[WesFourtrax300]

Hey everyone, I was wondering how much oil should be in the top of the engine with the rockers and valve springs? I have a 99 fourtrax 300 and when I did an oil change decided to set the valves to try and fix a slight tick (they needed adjustment but didn't fix the tick) when I pulled off the valve covers it looked awful dry in there so I started the bike for a a few seconds to see if any oil was being pumped at all... it was but it was the slightest little sprinkle. Wondering if that is the norm or if maybe it is clogged somewhere in the line...

 

[retro]

At idle thats all you'll see with valve covers off. If you rev it up high for a minute you'll have oil spattered everywhere, even on your shoes! LOL.

The cam lobes are oiled by the dip method. The cam journals get pressurized oil that sprays out onto all the moving parts to keep them well oiled. What you saw is normal.

Is your ticking noise consistent at all rpms and loads? Does it only tick while idling, does it seem to go away when you rev it?

A ticking noise at idle speed that seems to disappear as you raise rpms can indicate a worn out camshaft chain. Sustained ticking noises usually indicate worn out parts or mis-adjusted valve lash.

 

[retro]

You DID put the oil filter in correctly, didn't you? If you put it in backwards you'll get extremely low oil volume and very low pressure as a result. Gotta ask because it is a common mistake... anyone can do it if they aren't paying any attention....

 

[WesFourtrax300]

Thank you, I definitely have the filter in the right way, they are labeled now and so blunt you can't mess it up haha but the tick seems to have a mind of it's own. It doesn't change pace and quits all together, then the next time I ride it will increase with the rpms and won't go away. I recently put on a new carb and it didn't tick at all that whole day... it's quite strange but the tick seems to sound like it comes from behind the top of the spark plug... maybe that will give someone with more experience a good idea of what it is. I've been meaning to check the tension on the timing chain but any time I start wrenching I get side tracked and forget

 

[retro]

An exhaust leak where the pipe meets the head can sound like a ticking noise.... a worn rocker arm and rocker shaft can tick and come and go, and a worn cam lobe & rocker tick can come and go too.

After you check the cam chain for wear it may be a good idea to check valve lash again to see if there has been any change. After checking valve lash, rotate the motor two revolutions and check valve lash again to see if either of the valves are looser or tighter. Doing so verifies your work... so it is a best-practice habit to adopt anyway.

Another way to check the cam lobes & rockers & shafts for excessive wear is to push the rocker sideways back and forth on its shaft (the rocker has endplay on the shaft, take advantage of it) while the feeler gauge is between the valve and adjuster. If valve clearance doesn't change much as you are sliding the rocker along the shaft, all is fine. If the opposite is true you have excessive wear... and can snoop for it.

Let us in on your findings if ya can...

 

[WesFourtrax300]

Thank you very much! Hopefully I can get around to it this weekend. even tho the tick is light and doesn't seem to affect the power or anything, just the sound makes me feel as if my baby is dying inside haha but again thank you for your help and guidance. Can't wait till I get the opportunity to help someone on here and pay forward to the forum

 

[WesFourtrax300]

hey retro, are you familiar with oil coolers?

 

[retro]

hey retro, are you familiar with oil coolers?

Yeah, are you looking to add one to your 300? Best way is to drill out the oil filter cover and tap them for fittings. Others have done it, so there may be a thread somewhere around here with pics...?

 

[WesFourtrax300]

like this? i really like this more than cutting the line. also is there a size limit for the cooler? i would like a good size roughly 1'x1' 20 lines or so... but dont want it to lead to a busted oil pump.

 

[retro]

Yep, just like that pic, drilling and tapping the filter cover is the easiest way to add cooler lines. I don't know which cooler fits on the bike the best though. You'll have to fab up a cooler mount yourself, so maybe you can find a thread where its all been done professionally and go by that. The oil cooler itself doesn't need to be very large, it just needs to be mounted right. A used cooler and lines from another small Honda motor should work fine. The old TRX350 cooler would be plenty big but there may be better choices... those that have done it would know more than I do.