Terrible Clicking Noise

[Guest]

Serious if it's just a click.
Not a tick, clunk or knock.
$1000 to change a petcock. I'm in the wrong business.

 

[campbmic]

Well heres a bit of an update...

After testing the valve clearance I tried to stat the bike (with the plugs off) the cam chain spun, the valves turned and everything but the loud ticking/clanking wasn't there!

I put the plugs back in and the bike started up and the ticking/clanking began again. I pulled one plug at a time and kept the bike running on three spark plugs and the ticking/clanking remained no matter which spark plugs were on.

So, does this mean anything to anyone?

I don't know anything about how engines work but the noise only happens when the pistons are firing and no matter which pistons fire the noise remains so....Thanks in advance to whoever responds!




EDIT: After doing some research it sounds a lot like this--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBQ02WwCVR8&feature=related
I really think that it may be a "main rod bearing" or something along that line

 

[TheCafeKid]

Any chance you have an exhaust leak at the head? That has been known to make a ticking noise. If you arent sure how old your exhaust gaskets are, Id pull em and put new in, then torqure to proper spec. Cam walk, where the cam shifts from side to side, would generally go away with throttle applied as the cam chain tightens and pulls the cams in line. Not saying thats NOT whats happening, but I would check other things as well.

 

[Guest]

I don't know anything about how engines work

well, you seem damn good at investigative work!

my bet is now on the cam-float

now if only chef would stop mocking around and give some advice , or somebody else... cos i kinda feel alone on this one and may be totally off mark

 

[Guest]

Any chance you have an exhaust leak at the head? That has been known to make a ticking noise.

i hope it's something that simple!

tck, how does this work? (havent heard of it yet )

 

[TheCafeKid]

i hope it's something that simple!

tck, how does this work? (havent heard of it yet )

How does what work? A gasket leak at the headers?

 

[Guest]

Could be a blown head gasket or a leaky header.
Feel around the cylinder head gasket and feel for air.
Also around the header.

 

[Guest]

How does what work? A gasket leak at the headers?

what i meant to ask was HOW a leaky gasket produces the ticking sound
just by being loose in between the head and the header?

 

[TheCafeKid]

what i meant to ask was HOW a leaky gasket produces the ticking sound
just by being loose in between the head and the header?

Yes, a forced "puff" of air is escaping between the header and the gasket. I do mean forced too.. usually, when they get bad, its more like a hiss, but if its just starting, it could very well make a ticking noise. Its tough to say tho, without hearing it for myself. We take for granted that when someone describes a noise, I assume when someone talks about a "tick" that they are talking about what *I* would call a tick. Not a ping, which could be detonation, or a knock, which could be piston slap from a bum crank or rod bearing. Bill is right as well, could ALSO be a head gasket leak. I would advise a compression test right off, before any thing else is done. Its the only way you can rule that out for sure. Beyond that, you could also, with the piston at TDC, push on it with a dowel that will fit into the plug hole. If the piston moves, you have a bad rod bearing likely...

 

[campbmic]

Well heres a bit of an update...

After testing the valve clearance I tried to stat the bike (with the plugs off) the cam chain spun, the valves turned and everything but the loud ticking/clanking wasn't there!

I put the plugs back in and the bike started up and the ticking/clanking began again. I pulled one plug at a time and kept the bike running on three spark plugs and the ticking/clanking remained no matter which spark plugs were on.

So, does this mean anything to anyone?

I don't know anything about how engines work but the noise only happens when the pistons are firing and no matter which pistons fire the noise remains so....Thanks in advance to whoever responds!




EDIT: After doing some research it sounds a lot like this--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBQ02WwCVR8&feature=related
I really think that it may be a "main rod bearing" or something along that line

What do you guys think of this?

 

[Guest]

thanks tck

campbmic, that sounds really bad in that video
if yours is as bad - time to replace the engine or tear into it to find out more about the problem

i was hoping my guess about the bad bearing was wrong, as it doesnt happen that often, but maybe it is a bad bearing after all - but i would expect that taking a plug out one at a time would make the noise change, not stay constant

 

[campbmic]

bumps anyones?

 

[TheCafeKid]

bumps anyones?

You can somewhat test for a bad rod bearing by doing what I described above, in using a dowel that will fit into the spark plug hole and pressing on the questionable piston crown. Best to do this with that piston as close to TDC as you can eyeball. If it moves when pressed with the dowel, you likely have a bad rod bearing. If so, the fix would involve splitting the cases, not an easy task for a fledgling mechanic, but not impossible either if you have the patience to learn and the tools, including the MANUAL. If not, start looking for a new engine. If you think it might in fact be the cam chain, you can measure it pretty easily, but you will want a MANUAL to assist you.

 

[Steve]

bumps anyones?

Sure. Here ya go ...

.

 

[Guest]

find a way to record the sound and post it here if you are not sure the noise is the same as in that video

measure the cam chain by removing the valve cover and make sure the tensioner works properly

 

[campbmic]

If anyone is still wondering about this thread it turned out to be a spun main bearing on #3