GS550L TSCC Ticking

[FlaminFiero]

Hello,

This is my first GS bike and first personal motorcycle, all though I have worked on a few. I have always like the little 4 Cylinder bikes, and picked up this free GS550L. This is a 1983 16-Valve TSCC engine. My issue is the ticking noise it makes when hot. The noise appears to be coming from the top off the motor when checked with a stethoscope. This noise only occurs at idle when hot and is near non existent while cold or above idle including underload or high rpm. I know air-cooled engines tend to be noisier, and if the ticking is the norm I'm okay with it. I just want to see if this is in-fact normal.

I have not done a valve adjustment on it yet, I just took the valve cover off last night but the engine was too hot to check, however the valves were actually too tight, as an 0.003 wouldn't fit between any of the lobes except for one. (I know that is a worthless test since again, the manual calls for the test to be performed cold, which the engine wasn't, but it does show none of the lifters are super loose). The timing chain is tight. No lobes appear to have any wear. The oil and filter is new and clean.

I have attached a video of the noise, I am aware there is a LOT wrong, please focus just on the ticking noise and not the multitude of other stuff that needs to be done, unless you are thinking they are connected. Its still a work in progress. The video makes a the ticking a bit more pronounced but its still noticeable in person.

https://youtu.be/igT-InwkEEU?si=wqvtgWymOt-lxwNy

Should I be worried?

Thank you!

[Nessism]

Adjust the valves. Tight valves are worse than loose ones, because the engine can become damaged. Also, make sure the cam chain tensioner is working correctly.

Lastly, your engine sounds more or less normal. And there is a valve cover leak.

[FlaminFiero]

Valve Adjustment will happen tonight as the service manual instructs.

Im really surprised to hear that is normal. It just seems so loud.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Hopefully you got a real valve cover gasket and clean up the pink crap.

Oh, yeah, welcome to the forum.

[rphillips]

Like ED, sounds rather normal... Do as you said, adjust valves "completely per service manual instructions", if you just point the cam lobe nose away from the rocker arm, as many have done, you may be checking while slightly on a ramp instead of the base circle.... Don't do that, .

[FlaminFiero]

well that is reassuring, I will follow the suzuki service manual to the letter, and report back to see if it makes any difference, if not sounds like I wont worry about it

[Cipher]

Hello,

This is my first GS bike and first personal motorcycle, all though I have worked on a few. I have always like the little 4 Cylinder bikes, and picked up this free GS550L. This is a 1983 16-Valve TSCC engine. My issue is the ticking noise it makes when hot. The noise appears to be coming from the top off the motor when checked with a stethoscope. This noise only occurs at idle when hot and is near non existent while cold or above idle including underload or high rpm. I know air-cooled engines tend to be noisier, and if the ticking is the norm I'm okay with it. I just want to see if this is in-fact normal.

I have not done a valve adjustment on it yet, I just took the valve cover off last night but the engine was too hot to check, however the valves were actually too tight, as an 0.003 wouldn't fit between any of the lobes except for one. (I know that is a worthless test since again, the manual calls for the test to be performed cold, which the engine wasn't, but it does show none of the lifters are super loose). The timing chain is tight. No lobes appear to have any wear. The oil and filter is new and clean.

I have attached a video of the noise, I am aware there is a LOT wrong, please focus just on the ticking noise and not the multitude of other stuff that needs to be done, unless you are thinking they are connected. Its still a work in progress. The video makes a the ticking a bit more pronounced but its still noticeable in person.

https://youtu.be/igT-InwkEEU?si=wqvtgWymOt-lxwNy

Should I be worried?

Thank you!

Get clamps on intake boots. If that tape is meant to stop a leak well golly

[dgates1]

Get clamps on intake boots.

I saw the air intake clamp rattling around when you hit the throttle also.

[FlaminFiero]

Get clamps on intake boots. If that tape is meant to stop a leak well golly

Oh don't worry its far worse than that. The previous owner was having carburetor issues and used a reciprocating saw to cut the boots to make it easier to remove the carburetors. It was actually part of the reason he sold the bike as he could never get it faster than 40mph or it would lean out and sputter. After wasting 2 very rare carb rebuild kits on it he was just done. When I got the bike I wrapped some tape around the gap, just to confirm everything else on the bike was okay and its worked while the replacement boots were being delivered.

I saw the air intake clamp rattling around when you hit the throttle also.

Yup, as I said, nothing is done yet. When the new boots get in, ill tighten everything up.




I gave up trying to set lash until my suzuki tappet tools comes in. However, all 16 valves are between 0.004 and 0.008 so nothing is dangerously tight. Bike ran fine this weekend till the throttle cable snapped. Im waiting on parts to fix the laundry list of stuff wrong with it.