Hello Forum. I am new here and need some advice please.
The story begins after I changed the oil and filter on my 1980 CM400T, I thought I noticed a strange ticking, tapping, knocking sound that I never noticed before. I posted my question over on the Honda Twins Forum along with a YouTube video demonstrating the noise I thought I was hearing. Some said to check the valves and so I did this afternoon and made a bigger mess and should have left it alone instead (hindsight is 20/20).
Here is the YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8kxEu3RnvwIn an attempt to check the valves, I ended up breaking the right side top cover bolt inside the top, managed to get leaking left carburetor, and rpms went from a steady 1200 to now upwards of over 3000 at idle before I turned the engine off.
Using the information on page 3-3 of the Honda Shop Manual:
** I took the bike seat off
** I turned the fuel petcock to off and disconnected the fuel line from the gas tank
** I removed the gas tank from the bike
** I removed the fat tube on the right side of the bike that connects to the top part of the head cover (I don't know what that tube is called)
** I removed the clips that are attached to the frame that guide the spark plug wires to give me enough room to pass the top end cover through the frame
** I removed both top end cover bolts - gasket was in amazing condition so I saved it/re-used it
** I removed the top cover exposing the valves
** I removed the left crankcase cover and shifter
** I rotated the flywheel counterclockwise until the arrow on the flywheel matched up with the T in order to get TDC
** I then worked on the left side exhaust valve adjusting the gap to .006 inches using a feeler gauge
** Next I worked on both the left side intake valves adjusting the gap to .004 inches using a feeler gauge
** I tightened everything down and rotated the flywheel another counterclockwise revolution making sure the arrow lined up with the T and repeated the steps on the right side
** I put everything back together and that's when I over-tightened the right side bolt on the top cover and broke it
** I put the tank back on and reconnected the fuel line to the petcock and turned it on
** I put the broken right side bolt back into its hole and firmly held it in place by hand so I could try running the engine
** Engine started and ticking sound is still there but also now the rpms are not constant at 1200 but jumped up to 3000 before the I cut the engine
** That's when I noticed the right carb is leaking gas under the float bowl by the brass screw above the tiny black hose - I never touched the carbs so not sure why it's leaking???
Everything was working before I decided to play motorcycle mechanic and now I've created a mess for myself all because I wanted to see if I could get rid of that ticking sound. I also read that it's good practice to check the valves every season and since I bought the bike used I thought to myself, well, it's worth shot to check it out.
Should I just have my bike towed to the Honda dealership? Or is this a fix a simpleton like myself can do? Totally bummed out!
PS - I also posted on Honda Twins Forums - I need all the help I can get please - Thanks.!
