So at the advice of a trusted reputable shop. I openned up the cam chest and found that the thrust washer on the end of the front cam had worn down the cam and was walking around on the cam plate just enough to wear down and cut into the casting. I ended up replacing the cams lifters timing chains outter chain tensioner with all new harley stuff. I opted to replace the cam bearing with a better afternarket one without a retainer. I was able to debur the cam plate where the thrust washer had wrn it and reuse it. All back together adjusted valves again and i still hear the same ticking at idle i heard before. It's more pronounced riding so i'll know in about 30 min when i go for a test ride if its definately still there. At this point it has to be the rockers theres nothing else to replace. But after all this crap and $700 i'm just gonna live with it. Oh and i changed the oil to mobil 1

 

you know i had a rattle in mine but nothing looked bad other than the rear outer cam bearing was bad, i have`nt put it back together yet to see if that takes care of the noise

 

I just got back and it's still knocking. If anything worse then before. I don't know what to do at this point. I don't have the confidence in it to ride it doesn't sound healthy. I've already spent too much money trying to fix it.

 

As mentioned before, heat shield rattle can be misdiagnosed as top end ticking. Just because the hose clamp is tight doesn't mean the clamp weld isn't broken. I'm sure you have dropped at least your front exhaust to enter the cam chest. Recheck the shields, sometimes it's the simplest things.

 

The exaust t nice and tight. I checked the heat shield and flanges first. I was able to do the cam chest with the exaust on. I just couldn't torque the lower 3 bolts of the cover.

 

Not sure wat all you have replaced.but right around 25k to 30k miles it is recommended to replace lifters and i would also recommended installing self adjusting push rods.dont know if any of this will be helpfull to you.good luck

 

You might also check out the Rock out Rockers posts. Supposedly the noise is generated from the rockers roll bar or something to that effect that prevents the rattling noise.

 

Come on guys ... This thread is Six Years Old ... It's probably blown up by now. :>)

 

Yeah I saw that as well, but since someone woke it up again I thought I would add my 2 pennys

 

Yep and when I stopped using synthetic oil it took roughly 300-400 miles the engine quieted down like it was new. Use a good conventional oil and stop using synthetic in vtwins, regardless of Metric or American brands vtwins are noisier than **** with a synthetic lube. If I didn't know what I was talking about wouldnt be sharing it on the forum.