Life is full of frustration. What started me in this particular journey was the emergence of a new "Clack" "Clack" noise when kicking the motor over (and if you listen closely its also there when the motor is running). I removed the spark plug and kicked it over again, this time NOT using the valve lifter and that made no difference to the noise Clack-Clack still there.
By the way, new mains and big end installed just 1,000 miles back. This noise was NOT there after that work – it has only started within the last 30 miles of use.
So my first step was to remove both of the pushrods (and spark plug) and then again kick the motor over - result was no trace of the clack-clack noise. Then I reinstalled the spark plug and kicked it over against compression and again no trace of the clack-clack noise.
I did find a loose exhaust rocker bearing, being able to wobble the pushrod end of the rocker from side to side. Not so on the inlet - it was rock stable.
So I concluded the source must be in the valve train but to be certain I opened up the timing chest and checked the cam bushes, cam spindles, cam followers and cam follower spindles but found no slop anywhere and no possible 'clashing' of components though there is just the slightest evidence of wear on the cam spindle. So I figure the timing chest is not the source of the noise - any other views on this??
Next I removed BOTH the rocker assemblies from the head and found some minor damage to the exhaust rocker tunnel and the exhaust bearing. The inlet seems perfect. I cleaned up the exhaust rocker tunnel of the superficial marks then fitted a brand new rocker bearing, a brand new rocker and a brand new rocker pin - there is now absolutely no slop in either the inlet or exhaust rocker tunnels or the bits in there.
Pushrods back in (spark plug out) and kick the motor over - CRIPES!! Bloody noise is still there Clack-Clack.
So I then over adjust the 'tappets' so that I know when the cam followers are on the base circle of the cam the valve heads are NOT contacting the valve seats and try again - still Clack-Clack. Then I went the other way, loosening the adjusters so I was sure of really positive seating of the valves - yep the noise is still there.
I even pulled the cap off that's over the exhaust valve itself, but even with the cap removed the noise was still the same.
I also checked the oil pump and it is delivering to the quill and also to the UFM .
The next thing I did – was a bit of a repeat – was to remove just the exhaust pushrod and try again – noise STILL there, then I replaced the exhaust pushrod and removed only the inlet pushrod – noise STILL there. Remember – with BOTH pushrods out there is no noise.
Before I go to what I think is the next stage of UFM off to get the head off to check the valve seats I am just wondering if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions that I should consider?
By the way, new mains and big end installed just 1,000 miles back. This noise was NOT there after that work – it has only started within the last 30 miles of use.
So my first step was to remove both of the pushrods (and spark plug) and then again kick the motor over - result was no trace of the clack-clack noise. Then I reinstalled the spark plug and kicked it over against compression and again no trace of the clack-clack noise.
I did find a loose exhaust rocker bearing, being able to wobble the pushrod end of the rocker from side to side. Not so on the inlet - it was rock stable.
So I concluded the source must be in the valve train but to be certain I opened up the timing chest and checked the cam bushes, cam spindles, cam followers and cam follower spindles but found no slop anywhere and no possible 'clashing' of components though there is just the slightest evidence of wear on the cam spindle. So I figure the timing chest is not the source of the noise - any other views on this??
Next I removed BOTH the rocker assemblies from the head and found some minor damage to the exhaust rocker tunnel and the exhaust bearing. The inlet seems perfect. I cleaned up the exhaust rocker tunnel of the superficial marks then fitted a brand new rocker bearing, a brand new rocker and a brand new rocker pin - there is now absolutely no slop in either the inlet or exhaust rocker tunnels or the bits in there.
Pushrods back in (spark plug out) and kick the motor over - CRIPES!! Bloody noise is still there Clack-Clack.
So I then over adjust the 'tappets' so that I know when the cam followers are on the base circle of the cam the valve heads are NOT contacting the valve seats and try again - still Clack-Clack. Then I went the other way, loosening the adjusters so I was sure of really positive seating of the valves - yep the noise is still there.
I even pulled the cap off that's over the exhaust valve itself, but even with the cap removed the noise was still the same.
I also checked the oil pump and it is delivering to the quill and also to the UFM .
The next thing I did – was a bit of a repeat – was to remove just the exhaust pushrod and try again – noise STILL there, then I replaced the exhaust pushrod and removed only the inlet pushrod – noise STILL there. Remember – with BOTH pushrods out there is no noise.
Before I go to what I think is the next stage of UFM off to get the head off to check the valve seats I am just wondering if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions that I should consider?
