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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
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Message started by Sandy Koocanusa on 06/15/08 at 09:15:38

Title: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 06/15/08 at 09:15:38

Since I adjusted the valves the other day, I'm noticing a little ticking in that area once the engine is warmed up. I saw where someone said they like a "little" valve noise but not "too much." None of my gauges are equipped with those readings so I thought I'd just ask. Is that ticking o.k.?

If I heard it from my car, I wouldn't be worried about it. It's not a loud noise, just that little tickity, tickity sound. But it is a new noise, so it has me fretting.

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by serowbot on 06/15/08 at 13:52:20

Your car has hydraulic lifters, this little guy don't. Plus it's air cooled so valve tolerances are loose. A little ticking is A o.k. No worries.

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 06/15/08 at 14:27:44

Thanks for the confirmation, Serowbot. I wasn't TOO worried, but I'm starting to get butterflies. Every little hiccup makes me nervous because I really want to make this trip next weekend.

Thanks again,
Jason

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by skrapiron on 06/15/08 at 15:43:26

The best description I ever heard for a properly adjusted valve train is it sounds like an angry sewing machine.

Everything on the Savage is mechanically controlled. If you set the valve clearance and hear no noise, you have them too tight. If they sound like a staccatto of mouse traps, they're too loose. A slight tick with a rhythmic humming (like an old sewing machine) and you're dead on.

If you want to quiet it down a touch, use a slightly heavier engine oil. I found my valves were nearly silent when I switched to a 20w50 full synthetic oil...

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by Todd Perry on 06/15/08 at 18:14:29

Yeah, I can second skrapion's comments.

I have very little experience with bikes (I'm on this board because I'm considering buying a '04 Savage), but I have a lot of experience with aircraft and VW engines both and valve noise is expected there. In most cases, no valve ticking is a sign of too-tight clearances (or way way WAY too loose, but it's usually hard to start the engine that way! ;))

If they're just a little too loose, it sounds like a samba beat to me, personally. The point is that there's a syncopation - the valve lifters are not quite hitting every rev (also, she'll probably idle like cr*p...)

Anyway, it's been my experience as an aircraft mechanic that while the safest flight might be the one that never leaves the ground, it's certainly not the most fun. As someone once told me on a VW list - "there ain't no mechanical problem that can't be solved with a quarter in a pay phone, so grab a quarter and head for the border."

Good advice to us all. Of course, now I have a cell phone, but still good advice.

Regards -

Todd Perry

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by buttgoat1 on 06/16/08 at 04:16:23

you might want to double check the valve. I used the wrong feeler guage when I first did mine. I read the standard thickness on the feeler guage instead of the metric one, or vice versa. It was a little noisy, not really bad, but definitely more tick than before, never hurts to double or triplecheck.

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 06/16/08 at 06:06:11

I checked everything about a hundred times, then turned it over for a while with a wrench and checked some more. Had to reset one at that time. When I buttoned things up, the .003" would go in, but the .004" would not. They were right on. The angry sewing machine is an apt description. I would just throw in that the needle is bent slightly and the point is clicking against something as it goes up and down.

The bike is running well, so I guess I'll quit worrying about it.

Thanks for all the replies.

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by Digger on 08/02/08 at 19:39:04

2C3B283D3B3C3B28375A0 wrote:

I did that once on my old '01 GL1100. I knew within the first mile that I'd screwed something up. Off came the valve covers again.......

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/02/08 at 21:06:04

Last time it was time to check them, they didnt need adjusted. Do the parts get seated & work hardened & stop needing adjusted every 3, ooo miles? I used to have to mess with them pretty regularly, seems to be slowing down. Is that normal? I do know the last time I did it, I set them as tight as I could & still get the 3/1000ths in it. Maybe with the clearance tight it doesnt smack it so hard?

Title: Re: Tick, tick, tick, goes the valve train.
Post by Jay on 08/03/08 at 18:08:42

Between the valves and the exhaust, my bike sounds like a sewing machine on top of a lawnmower. Runs great. Less filling. (at the pump!)