SuzukiSavage.com - Ticking sound

ALittlebird

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Ticking sound
08/08/08 at 17:50:31

Well I now hear a ticking sound coming from the engine so I'm thinking perhaps it's valve time. (I've been trying to read all the posts but I've read so many I'm not sure any more what I have read.)

Ask my mechanic who says "Yes it's the valves but that's a good sound. you want to hear that." Shocked

And why didn't I hear it before then? Huh

So having asked the mechanic I will now ask the experts. Is the ticking a sign I need valve work and if so how long can it go before it's too late. It's suposedly a new engine and I have only put on about 4300 miles since March.

Thanks in advance for the expert advice.

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verslagen1

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Re: Ticking sound
Reply #1 - 08/08/08 at 18:02:57

Some ticking is a good thing. The valves need some clearance or they'll bind up when either very hot or cold.

As to why you might not of heard them before... did he just adjust them? they may have been too tight. And they do wear and may have loosened a little. And it is one of those sounds you get used too and then become hyper aware of when someone asks you, does it aways tick like that? Shocked

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Ticking sound
Reply #2 - 08/08/08 at 18:18:22

How long since the valves were checked?If you dont like the way it sounds, check them IF you hear it & If they are fine then you learned what they are supposed to sound like. It doesnt cost anything to check them. What does it cost to not? Weekend is upon us. You can park it tonite & strip it down, check in the morning, adjust if necessary, slap it together & hit the road.

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shadowman Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 91 Northern Virginia Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #3 - 08/08/08 at 18:24:54 If you had ever had an old VW you wouldn't be giving this a second thought. It's more a clatter than a ticking, right? It quiets down a little when it warms up? Check your valve clearance, change your air freshener every 2000 miles, and enjoy.
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ALittlebird

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Re: Ticking sound
Reply #4 - 08/08/08 at 18:42:18

It's a light ticking reminding me somewhat of an old diesel mercedes but definitely no where near that loud.

I have no idea when they checked the valves. I took it in for a service right before that trip and I really don;t think they did anything but change the oil. Cold be wrong but I don't think so.

VWs - yes! Dad had several bugs, Mom had a van and then my first car was a 74 orange super beetle affectionately called the punkin. It's been over 30 years since I drove one so I really don;t remember how they sounded. And I refuse to admit I'm that old. Grin

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ALittlebird

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Re: Ticking sound
Reply #5 - 08/08/08 at 18:46:23

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 08/08/08 at 18:18:22:

How long since the valves were checked?If you dont like the way it sounds, check them IF you hear it & If they are fine then you learned what they are supposed to sound like. It doesnt cost anything to check them. What does it cost to not? Weekend is upon us. You can park it tonite & strip it down, check in the morning, adjust if necessary, slap it together & hit the road.

Yes well I have to be 40 miles away by 10 am tomorrow morning giving a program on medicinal herbs. And while I do get up at 4 I really don't want to tear apart the bike tomorrow.

And to be honest I'm not comfortable with the idea of tearing it down just yet. I'll get there but I just did my first oil change 2 weeks ago. I'm fairly mechanically inclined but still a newbie.

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #6 - 08/08/08 at 19:48:53 Most likely the valves are alright My wifes Suzuki GN 400 went over 20000 miles and the valve were never adjusted That was a single too.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #7 - 08/08/08 at 19:51:05 Read up on it lb, it's really simple. In fact the hardest part is getting the little cover out of the left side. Real hard if you don't have the right tool. Look into it and getrdone.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Ticking sound Reply #8 - 08/08/08 at 20:39:12 Start reading up on it, gather up tools & make an appointment with the garage. Easy to do, spooky the first few times. You'll get comfortable with it after a few times.
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Sandy Koocanusa Serious Thumper Offline Don't blame me. I didn't vote for him. Posts: 1878 Bigfork, MT Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #9 - 08/09/08 at 19:37:44 My bike didn't tick at all until I started fooling with it. Turns out, the valves were toooooo tight. My smallest feeler is .002" and I couldn't cram it in there. Once I set them to spec, they started ticking.
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ALittlebird Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 495 Louisville, KY Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #10 - 08/10/08 at 03:52:03 Thanks guys!
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Digger Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ya gotta be tough to ride singles! Posts: 1604 Colorado Springs, CO Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #11 - 08/11/08 at 20:41:28 "Slappy valves are happy valves!"
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28637 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #12 - 08/11/08 at 22:15:18 Sewing machine, tickity-tickity is o.k., louder when hot, still o.k. Clackety-clackety, two spoons banging together is too loose...
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ALittlebird Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 495 Louisville, KY Gender:	Re: Ticking sound Reply #13 - 08/12/08 at 08:03:00 Serowbot wrote on 08/11/08 at 22:15:18: Sewing machine, tickity-tickity is o.k., louder when hot, still o.k. Clackety-clackety, two spoons banging together is too loose... Thanks! Sewing machine it is. At least my old treadle machine sounds like that.
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Jay

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Re: Ticking sound
Reply #14 - 08/13/08 at 00:57:46

ALittlebird wrote on 08/12/08 at 08:03:00:

Serowbot wrote on 08/11/08 at 22:15:18:

Sewing machine, tickity-tickity is o.k., louder when hot, still o.k. Clackety-clackety, two spoons banging together is too loose...

Thanks! Sewing machine it is. At least my old treadle machine sounds like that.

That's what your looking for. I alwyas say between the aircooled engine and the exhaust note, it sounds like a sewing machine sitting on top of a lawnmower.

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