry for all the questions throughout this thread.. soaking it all up like a sponge and have so many questions I have to hold back on with each post 😂 I know the manual and hands on will answer most.

Right. I was just saying i’ve replaced valves before not on this one though. Previous owner claims to have rebuilt it last yr… i’ve done a few top ends on sports quads but never anything more than that or clutches. Plan on doing a compression test and taking rocker cover off and just slowly working my way into her and checking everything down to the case… if the rod is ok then i’ll probably have the head worked just to be safe .. incase its an issue with seat or guide only when its up to temp.. I just hope n pray everything in the bottom ends ok!

Right. Don’t want that.. I’ll probably have the head worked on at a machine shop when I tear it down if I can find one in the area.. i’ve replaced valves before but never the guides.

Yea it has 500 hrs / almost 1600 miles. Unsure if the cluster was ever changed.. thought so with it having motor issues already.. but the body and all suspension components are clean and minty. Its super tight all the way around. even the parking brake still works 😅. Im deff going to tear into it and have heard since its only when warmed up it could be the valve seat… what kind of damage would it cause riding it like that? If its a guide or the seat..

So just an update. We took it for a ride today.. and it was quiet as can be..? Sounded great! I noticed when cruising down hills with back pressure / engine braking it seems to chatter worse..? It’s idled beautifully all day with very little noise. ( I did adjust idle and add oil was little over quarter of a qt low) Just seems to chatter when its revved up a bit now or going down a steep hill not giving any throttle / engine braking… Planning on tearing into it still asap. But hoping I wont have to go further down than the cylinder 🤞

Not alot! Lol i’d have max around 400-500 I could put into her. Shes driving me mad because she sounds so good at idle. Little noisy with rpms.. if only she sounded as good warm as she does cold… is there any chance it could be “normal” or something minor causing it? Since it sounds fine before shes warmed up? Another couple vids here one of it just idling after I turned idle down a bit. Other of it when I rev it… sounds much worse in video but its still noticeable in person. What does it sound most like in your opinion shadetree? IMG_5110.mov IMG_5109.mov

Hey everyone. So really nice weather has popped in this weekend.. i’ve got a strip job right above my house and a wife thats been waiting 6+ months on a ride…. You guys think i’d be pushing my luck to take it for a easy going 5-15 mile ride before getting into the tear down? I have a buddy who says his sounds just like mine and has for the past year .. being quiet as can be until it warms up then sounds like mine after reaching operating temps.. Has me thinking I might be able to get another small ride in… i know its a gamble but.. no smoke / no loss of power or issues aside from the chatter/pecking… would it get worse then how bad it sounds now before something let go.. or does it sound about as bad as it gets already? I know its a gamble and not ideal.. but it is a Honda 😅 thoughts?

Thanks everyone!! Loved catching up on all the comments. appreciate each one too. Feel much more confident knowing theres great support here for any questions or issues I may run into along the way. I’ve long dreaded the day I may have bottom end work to do but looking forward to the experience now.. knowing its gotta be done! Hoping to get time to start on the tear down this weekend!!

I looked online and was unable to find any for the 450 foreman - the bearings your referring to fit on the crank its-self or in the case? I noticed a crank on ebay had the bearing included..? But only one that I seen.. is that the bearing your referring to? If not I can probably look up a part number. I’ll have to order me a good manual. The online one I found involves too much scrolling on a phone! Thanks again for your help and sharing the wisdom!

Thanks shadetree! Really appreciate your input and all the info!! If its a bad spot at top of the rod or bad bearings.. Is this something easy to replace? I felt with my lack of expertise it may be easier just to replace the entire crankshaft if theres any major imperfections..? honestly I wouldnt know what to look for other than obvious signs of impact / bends / play.. I dont worry so much about the top end as i’ve had just enough experience to be comfortable in that area.. and 400/450 lower end parts are the same, right? .. noticed the part number seems to be the same for 400/450s and es crank.. love the pic / video idea also as that was one of my biggest concerns and reasons for wanting to order ahead of time.. forgetting where stuff goes! … I think the bottom end kit I have ready to order has all seals and gaskets.. or I hope so! Attaching pic just incase theres anything missing.. also.. i’ve heard the shift drum should always be replaced while in there..? Its not too costly but dont wana replace something if it isn’t necessary.

Hi everyone!! Need some help here!! Picked this 04 450 foreman ES up. “needs nothing but front tires and headlight assy” long story short I fear for the worst. The vid attached is it idling with slight revving.. it does have a loose heat shield.. but it sounds like much more going on… it idles fine and runs quiet until its ran for a little bit. Once its warmed up it sounds like this!! Friends of mine with more experience than me are guaranteeing its the rod bearings / crank and needs a new crankshaft…. I cant stand the thought of doing someone the way I was done so pawning it off on someone else is not really an option for me…. So far looks like around 300-500$ (crank, gasket kit, shift drum) … couple tools..?? i’ve rebuilt the top end on quads but never went any deeper.. Wanting to see if you guys agree with other’s suspicions… I also found goldish sparkles in my oil and one solid brass colored shaving... about half the size of the tip on a positive side double a battery…. surprisingly the oil filter was clean.. very little shavings compared to what I was expecting.. mainly aluminum and only one maybe two nearly microscopic brass shavings. With that and others opinions I’m nearly certain the best option is just to buy a new crankshaft….?? i’ve never done anything with the bottom end aside from a starter clutch/reduction gear on a 450r…. What parts am I most likely to need? It still runs great but im not riding it.. specialty tools needed? 3 jaw puller and a flywheel puller are all I should need aside from manual , impact / sockets and wrenches? Will a 3 inch jaw puller be ok? Heard the 6 inch was too big.. Sorry for the novel and many questions, im still nauseous at the thought of having to go elbow deep in something thats “ready for summer riding”. appreciate any input / advice! Thanks for reading!! IMG_5035.mov