I am currently trying to track down an annoying pinging coming from the coming from my bike. It's subtly there when idling and grows louder as I increase the revs. I'm not sure if it is an engine knock, a leak at the header, a leak at the slip-on end of the muffler or coming from around the carburetor.

Here is a list of items I have done to my bike before the ping started.

1. Took off and put back on my muffler trying to squelch some of the exhaust leaks. I think it's still leaking at the join but I have had no real repercussions from it, eg bogging, back firing etc.

2. I have loosened and re-tightened the header pipe just in case a leak had developed while I has putting the muffler back on. Again, no issues like bogging etc.

3. Removed and re-jetted the carb with a set of Lancers miracle workers.
I have rejetted the carb from stock (Pilot - 52.5; Main - 145; Needle - white spacer) too Pilot - 55; Main - 150; Needle - three washers (about 1/2 - 2/3 of white spacer height). I have also looked around and cannot see any signs of a tear or gap between the carb and engine boot or the carb and airbox tube.

4. I have run both 87 then 91 petrol to see if that would effect a change, which it didn't.

I am currently out of ideas of what it could be, any suggestions?

You may want to check your cam chain tensioner  first , if its very extended it can cause the same type of noise ,usually louder at idle .(no special tools needed). If the tiny snap ring has jumped off the stud that holds the base of the adjuster, the adjuster will try to slide of the stud,  it can't,  but will misalign and cause valve noise.( a tapping sound heard throughout the motor).
    You may want to check the adjustment of the decomp solenoid , if not set right the small arm on the exhaust valve rocker could be hitting the cam in the cylinder head.( also a sign of rockerarm pivot ware)

UPDATE

The ping seems to be coming from the exhaust port right side valve (from standing in front of the front tyre looking down the bike to the tail). I have readjusted the valve clearances as well as the de-comp solenoid resulting in the ping being a lot quieter but still noticeable.

I did check the cam adjuster (I installed a verslavy about 1000 miles ago) and everything is as it should be.

Am I wrong in suspecting that the cam chain could be throwing the out the valve clearances? I have just hit 22000 miles on a bike that looks to have had the head removed by the previous owner.

The Verslavy is on the second hole with the cam adjuster tightly compressed.

I live just under 1000' above sea level.

My current jetting set up is:
Pilot - 55
Main - 150
Needle - three washers (about 1/2 - 2/3 of white spacer height)
(This is from Lancers reject pack).

This was changed from the stock setup of:
Pilot - 52.5
Main - 145
Needle - white spacer

I had the plug out the other night and noticed that it was black and sooty. Running too rich?

I have recently switched out the large HD touring muffler to a 09 dyna slip on. When I went for a motorway run today I noticed that once I hit 60 the bike considerably stopped pulling with it being almost non exsistant once I got up to 70. At 80 bike would start cutting out and surging slightly until I dropped back down to 75 - 70.
With the HD touring muffler I didn't experience this. The bike would pull all they way up to 75 - 80. I have got her up to 85 - 87 and during that speed had no cutting or surging.

Thanks for the feedback Batman!

You have to remember that all your jets are cumulative ,that is even at WOT your pilot jet is still adding to your fuel, and a 55 pilot isn't needed unless you at sea level .

I didnott gnothat.

Dave wrote on 07/30/19 at 04:09:54:


Sometimes it feels like metal banging on metal in the foot pegs on the left side of the engine. I can't say I have heard a pinging sounds as described but I would still like to check the flywheel nut this winter among other things. I found a thread suggesting that I need a 46mm socket and I found the torque specs but how can I lock the shaft?

I tuned back my carb this morning (made leaner) which has made a dramatic difference. There was a little bit of engine "ditting" (dit .. dit dit .. dit .. dit .. etc) when I hit 80, but nothing as drastic as what I had on Sunday. The bike pulled a lot better with her dropping off at around 70 - 75. I have tuned the card back by another 1/4 of a turn and will test again this afternoon. I hope to change my pilot back to stock in the next few days.

Regarding the ping, it has become quieter with the carb adjustment. It's still there, but not as intrusive as it has been.

Again, thanks Batman for your help!

Lancer, have a question for you. Is the size of the pilot jet in your kit which has holes down it's length #52.5? It's hard to read the number on that jet.

- cheers!

Both rocker arms should have slight lateral movement when the piston is at TDC on compression stroke.  They are nested in the head cover and use a wave washer to keep them from rattling around.  I'm guessing each should have about .010" to .030" lateral movement, and should spring back due to the wave washer.  Obviously, if an adjuster is too tight, or if you don't have the piston at TDC compression, the valves might be open and then you won't be able to move the rocker arm right & left.

If you have 5mm (.200") of lateral movement, I'm guessing you are missing a wave washer, or the head cover is very, very, very worn.  This picture shows how the wave washer is installed.  BTW, they can be pretty tricky to get in there, and a missing wave washer would probably make a lot of high pitched ticking/tacking/pinging noise.  Also, if the adjuster is allowed to overlap the valve stem, all hell is gonna break loose.