Can't seem to win with this bike and now am stumpped as to what might be the issue. Any help would be great. Bought a 98 F3 that was dropped. Engine case blown. Got a 96 motor that needed shims. OK, now it starts. Intake lobe was messed up as well as several shims on the intake and exhaust end. One of the shims had a clearence of 8 mm vs 16 as the manual says on the IN side. Used my 98 lobes, several shims and chain (the chain on the 98 and 96 are different due to the cam sprockets. Lobes are the same). She also has a new manual tensioner. She fires up perfectly but, still makes a hell of a rattle on the top end. Shim clearence is between 16 and 17 on the intake side and between 20 and 22 on the exhaust side. Tighten the manual chain tensioner seems to be at right tension any further, and the bike stalls. Could it be a valve or valve spring? If so. how to tell? I am not affraid of ripping the head off. Had it off because there was a head bolt that was broken and I needed to drill it out and helicoil a new bolt in. If it is a valve, could I swap with the other motors head (will have to reshim it but, thats ok)

Hmmm....Usualy if a valve spring breaks the engine would run like shit, if at all. Not just have a noise. I would lean more toward the valve itself.

its the chain, if you didnt use the 98 cam chain sprockets, its the chain. they arent the same.....you need to use the 98 sprockets!

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1998 CBR F3 R.I.P.
2004 zx6r R.I.P.

so, just to make sure, the cam's and lobe is from the 98; the chain is from the 98 but you must be referring to the lower timing chain sprocket? Thanks for all the advice djoe81 and blkpitbull, I guess I will start with the easy thing and that is the lower chain sprocket. If that does not work, then I will work on the valves.

Okay, I found out the cam chain sproket is the same for all F3 and F2's (this was told to me by the Honda dealer). I removed the head to start breaking here down to see which valve maybe causing the noise. found one shim on the intack and one on the exhaust that is stuck and will not come out. Not sure how this occurred (both where never removed during the initial shim processes). Not sure if the original owner used aftermarked shims for both of these valves. Have used air, brake fluid a very stong magnet and get nothing. Can't even turn the shim by hand. Any suggestions?