| Author | Message | ||
     Captainkirk |
I'm not happy. Last couple of rides on the M2, when I get home (and pull out the earplugs) I can hear my M2 ticking away. It sounds top-endish, though I can't narrow it down to a particular cylinder. I don't notice it on start up with cold oil. I'm running the N8 cams with stock lifters and valve train. Any chance I may have bent a push rod? It's not real loud, just loud enough to worry me and doesn't appear to affect performance. I've checked the exhaust nuts at the flanges (race header) and they're tight. I would imagine a lifter problem would really clatter and run poorly. Any ideas before I start pulling rocker covers? Thanks. | ||
| Kilroy |
Rocker might be tapping the inside top of the rocker cover. N8s have a lot of lift, enough to force the rocker into contact with the cover. Some folks here have ground down the inside of the cover to get a little clearance. | ||
| Captainkirk |
N8s have a lot of lift Well, not really. Stock lift is .490 on the Sporty cam, lift on the N8's is .500-not a lot of difference. But it'a a good suggestion anyway; and if I end up pulling the cover, I'll check for signs of wear. Thanks for the idea! | ||
| Mick |
could be a sticky lifter | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
If it was me I would try a different oil (because you said it happens when the oil is hot) and if that don't work, give a half of a turn on the valve adjustment.(because they sometimes need a tweek) I like to start with the cheap easy stuff first IMHO | ||
| Djkaplan |
Where do you give a half turn on the 'valve adjustment' again? | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Any chance I may have bent a push rod?" I had those very same symptoms when I had a bent pushrod... the VERY same. Maybe you should check them... roll them on a pane of glass or a very flat surface... couldn't hurt to at least check. | ||
| Captainkirk |
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let it ride(unless it gets worse...really worse!)until the weather goes to shit. But I've already put off a couple nice long rides due to this and just limited them to an hour or so. First thing I'll do is check valve adjustment.....  Then, seeing as how there is no valve adjustment, I'll pull the pushrods and check them for bend. If that checks out, I may dig into the cam case and have a peek at the lifters. Come to think of it, this might be a good time to change the oil pump gear. Sigh..the fun never ends! | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
It has been awhile but when did they get rid of the adjusters on the lifters??? Sorry for any misinformation. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Sigh..the fun never ends! Did you over-rev the engine? That can bend a pushrod. I think mine bent (when my bike was brand new) when an exhaust valve galled a guide. It could also be a lifter bleeding down too fast when the oil gets hot. You can nail down the general location by putting a screwdriver to your ear with the tip on various points on the engine... like a stethescope. Try it, it works. | ||
| Brinnutz |
If the screwdriver sounds like chatter on the cam cover...Lifter=bad. Correct? | ||
| Captainkirk |
I've tried the screwdriver, and empty paper towel tubes, to no avail. I can hear the tick pretty much everywhere, though it is much more apparent around the rocker covers. It's really not that loud. It's just that it wasn't there before. I don't think I've over-revved the engine. I've been into the rev-limiter only a couple times. But you never know. I guess the only way to find out is to look, right?  | ||
| Kilroy |
It may just be increased overall valvetrain noise with the new cams. Higher lift and more duration will result in valves slamming shut faster, no? I notice the same thing on mine (also have n8s), not real loud, no performance loss, just annoying. | ||
| Captainkirk |
Ahhh, but the cams have been in there since 2004. I suppose it could be more noticeable since I repacked my race muffler last winter, but it's still pretty loud. I'm pretty sure this is something new. | ||
| Kilroy |
Oh - I thought you just put 'em in. |
