spock

I recommend you check for spark by holding the plug against the cylinder head while cranking the engine. It must be metal to metal grounded - unpainted surface, unlike the frame. Your eyes may trick you, it is difficult to see that small spark if you're in daylight. Sometimes it's necessary to do this in the shop with the lights out in order to see.

Another issue with these automatic Honda 400's is the centrifugal clutch which controls engagement. When they are worn out and slipping they affect shifting since the computer senses a problem.

First thing I'd do is check the condition of the splines on the front prop shaft - the ones near the front of the engine can get stripped, common problem on those older Honda's.

Double check that the angle sensor was installed correctly, a common problem. There's a lot of helpful help around here, hope you get it figured!

When ever I'm dealing with a leaking carb issue, I like to bench test it before installing it back on the bike/quad. If you can mount it in a vice, then fill the carb with fuel using a clear fuel line. You can observe the fuel in the line & see if it drops while sitting - quite often it takes a while when the leak is slow. Beats putting it on & off the machine when the leak persists!

Pretty impressive machines, a friend owns one of the new 1000 models - it's more of a street bike that's super comfy than an off roader.

Those are cool bikes, good find! I got to try out one of those when they were new in the mid-80's. The shop I worked at was a Honda dealership in Vancouver, BC that provided bikes for the TV/movie business active around there. I think the show it was used on could have been MacGyver, they beat on those bikes pretty hard, even doing some scary jumps I heard, haha!

You won't find an oil pump chain on the 400 with Hondamatic's, they are gear driven off the clutch I believe. Only the 500 Rubicon had the chain driven pumps. I agree that a 400AT with that kind of mileage is rare!

Curious if the pickup coil was replaced when the stator was done? I've seen more than one Yamaha have a bad one.

I've never ran into a valve "stretching" but if you can't get proper clearance with the adjuster, then something is wrong with the head itself probably. Sounds like it's time to remove the cylinder head and have a pro take a look at it.

Is this the stock carb on this bike? It's possible something is missing...is there a retainer clip under the main spring inside the slide? It is W shaped and keeps the needle from moving when it shouldn't.

Those are almost the exact prices we're paying now for a litre of gas in BC these days. (one US gallon = approx. 4 litres)

Around here, firewood used to go pretty cheap since there was lots of bug killed pine available. Most went for around $100-150 a cord but those days are gone! The load I got was 2.5 cords and was $650 delivered (cut to length & split). The good part is that most was fir, seems to last way longer than that dead pine.

Winters are a lot more tolerable, at least indoors, with a good wood stove like the Blaze King we have. This year I have a good supply of fir & birch which is awesome! The worst part is going out to the wood shed when it's time to reload, haha.

It's brutally cold up here in the frozen north! Got down to minus 40C last night - that's the same as -40F btw. At 10 am it's now up to -32, gawd I can't wait for this to end!!