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Can you get it to make the tic sitting still? if so, get you a good mechanics' stethoscope so both ears are plugged. (made mine from a real one using a steel brake line peened over) I bet if you cannot locate it with that, your sound is coming from the exhaust. Mine does it at certain temperatures (I especially can here it when I wear my full face helmet when moving) Like you say, it's random. When I pull into my garage and the bike is hot, mine can really sound bad. Use to think it was primary chain and then I just knew it was inner cam bearings. However when I put the stethoscope on it, all sounds like a smooth wherr..even the lifters. if it's ticking,your are going to here that in a stethoscope.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 29, 2013 at 07:40 PM.
When it starts ticking, yes, it will do it at idle. My wife sitting next to me on her street glide can hear if I rev it a little. The stethoscope is a good idea, but as far as a good one? Called Harbor freight down the street, they have one for 4 bucks. lol.
Was yours an exhaust noise or was it the cam bearings? I wouldn't imagine they would tick.
Was yours an exhaust noise or was it the cam bearings? I wouldn't imagine they would tick.
Sorry about the run on sentences above. I put the stethoscope all over engine,primary and transmission and all sounds like a smooth wherr. Take the stethoscope out of my ears and I hear it. I think it's the exhaust. Maybe a little random after burn inside the exhaust ..got me? If I get behind the bike, all I here is loud exhaust, If I stand on left or on the seat, I hear random clattering tick. It's going to have to break before I go into it looking for it. However,my tensioner check is probably due this winter at 45K. This time I may just pull the cam plate out with the cams and measure the oil pump for wear. If I do, I will just throw in new tensioners. They had very little wear at 30K. I have the old style primary tensioner and a little front sprocket run out along with a little uneven wear in the primary chain making long and short spots in it. It makes the tension change on the chain. My noise could just be chain slap on the delrin tensioner and I can hear it, but cannot pick it up on the stethoscope.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 29, 2013 at 07:40 PM.
to check for exaust or manifold leaks sprat wd40 on one at a time if motor idal raises theres youre leak if not like above said to check gaps on rocker arm shims-gap see mmanual for min gap if its none of that then startlooking in the lower end when u did cams did you change the cam tensioner shoesan changeto Torrington cam bearing if that's all good maybe in lower end bearings hope not good luck bud
when u did cams did you change the cam tensioner shoesan changeto Torrington cam bearing if that's all good maybe in lower end bearings hope not good luck bud
I never changed cams, everything is stock except stage 1, and now new lifters and pushrods since the noise started.
I couldn't find the source of the noise even with the stethoscope so I decided to remove the complete exhaust system and check the gaskets, clamps, etc. There were no signs of leaks at the head pipe gaskets, O2 sensors, clamps, etc. No cracks were seen in the headpipe, but I decided to go with a true dual pipe while I got it apart. I'll replace gaskets, clamps, the works. I removed the cam cover while the exhaust was off. Outer tensioner looks like new, no plastic pieces under the cover, and as far as I can tell, the inside tensioner is fine as well. I guess after replacing the exhaust, if the noise is still present than I'll pull the rocker box covers off and check for play. Would that be intermittent though? Would it come and go almost instantly?
If the rocker box area was the source of the ticking, you would hear it with the mechanics stethoscope. I would be surprised if the noise was coming from the boxes. Were your heat shields tight or hitting on anything?
If the rocker box area was the source of the ticking, you would hear it with the mechanics stethoscope. I would be surprised if the noise was coming from the boxes. Were your heat shields tight or hitting on anything?
Heat shields seem fine and it follows the engine rpm's just like a lifter would. It has done it on very hot days and on cool mornings, never made the noise the first 38,000 miles, just recently.
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