xr400 valve clearances
 

hi people, im looking at buying a 2001 xr400, 3000 kms,with a ticking noise coming out of the head and im assuming the valve clearances need to be readjusted, can someone tell me what happens to the motor when you leave the valve clearances out of adjustment.... if the guy im buying it from has been riding it like this for a while could it permenantly damage the motor, and how easy is it to reset the valve clearances...
thanks guys, phil

loose valve clearances (ticking) is better than tight!!! easy to adjust - nice big spanner to take the cover off, 10mm(?) ring and screw-driver/long-nose pliers for the screw and lock-nut. feeler gauges optional when you've done it a few times ;-)€
even positioning the engine at TDC is pretty optional as the back of the cam is pretty much constant radius.

main drama on kick-start bike is getting the clearance right on whichever exhaust valve which has the decompressor - you're more lilkely to get it loose than tight, but it can be fiddly to get it right.