new to me 350X making a LOUD ticking racket...

[powerkicker]

I just picked up a 350X from an old friend of mine.He rebored the cylinder and installed an over-sized piston in the bike at my request as it was smoking horribly according to him.When I picked up the bike,I noted that while it started on the first kick cold,there was(and is) a very loud ticking noise that can be EASILY heard over the loud DG after-market pipe.The bike seems to have a bit of an intermitant timing issue as well. I'm getting alot of backfiring and the like.What's the probable culprit and how much will it cost me to have it repaired?I would like to set this bike right.I had it when I was a kid and gave it to him in several boxes about 10 years ago.Now he's given it back after ALOT of miles and I think she needs a little help.Thanks for any informed input. :)

[HemiChallenger71]

What color smoke???? The really loud ticking probably is the valves needing to be adjusted. Their clearance is .003" or .08mm.

[powerkicker]

What color smoke???? The really loud ticking probably is the valves needing to be adjusted. Their clearance is .003" or .08mm.

I don't know what color the smoke was...Now that he's rebored it and installed an oversized piston,there is none...Just an annoying tick and the stated timing problem. Thanks for your reply. :)

[jeswinehart]

welcome aboard powerkicker !

valve adjustment + timing your x ain't very hard. in fact it is more like a maintence thing you do every so often (6 months-year ?) just depending on how much you ride.

john

[Xowner]

how do you adjust the timing chan on a 200X my adjuster dont work! mine is ticking and it smokes grey smoke do i need to adjust the valuse or wut thanks for the hlp!!!

[Turtle]

Just was educated on adjusting the timing on my 86 200X, heres how..

First thing is check it. Remove the timing hole cap on the crank case and the flywheel cap on the same side. There both allen wrench nuts. Put a socket on the fly weel and rotate it until you can see the "T" through the timing hole cap. It should be matched up with the notch in the crank case. This puts your piston at TDC (top dead center). Then remove the valve adjuster cap. Its right above your spark plug, it has two 10mm bolts than hold it on. This is where you set your valve clearance. In the middle you'll see a real big flat head screw. Unscrew it. Look for a black triangle. This should be at 12:00 if the piston is at TDC. If this is not the case, you will have to remove the cylinder to get to the cam to move the sprocket (and chain). Not real hard to do. If the black triangle is not at 12:00, then post a message back and I can tell you how to set the rest of it.

[Turtle]

Powerkicker.. Check the timing. I had mine (timing) right, but I loosened the valve adjuster nuts for the clearance and forgot to tighten them. When I fired it up, it started ticking real bad.. I went to check the timing and noticed the nuts were about ready to shoot out. I set them back, it was set so long I could tell where they were before, and the ticking stopped.

[powerkicker]

Thanks guys...I'll have my local dealer have a look and let me know what they think.I'm not very mechanically inclined...

I took the bike out for about an hour yesterday and I am wondering if perhaps my buddy put bad gas in the vehicle by accident.I topped off the tank before setting out as I noticed it was getting low.The bike sputtered for about 1/4 mile and then after that,it ran quite strong in spite of the ticking which is still present. Is the valve adjustment something that can wait a weekend or two or can it potentially damage the components? :?

[Xowner]

turtle i have a 85 X are thew diffrent?

[Turtle]

I wouldn't ride with that ticking noise. That is (probably) the cylinder hitting the valves because either the timing is off or your clearance isn't right. If you run it to long, you run the chance of ruining the valves. Then your looking at new valves and the labor, if you don't do it yourself, to tear down the head. Don't forget a new gasket set also.
Could easily go over $200.

[Turtle]

86 200X..

The 85 and 86 are very diferent bikes. I would assume you can still check the timinng without removing the cylinder. I'm sure there is a place on the crank to put it at TDC at check the "T" mark. I think the spark plug is on the other side of the motor on the 85. I noticed on the 85 that there is a "silver" round cover on the left side of the motor. Maybe you can check for that triangle there? I really don't know though. Maybe someone with an 83-85 could advise?? If you don't have one already, by a clymer manual:

http://www.primediabooks.com/ProductDetail.asp?PRDID=419

It's worth every penny..