TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK? If spark plug unpluged it stops?

[TearlessTom]

I have just acquired a ticking sound. To me it sounds like a exhaust or some sort of leak but I cant find it.  It started right after a fill up at a station on a road trip so it is not a station that I use often although it was a name brand station.

I've also just changed the oil but used Mobil Synthetic and a quality filter.  Not over filled.

Gas milage has been good.  No noticeable loss in power

My wife stated that her Harley was running poorly after the fill up also.

Ive put my ear to the valve cover and do not hear anything unusual.

However I have narrowed it down to the #6 cylinder.  If I unplug the sparkplug the ticking stops?

Any ideas?

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

I would reconsider the exhaust leak idea again. I had a ticking that started up and it was a leak. Check the exhaust header nuts are tight. Carefully! The studs are easy to break off if you over torque! Could be the leak and bad gas are a coincedence. Good Luck! 

[TearlessTom]

I would reconsider the exhaust leak idea again. I had a ticking that started up and it was a leak. Check the exhaust header nuts are tight. Carefully! The studs are easy to break off if you over torque! Could be the leak and bad gas are a coincedence. Good Luck! 

Nope the nuts are all tight, actually #2, and 4 were looser than 6.

I pulled the plug and it is not fouled. Nice gray color like it should be.

I pulled the cover off and rechecked the valves. The exhaust was a tad out but just barely. I put it back into spec and there is no change in the ticking sound. 
I checked the vacuum line and it is not leaking.

Anyone else have an idea. I'm stumped. Especially since the ticking stops when I unplug the spark plug.

Anyone?

[Pete]

Possibly the resister in the plug cap, a bad plug cap or bad spark plug. Pete.

[PAVALKER]

Possibly the resister in the plug cap, a bad plug cap or bad spark plug. Pete.

I agree.... change the plug and see what you get.  The electrode could be cracked and arcing inside the insulator as well.

[TearlessTom]

Possibly the resister in the plug cap, a bad plug cap or bad spark plug. Pete.

I agree.... change the plug and see what you get.  The electrode could be cracked and arcing inside the insulator as well.

I will check this in the AM but I don't think that is it.  Reasoning is when I disconnect the plug wire to #6 it makes more of an effect on the engine than when I disconnect any of the other 5. So to my logic I must be getting a good spark.

Is that flawed. Electrical is not my strong suite.

Tom

[Sodbuster]

Have it running out in the garage with all the lights OFF (other than MC lights) and see if you can find any tell tale arcing at the source ....

[Pete]

Yes it can "tick" and still fire the plug, especially at idle. Thanks Pete.

[TearlessTom]

UPDATE: 

I changed the plug and it made no difference.  It only ticks when it fires.  If unplugged, no tick?

[wdvalk]

Are the theads good on that spark plug hole?

[SgtBunny]

UPDATE: 

I changed the plug and it made no difference.  It only ticks when it fires.  If unplugged, no tick?

I have had a plug wire on my car do the same thing.  It was arcing along the outside of the wire and still firing the plug.

Sounds like you may have a similar situation.

[R J]

I have just acquired a ticking sound. To me it sounds like a exhaust or some sort of leak but I cant find it.  It started right after a fill up at a station on a road trip so it is not a station that I use often although it was a name brand station.

I've also just changed the oil but used Mobil Synthetic and a quality filter.  Not over filled.

Gas milage has been good.  No noticeable loss in power

My wife stated that her Harley was running poorly after the fill up also.

Ive put my ear to the valve cover and do not hear anything unusual.

However I have narrowed it down to the #6 cylinder.  If I unplug the sparkplug the ticking stops?

Any ideas?

Exhaust leak, tighten your header nuts.  NOT TOO tight or you will break them off.

[TearlessTom]

Are the theads good on that spark plug hole?

Yes, I added a bit of di-electric grease just to make sure a good seal. Threads and screws in and out very smoothly.

[TearlessTom]

Are the theads good on that spark plug hole?

Yes, I added a bit of di-electric grease just to make sure a good seal. Threads and screws in and out very smoothly.

That has already been done. I may take the headers off and check the gasket to see if possible cracked but the headers are tight themselves. The # 6 was actually tighter than # 2 & 4.

[Warlock]

Be careful of the grease. Being it is non conductive it can cause it to arc. JAT. It's good when used right, but bad if applied between two points that suppose to make contact.
David

[JimC]

I'm with Sgtbunny,
sounds like a plug wire arching to ground somewhere.
Jim

[TearlessTom]

Be careful of the grease. Being it is non conductive it can cause it to arc. JAT. It's good when used right, but bad if applied between two points that suppose to make contact.
David

I just applied just a touch to  the threads just to make sure it wasnt a comprssion leak. That shouldnt be a problem should it?

[Warlock]

Very possible. I would clean it off and plug it back in. If it stills ticks you might want to cover the headlights and get it in the dark and you might be able to see where it's arching at. JAT. Also if your bike hasn't been de smogged check the connections on the steel lines. There are some rubber fiting there that could have a crack.
David

[Old Geezer Richard]

Hey Tom , just for the hell of it , turn off the lights in the garage and see if there is any arching going on while your Valk is running ..... the only time I have heard a tick is either an electrical arc or a  hyd lifter was dirty .... ???    you never know where it is arching ... take your side cover off and that way with the lites off look at the coils while their firing ... if its electricial there has to be a ground somewhere to arch ....

[Ricky-D]

I'd suggest using a non-conductive stethoscope and narrowing it down to a definitive point from where the ticking is originating.

Trying ideas out upon generalities could produce more problems and lead to more headaches.

***

[1fastbob]

Conductive stethoscope and a metal hat would be way more fun.  Great way to get a new hair style!

[N8171S]

I have heard of this problem on a goldwing.  Turned out to be the piston and wrist pin. Hope this not the case for you because it requires a teardown to fix.

[1fastbob]

It's funny you mention the wrist pin.  I have been thinking that all along, but was afraid to post it due to the flaming I might get from the left coast.  LOL

Wrist pin will cause this symptom.  If it ends up not being electrical that's what I'd be looking at.

Glad you posted it.

Bob

[TearlessTom]

Hey Tom , just for the hell of it , turn off the lights in the garage and see if there is any arching going on while your Valk is running ..... the only time I have heard a tick is either an electrical arc or a  hyd lifter was dirty .... ???    you never know where it is arching ... take your side cover off and that way with the lites off look at the coils while their firing ... if its electricial there has to be a ground somewhere to arch ....

Tried that and I can not find an arch. I will try this again in the morning when I get home as it will still be dark out.   I am starting to lean more towards a lifter.  

Conductive stethoscope and a metal hat would be way more fun.  Great way to get a new hair style!

Tried this with and without the metal hard hat. Only I was using my pediatric stetoscope and not a mechanics.  No luck...and if you knew what I look liked the only way to have a different hair style is to HAVE HAIR!

I was still unable to locate the sound. It seems to be coming from around mid engine.  

I have heard of this problem on a goldwing.  Turned out to be the piston and wrist pin. Hope this not the case for you because it requires a teardown to fix.

I am leaning more and more towards this myself as the sound seems more mid engine.  No exhaust leak, oil leaks around any gasket, no intake leak.   I have desmogged the bike and hoping maybe a plug came off but that would not explain why it is only on #6.

Also my Cruse control has stopped working????  Still has power but that is another issue. I was thinking it may be a vaccum line because of that but I just checked and still getting vacumn to the unit.?

Oh and on a side note I am noticing a bit more smoke coming from the 2,4,6 exhaust than the 1,3,5 exhaust.  I am not too concerned about the smoke as I dumped liberal quantities of Sea-Foam and Marval Mystery oil in the tank in thinking it was the bad gas.

Tom

[woefman]

Possibly the resister in the plug cap, a bad plug cap or bad spark plug. Pete.

I agree.... change the plug and see what you get.  The electrode could be cracked and arcing inside the insulator as well.

I will check this in the AM but I don't think that is it.  Reasoning is when I disconnect the plug wire to #6 it makes more of an effect on the engine than when I disconnect any of the other 5. So to my logic I must be getting a good spark.

Is that flawed. Electrical is not my strong suite.

Tom

Before Spending Money  Move the plug to a different Hole

And then Move the Plugwire to a Different Hole

[TearlessTom]

Possibly the resister in the plug cap, a bad plug cap or bad spark plug. Pete.

I agree.... change the plug and see what you get.  The electrode could be cracked and arcing inside the insulator as well.

I will check this in the AM but I don't think that is it.  Reasoning is when I disconnect the plug wire to #6 it makes more of an effect on the engine than when I disconnect any of the other 5. So to my logic I must be getting a good spark.

Is that flawed. Electrical is not my strong suite.

Tom

Before Spending Money  Move the plug to a different Hole

And then Move the Plugwire to a Different Hole

I have changed the plug itself with no change. I plan on swapping the wires in the AM to see if the problem follows the wire. I am not seeing any arch.
I would much rather buy a new set of plug wires (afterall she is 13 years old) than tearing into the engine.

Tom

[TearlessTom]

With the help of Dennis Bennett  from the boards here I found and fixed the problem!!!

Cost of repair  $0.05 

Value to my Peace of Mind:...PRICELESS!!!

I had de-smogged the ole girl when I put the cruise control on in order to clear some of the clutter.

Well to make a long story short one of the plugs had deteriorated on the inside of the line so it appeared intact but was actually leaking. 

It was one of the 4 lines coming from the crankcase or the PVC lines. 

I had almost given up as they looked intact  but I figured I had checked everything else so I put my finger over the end of each and sure enough even though the end of the cap was there the inside was gone letting it leak.

I had used some wire nuts to seal the lines along with some liquid steel to make sure it didn't pop out. I inverted the wire nut and shoved it down the rubber tubing.  Well it didn't,  pop out it just ceased to exist.

Thanks again everyone and especially Dennis who one the Prize!

Tom