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Message started by rl153 on 07/16/11 at 14:02:56

Title: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/16/11 at 14:02:56

My bike is a 2005 s40 with 4k mi on it . It runs good ,but when it gets hot the valves make noise . What exactly is happening to cause it to tic rather loudly and is it normal ? I have filled the oil to the sight glass bottom on the side stand. I can't fix it myself , do you think I should bring it in ? It's not that loud but definately noticable.I don't want to damage anything . Thanks.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by Boule’tard on 07/16/11 at 14:17:05

Valves are going to make more noise when the oil's hot (and thin) no matter what you do. You can mitigate that problem by adjusting them (to what, 0.004"?) and running fresh 20W-50 when the weather's hot.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/16/11 at 14:26:44

I think the book calls for valve adj at 5,000 miles. & Yes, you can do it,, If you dont do your own basic maintenance, youll spend so much on mechanics the bike will stop being an inexpensive ride, the $$$ you spend on tools will be saved on the first job & then some, & yea, if youre hearing it get louder, its probably time,, after a while, they dont need adjusted so oftenb, once the adjuster tips get flattened out some & they work harden,

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/16/11 at 15:21:14

what will happen if I just let them tic?

Title: Re: Valves
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/16/11 at 15:41:25

For a while, nothin,, theyre always gonna tic,, if you make them stop ticking, then youve got big troubles,, eventually, unless they get adjusted, the parts that come together to open them will beat themselves up & mushroom the tips ( Which is gonna happen over time , but you dont want this kind of SLAP going on), youll lose some power, because the valves wont be opening as far as theyre supposed to,, Ive heard it can cause some wear on the cam, & tappets, because they slap the same as the end that opens the valve,, & ,, others have come in here, never messed with valves & survived, because the people her can talk you thru it,, I know,, I couldnt do it when I got here,.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by verslagen1 on 07/16/11 at 15:42:05

71786B7473782C2F24241D0 wrote:

what will happen if I just let them tic?

they're supposed to tic like a swiss watch.
when they start ticking like a guy playing the spoons, it is time to adjust.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/17/11 at 11:32:32

I think mine falls in the spoon categorey. How much should a reasonable valve adjustment cost?

Title: Re: Valves
Post by Boule’tard on 07/17/11 at 11:43:03

If I was a bike mechanic I'd only charge an hour to do it. It's pretty easy, probably $100 or less in mechanic time, and no disposables required --BUT-- the engine has to be cold to get a good reading. So figure on leaving your bike in the shop overnight.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/17/11 at 14:14:36

thanks alot ,thats not too bad

Title: Re: Valves
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/17/11 at 16:19:21

FWIW, I took mine to a shop the 1st time.. the guy was nice enough to let me watch, I figured I could do it after that,

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/17/11 at 16:23:21

Whats the name of the cover you have to take off to get at them? Does it leak if they don't put it back on right? The mechanic listened to it once and told me not to worry about it ,but it definately seems too loud to me.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/17/11 at 16:34:00

The big worry is a hamfisted loon twisting the bolts off,, theyre soft,, better that it leak & then you tighten it a bit more than someone "Makin sure it doesnt leak" by twisting one off,.,. & theres an odd shaped Oring under the caps over the valves,, Snug is plenty good.
& theyre sposed to be adjusted cold, so the valve stems are short, adjust them hot & it'll be loose, doesnt have to be exactly room temp, but far below operating temp is the idea. Besides, working in there is tight,, a hot engine would be a real bummer to try to work on the valves.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by Routy on 07/18/11 at 07:59:13

5E57445B5C5703000B0B320 wrote:

The mechanic listened to it once and told me not to worry about it ,but it definately seems too loud to me.

Does this tell you something ?

Have you heard other air cooled engines running in hot weather to have something to compare to ?

Do you hear it while riding, or just idling ?

Do you have a windshield,....or possibly just added one ?

All these things make a difference.

You may not have any abnormal noise at all.
When idling hot, mine is noisy at best !
And its a lot nosier while riding after a windshield install.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by adberns on 07/18/11 at 09:03:05

RL153, where are you located? Assuming I did the valves this weekend correctly on the 1998 Savage (see my other thread about tight valves), it wasn't too difficult. May be able to help out.

If you'd rather, you can PM with your state/region.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by ralfyguy on 07/18/11 at 10:45:30

When the motor on mine is cold, it sounds nice and smooth. The valves have a real light tick, you have to listen real close to hear it. When the motor is hot, especially in this hot weather and when coming off the highway, it makes quiet some racket at idle. Almost sound like a loose tensioner. But i have the extended plunger in there already, so it can't be that. Turn it off for 10 minutes, and start it back up again, and the racket is gone.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by bill67 on 07/18/11 at 10:58:50

353A203B27213230383621530 wrote:

[quote author=5E57445B5C5703000B0B320 link=1310850176/0#10 date=1310945001] The mechanic listened to it once and told me not to worry about it ,but it definately seems too loud to me.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/18/11 at 11:15:52

I hear it mainly while idling and hot.The bike has a windshield,you don't really hear the valves when you are riding except if you coast. When it just starts off at idle it's no problem . After riding 20 minutes on a hot day it idles rather noisily. What is making the noise? Too much of a gap, from wear after a while? I made an appointment to bring it in . One of the guys here said if it sounds like spoons tapping after a while ,it needs an adjustment . If you don't adjust it ,damage will occur. I don't know .The bike has 4k on it ,it might need it. I might waste some money ,but I think that is my best course to take.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/18/11 at 12:35:04

Thanks Routy and Bill ,and everyone else for your input. I drove the bike for 1/2 hour then dropped in on my mechanic . It wasn't quite as hot today, and the valves were slightly quieter. He said "that's just the way these bikes sound" .The valves were still noisey, but I guess I'm not damaging anything so I canceled my appointment to have the valves adjusted.I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to my equiptment.Other than that it runs strong . You guys saved me some dough ,thanks.

Title: Re: Valves
Post by Sunchasers on 07/18/11 at 21:25:46

626B7867606B3F3C37370E0 wrote:

I drove the bike for 1/2 hour then dropped in on my mechanic . It wasn't quite as hot today, and the valves were slightly quieter. He said "that's just the way these bikes sound" .

Sounds like an honest mechanic.... might want to keep him handy. ;)

Title: Re: Valves
Post by rl153 on 07/19/11 at 06:41:01

Your right ,they are very good.