Loud ticking...

Hi everyone,

When I took my bike out to test some parts, there was a loud ticking coming from what seemed to be the left side top end of the motor (when you're sitting on the bike.) This only occurs where there is a load on the motor, so not at idle. Ocassionally it happens when I start the bike. It seems to go away after about 3000 rpms. Also, it is in time with the engine speed, so it has to be a moving drivetrain part.

Only thing that has been changed recently is I rebuilt the fuel petcock, and I need to loose up the bolts on the clutch.

Valves checked and specked 3,000 miles ago.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Gato

 

Could possibly be a loose exhaust header. That usually makes a ticking sound. Does it go away when it warms up?

 

It doesn't exactly go away, but does it a bit less. I'll check it!

 

Whaa?? "Loosen" what bolts on the clutch?

(Which has nothing to do with the ticking.) I agree that your tick could very well be an exhaust header gasket leak; they tend to sound very "metallic" or mechanical.

 

Two years ago I rebuilt the clutch. On the bolts with the tension springs, I think I was using a bad torque wrench and I got them too tight. When I shift, it is a tad 'clunky' and it is almost impossible to get the bike in neutral at a standstill while the bike is running. I've tried adjusting the clutch cable top and bottom without much improvement.
Didn't seem to be as bad a year ago.

 

OK. But those bolts are not an "adjustment point." They tighten up and stop. Unless you got them so tight as to break something, that's not your issue. You can loosen and then re-torque them to the correct spec, but that won't change anything.

Your symptoms are indeed those of a dragging clutch. You said you've tried adjusting the cable. I'll assume it's properly lubed; have you replaced it? A cable that has a broken strand or two inside somewhere, or a worn inner sheath, will introduce enough stretch or "stretch effect" into the cable that it won't get a "full pull." It might be time for a new cable. You may also need to back the little lever on top of the case up by one spline so it has a longer pull to it.

When you rebuilt the clutch, what condition were the hub and basket in, wear-wise? How deep (or not) were the "divots" from the plates riding in/on them? If the hub and/or basket (usually moreso the hub) is worn significantly where the plates engage, it will cause the clutch to hang up and not want to disengage properly.

Something else is going on; like I said unless you broke a spring post by overtightening, the torque on the bolts ain't it.

Were you careful to align the dot on the pressure plate with the dot cast into the hub?

 

get yourself a length of garden / heater hose about 2 feet long, put one end to your ear and touch the other end around the engine till you find that tick.
exhaust flanges, cam chain tunnel on the valve cover. if none of that finds it, take the ignition pickup cover off and carefully listen to the spinning rotor.

 

I have recently bought a 2004 Honda Rebel 250 with about 2000 miles on it and it too was almost impossible to get into neutral at idle. I lowered the idle speed and it helped a lot. But after reading Fitz's comments I'm going to check the cable and lube it.

 

"Neutral Fight" ... "Clunking into gear" ... and "Red Light Creep" are all noticeable symptoms of a Clutch not properly adjusted.

 

Yeah, I do believe this is the case.
Anyways, new manifold gasket for the ticking, and will adjust the clutch this weekend!

 

I know I get a little tick before the oil gets to the cams when I start her up. Only a second or so tho, you good on oil level?

 

I lubed my clutch cable last year and the whole thing felt totally different. Much more then I could ever imagine. It was like a new clutch. Way, way easier to pull also. I barley even lubed it also.

Chris.

P.S. It's zero out with snow and am wanting to go ride so bad. I can hardly wait until it gets better conditions.

 

Well, I've done all of this work, but I still can't get this ticking to go away. I'm a bit worried about it. I'm planning a long move to Texas as well here pretty soon...