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I have a 1985 flhtc and when the bike gets to running down the road I hear a ticking noise at the front of the bike in motor area. If I pull the clutch in or am at idle I don't hear it. I have heard go to dyno oil and use lucus additive. Any thoughts or diagnostic gel would be a big help. Thanks y'all!
When the lifters start to go you will hear a "knocka-knocka" noise in the cam cover. By then, damage has already been done.
Otherwise, you will find that every Evo has its own unique sound when it's running. Some are pretty quiet, some have terrible valvetrain ticks and rattles. Mine has a definite valvetrain rattle, which has gone on for 99,000 miles. Drives me crazy at times, but has proven to be harmless.
That said, an exhaust leak can imitate a valvetrain tick. If you've had the pipes off the bike recently, that's the first place I'd look. Despite what the book implies, the exhaust gaskets are "one time use" only.
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