Tappet Noise? or Cam Chain Noise? Video inside...

[cleoncleon]

Alright fellas, so this is where I'm at...
No photo of the seat yet, but you can get some glances of it in there...
All aluminum.


Problem is, that clicking noise.
I'm assuming they are my tappets?


I've tried adjusting them a million and four times and I cant seem to get the noise to go away.
It cuts out when i give it a quick full blip of throttle too, this is after I messed with the Valves again... :/
So, I think my method of valve adjustment is wrong?


How do YOU guys adjust yours? I've tried my Clymers manual, but to no avail.
Does this noise mean the gap between my tappets is too wide? again... assuming my tappet/valves are the culprit..

Tappet Noise.3GP

THANKS!

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

It does sound like tappet noise, but I always probe an engine with a mechanic's stethoscope. You can often detect which tappet is making noise.

I assume you know that the engine must be stone cold to adjust the tappets. Well, maybe I am not assuming that, since I did ask. <G>

Adjusting tappets seems straightforward enough, but it is actually pretty tricky. Best to have the piston at top dead center on the compression stroke. If you have it at TDC between exhaust stroke and intake stroke, you will definitely end up with loose valves. Take the spark plugs out. Stick your finger in the spark plug hole as you rotate the engine forward toward the timing mark on the rotor. You will feel pressure against your finder as the piston is coming up on the compression stroke. Stop at the mark, and adjust both valves on that cylinder. Repeat on the other side.

There should be ever so slight drag on the feeler gauge as you draw it through the gap. The trickiest part is then locking down the adjustment with the lock nut. It is so so easy to knock it out tightening the nut. You have to hold the adjuster while you tighten the nut, then re-check after the nut is tight.

Hope this helps.

 

[Z2Z]

I'm having the exact problem on my 360. I adjusted the cam chain and then the valve clearance. It starts right up but has a knocking/ticking noise that was not there prior to the work.

 

[cleoncleon]

I'm having the exact problem on my 360. I adjusted the cam chain and then the valve clearance. It starts right up but has a knocking/ticking noise that was not there prior to the work.

Dude, is it not the most annoying thing??
I guess we can't complain much, they aren't hard to get too like on other bikes.. but still!


@ AlphaD.
I've never even herd of a mechanics stethoscope, sounds freakin' rad!
Im thinking I was at TDC, what I did was turn it over twice (360 degrees, right?) then moved it to, LT.
After that I adjusted the .002 on the Intake and then moved right over to the exhaust trying to set it at .003.
After that I turned the engine over right to the F mark, didn't turn it twice so, im assuming thats (180 degree) like it said in the manual.
Then did the same to that side... Intake then Exhaust...


Sound right?


But i didn't do the finger trick like i did when i was timing...
So that is room for error, on top of the hellish locknuts moving as I tighten...
Alright I'll try again.

 

[frogman]

Set them STONE COLD. I set each side at TDC for that cylinder and I recheck them after I spin the engine over at least 3-4 times. I use the next size up for checking the gap. For the intakes the gap is .002" so check with .003". It will act like it wants to go in but will not go under, Exhaust use .004"

And remember, its an all steel, no dampening engine, it will sing and make noise, its just the nature of the beast. The tappets will tap, the gears whine, the cam chain sings just slightly. Matter of fact, when that song gets loud its time to STOP and adjust the cam chain. Its part of the fun really for me. Sounds like a well composed symphony when they are tuned right.

Can use a long bladed screw driver as a stethoscope hold the handle to your ear and touch the blade to the place you want to listen too.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

A mechanic's stethoscope is only about $10. VERY useful tool for the money, and just kinda cool to be able to listen to the whirring and clicking bits inside the engine. Coolest thing is how impressed people are when you pull out the stethoscope and start listening to various parts of the engine. Suddenly, I am elevated from lowly mechanic, to being a frikken engine doctor!

My manometer looks like medical equipment, too.

I suspect you adjusted on the wrong stroke, so just do it again using the finger-in-the-sparkplug-hole trick to make sure you are on the right revolution.

If it's any consolation, that whole thing with the adjustment moving when you lock it down never stops being a pain in the ass, but it does get a little easier with practice.

 

[frogman]

I can see ADC now, just like Victor...... IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!! IT'S ALLLLIIIIIIVVVEEE!!!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA


Happy Halloween ALL!! ;D

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

BOO!!

 

[cleoncleon]

Awesome, noise gone!
Thankyou ADC, thanks Frog!
Frogman, checking the gap with the next size up was genius.
My tappets were WAY off...