[gandalfthegray]

Hello guys, I have the chance to buy an 01 Rancher 350 that the seller claims has a ticking noise. He claims that it needs a valve adjustment.

What would be my worst case scenario on rebuils costs. I have not done an engine rebuild before so I would likely have it done.

Any guestimate is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Exaviator]

If that 350 is the same as the 1989 350 that I am presently working on and learning about, then the ticking noise is probably the valve(s) needing adjustment, which is a very simple process.
Worst case? Could be piston slap-cam chain slap-broken valve spring-that sort of thing. Hard to say without actually seeing/hearing it.
I take it you have not seen the machine yet. I am by far no expert on this engine, but I have been working small engines for 20 years.

 

[gandalfthegray]

Thanks for the reply Exaviator, but the Rancher sold last night before I could get down to have a look. $900 with a nice set ITP 27's and mud lite tires.

 

[Exaviator]

Bummer-----That seems a nice price for an 01 Honda anything, considering that all it may have needed is a valve adjustment. I paid $600 for my 1990 that was not even running.

 

[duaneduanet]

If you find another that needs some minor engine work you should get it if you have some mechanical know how. I bought my 2003 rancher for 800 and had to replace the crankshaft, piston, rings, cylinder, gaskets. I shopped around for parts and the parts cost me about 600-800. Not bad for having a 2003 rancher with a new engine. Was my first time building a ATV engine. Doing the valves was very easy.

 

[shadetree]

If that 350 is the same as the 1989 350 that I am presently working on and learning about, then the ticking noise is probably the valve(s) needing adjustment, which is a very simple process.
Worst case? Could be piston slap-cam chain slap-broken valve spring-that sort of thing. Hard to say without actually seeing/hearing it.
I take it you have not seen the machine yet. I am by far no expert on this engine, but I have been working small engines for 20 years.

hate to burst your bubble..butttt..lol..the 01' rancher isn't like your '89...the '01's has the front to back engines..and if that has a ticking noise..then it could be anything..the cam and timming chain are in the lower back end of the motor.. A REAL PAIN TO FIX !..lol..i just done a 2000 trx350tm rancher because of a bent connecting rod on the crank..had to split the case..whole nine yards..it was a job i tell you..service manual tells you...you can service the cam..timming chain while the motor is in the frame...thats bs !!..can't be done !..now..if it was just a top end job..new valves..rings..piston..very easy to do with this motor..if it was anything else..ekkkkk..big time work.

 

[350BOSS]

new rancher 350

so just like the guy up top. got my 03 rancher350 fm for free from a relative. birthday present. there was a catch. it was disassembled. so i went and got gaskets piston rings, valve seals. took my head to a friends and did the valve seats with some lapping compound. honed the cylinder and went to assembling it. the bottom end was already together. as of today i had it cranked and idling. the idle is alittle high but the valves sound like they are tapping. and its kind of loud. but its not that fast so it has to be related to the valves. also it was taken apart due to smoking and it still smokes alittle. could that be related to the valves tapping. i have set them twice. top dead center. the whole shebang... the was some wiggle in the piston rod also. i ??? whether it was just normal play. but i cant diagnose anything with it taken apart some im doing likttle things i know to do to diagnose. it runs just tapps and maybe runs rich. any opinions are greatly appreciated

 

[Helmut]

the was some wiggle in the piston rod also. i ??? whether it was just normal play.

If you can grab the rod and move it up and down any, the rod bearing is bad and that will make a knocking noise. A little side to side movement at the rod is normal, but not up and down movement.

Also, smoking won't have anything to do with the valves tapping. Smoking is from either bad rings, worn or damaged cylinder, or bad valve stem seals. It's possible that you could have smoke from flooding, but the smoke would be black.

 

[shadetree]

so just like the guy up top. got my 03 rancher350 fm for free from a relative. birthday present. there was a catch. it was disassembled. so i went and got gaskets piston rings, valve seals. took my head to a friends and did the valve seats with some lapping compound. honed the cylinder and went to assembling it. the bottom end was already together. as of today i had it cranked and idling. the idle is alittle high but the valves sound like they are tapping. and its kind of loud. but its not that fast so it has to be related to the valves. also it was taken apart due to smoking and it still smokes alittle. could that be related to the valves tapping. i have set them twice. top dead center. the whole shebang... the was some wiggle in the piston rod also. i ??? whether it was just normal play. but i cant diagnose anything with it taken apart some im doing likttle things i know to do to diagnose. it runs just tapps and maybe runs rich. any opinions are greatly appreciated

when you say you got rings..did you mic the cylinder first before you ordered rings ???..as helmut said..rod play up and down isn't good..side to side alittle..is normal..if everything is correct on rings and such..and your getting alot of smoke..you may have alot of oil in your muffler ???..and like yours..mine idles high too..for the life of me..i can't figure that part out !!..14 yrs of atv mech work..carbs and all..and i can't get mine to idle down for crap..i hate these new motors..lol.