Mystey ticking sound! I need your insight!

[michel]

My 1984 GSX1100ES started making ticking sounds when it heated up. I took it to three mechanics and they did not manage to fix the problem. Can any of you Gurus Help?

Most beleive it is an electrical problem with the spark cables. I have cut a small piece from the end of the cables and refited them to the spark plug caps. The sound stoped but as I whent for a long hyway blast at 220km/h the ticking sound is back with a vengance. I removed the clutch completely and had a look inside, no sign of damage or loose bits.

I replaced the coils, cables caps and plugs and the problem is still there. Worse, it now appears at a lower temperature.

I tightened the exhaust manifolds and tightened the chain adjuster and the sound is still there.

I took the bike to an underground garage, took off the tank while it was running and ticking and turned off the lights. I saw no sparks !

Any insight on this problem? 8O 8O 8O

[Buffalo Breath]

tick

so take a long handle screw driver put the tip to various parts of the engine, and the handle end up against your ear or go to shucks or what ever and buy a automotive sethascope this will help define where the noise is coming from, DONT stick near anything moving or high tension, check around the cam area for cam slap loose valve adjustment around the started clutch area and so on

[michel]

I did so when I first heard the noise and the sound came from around the clutch area at the right side of the engine. I took the clutch cover out and slid the clutch plates out and had a look inside. It all looked Ok. :?

[Hoomgar]

To see if it is spark/arc cracking your hearing. Run the bike on a dark night and block off the headlamp so you can see any electrical arcs. If this is what it is then doing this will show you that it is and where it is. I do it in my garage. I turn off my head lamp and close the door. Run the bike while holding my breath. Your only going to need a few seconds to find it if this is what it is. Don't fume yourself if you use my idea

[syafi]

This mistery has been solved for me

Water in carb! smal amount of water in fuel tank coming into carburator casu it.

[focus frenzy]

could be a bomb!!! stay away from Marine barracks!

did you check for play in the clutch basket?

[snowbeard]

how much tick compared to tap is it? maybe the cam chain tensioner? or the valves? I have my own mystery tap.

it's not just the heat expansion is it? does it happen consistently from startup to shut down or is it more noticeable on the warmup/cooldown?

[michel]

Hoomgar: I did check for sparks/arcs in my garage. there were none.

Syafi: the water in the tank gave ticking sounds?

Focus Frenzy: Its not a bomb. Is the clutch basket at the end of the clutch housing with springs? I did have a look at it and the springs were making noise, but if it was the source of the problem the sound stop when I depress the clutch. Am I right?

Snowbeard: Its more tick. Everybody thought it was an electrical arc sound. But it seems it is not. It use to happen when the engine was hot. Now it happens just as it warms up.

Would the chain tensioner give clicking soundssimilar to electical arc?

Thanks to all you guys.

[Jethro]

Do the screwdriver trick on the cam chain tensioner. That's how I found my ticking noise.

You sure it's not a bomb? You are in Beirut after all...

[michel]

I will check the tensioner tomorrow and will let you guys know. Am I harming the chain if I ride the bike with this potential problem?

[Hoomgar]

I will check the tensioner tomorrow and will let you guys know. Am I harming the chain if I ride the bike with this potential problem?

If it is bad enough yes. But these engines are noisey anyway so I doubt your that far gone.

Another thing to try. Put some high octane gas in it. A nice tank full of the highest you can find and see if your noise gets quieter. if it does, be sure to post that as the guys on here will know where to go next then if it is your valves making noise.

[michel]

Ok today was a big day for me. Melhis reseased his report and the whole place was going crazy, so I decided to take the day off. I went to the Suzuki dealership and had them look (or listen) to the problem.

They placed the doctor hearing aid and decided again that the sound was comming from the gearbox. So thaye dismantled it and found nothing there.

Nest they took a look at the cam chain tensioner: 1- it appears that the damn thing is not automatic!. You have to release a bolt and then a screw for the spring to push the tensioner against the chain. they took it out and cleaned it and decided it was not the problem because it worked fine.

We were getting really depressed when one of the mechanics told me I should speak to a bike engineer from germany who was on a visit to the land of the cedars.

I called him and when to see him. He was staying in a town 50km north of beirut. I had a nice drive on a road next to the sea and finally met the guy.

He listened to the sound and decided that it cam not from the tensioner but from the chain guide. Since my bike is old (84) but with low mileage (30000km) he beleives the plastic when brittle from standing idle for a long time.

Next week I will change the guide a see if that resolves this issue as I have another one in store for you guys to help me solve.

[nert]

time is "ticking" away.
we are wating for the outcome.

[michel]

The German guy left and my mechanic at the dealer does not recomend to open up the engine to change the chain guide. He does not beleive the sound is comming from there.

I changed the oil I use and the sound seems to be getting better. I will wait for a while unless one of you gurus know better.