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Quick Question - Valve Shims & Noise

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
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Guest

Guest
Last fall, when I started my project bike for the first time, there was a clacking noise coming from the top end somewhere, and after running it a few times, the noise quieted slightly but never disappeared. I torn down he top end this winter and everything looked good, well within spec, but when I started it this spring the noise is still there?

My initial thoughts were cam tensioner, but it seems to be functioning fine? So now I'm wondering if the valve shims clearance isn't sufficient? I know they are close to being too tight, but before I order new shims, would that explain the clacking noise?
 
KillerGriller said:
Last fall, when I started my project bike for the first time, there was a clacking noise coming from the top end somewhere, and after running it a few times, the noise quieted slightly but never disappeared. I torn down he top end this winter and everything looked good, well within spec, but when I started it this spring the noise is still there?

My initial thoughts were cam tensioner, but it seems to be functioning fine? So now I'm wondering if the valve shims clearance isn't sufficient? I know they are close to being too tight, but before I order new shims, would that explain the clacking noise?
Click to expand...

By all means take the time to get the right shims in place. The common reason why you'll still get noise is from a condition known as "Cam Walk" and is a well known issue caused by plain old ordinary wear. If you do a search you'll find plenty of info on this site on the subject, it's considered to be "normal"
 
LAB3 said:
By all means take the time to get the right shims in place. The common reason why you'll still get noise is from a condition known as "Cam Walk" and is a well known issue caused by plain old ordinary wear. If you do a search you'll find plenty of info on this site on the subject, it's considered to be "normal"
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'll look into it
 
KillerGriller said:
My initial thoughts were cam tensioner, but it seems to be functioning fine? So now I'm wondering if the valve shims clearance isn't sufficient? I know they are close to being too tight, but before I order new shims, would that explain the clacking noise?
Click to expand...
If the valve clearance is not sufficient, there would be LESS noise, not more.

Well, at least until the valves burnt, then there would be a LOT of noise, if the engine even ran at all.

What makes you think the tensioner "seems to be functioning fine"?
You can't see it in operation, you can only see the results if it's NOT functioning fine.
 
Who Dat? said:
If the valve clearance is not sufficient, there would be LESS noise, not more.

Well, at least until the valves burnt, then there would be a LOT of noise, if the engine even ran at all.

What makes you think the tensioner "seems to be functioning fine"?
You can't see it in operation, you can only see the results if it's NOT functioning fine.
Click to expand...

I would expect that too -> less valve clearance = less noise until catastrophe, but it's worth an ask. What about "No" clearance between the shims and cam lobes? I will be pulling the cylinder cover tonight to take a look at them and measure, but out of curiosity?


"Cam Tensioner seems to be functioning fine" is based on it's behavior during reassembly and when I had to adjust the cams to line them up for timing. It may be misbehaving, if a clacking sound is typical of a malfunctioning tensioner it'd make sense. I'll check it again tonight when I have the cover off.

Also, this isn't the typical ticking of an older engine, it's a separate/distinct "clack-clack-clack" sound at the same time, the bike sounds like a tractor.
 
Last edited:
If the cam chain was too loose, it could slap against the cam cover. Best way to ensure that tensioner is working properly is to remove it and fiddle with it in your hands- you?ll quickly figure it out as how the lock screw and lock nut are designed to work. The tensioner plunger shaft must be able to slide out,but not push back .
 
Burque73 said:
I haven't noticed it on my 850 which has 52K miles on it. I wonder if it only becomes an issue on some engines and not others.
Click to expand...

My 80 engine only does it when warm and only sometimes at that.
Today, it started doing it as soon as it ran.
Ach, who knows why - it's one of those things.
Just thought of something - the previous slack time it was on the sidestand for a fortnight. Normally, it's on the centre stand.
 
Grimly said:
My 80 engine only does it when warm and only sometimes at that.
Today, it started doing it as soon as it ran.
Ach, who knows why - it's one of those things.
Just thought of something - the previous slack time it was on the sidestand for a fortnight. Normally, it's on the centre stand.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. While at rest 99% of the time mine is on the center stand. FWIW
 
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