I just recently developed a ticking sound near the rocker box of the front cylinder only when the bike is hot. Ive got 57,000 miles on the bike, just changed the guides and put adjustable pushrods in about 1500 miles ago and never heard a tick until now. The bike was due for an oil change and I thought that maybe thin oil was the culprit, but I changed the oil and sure enough after about 10-15 mins of running I start to get the tick again. Its not extremely loud, but with quite exhaust I can hear it at low speed and at lights.

Think a pushrod cam out of adjustment? Maybe a lifter going bad?

Most of my experience with bikes has been with over head cam bikes so I am just looking for a little guidance as to where to look.

 

I am not going to lie, but coming from a Honda, all I hear are ticks. If my engine was ticking, I honestly would not know the difference. Yes, I do all my own work, so I am intimately familiar with her.

 

I would say a pushrod came loose or a lifter is not pumping all the way up. Try to re-adjust those front ones and see what they do.

 

As you probably know, twinkie motors are notorious for lifter noise. Lots of theories, including aerated oil, which would prevent your lifters from staying pumped up. I changed to straight 50w dino oil this summer, which has significantly quieted down my valvetrain. It's a little curious that you're getting it from your front cylinder, since most guys get it more from the rear cylinder.

One of these days, I'm going to save up for a set of Woods lifters and see for myself if they're all they're cracked up to be.

 

I have a long trip starting on Wednesday... Makes me nervous to mess around with it to much before the trip... But I suppose I will take the covers off and re adjust the pushrods just to be sure.

In theory, if it was the lifters it would tick cold and hot right? Its just weird that it ticks only when its warmed up. Ive never came acrossed this problem before.

 

Get louder pipes.

 

yeah!... what he said...hahaha