Frickin' tickin' SOLVED

[Valkorado]

Was getting ready to go out on the Bullet earlier today for a stress reliever.  It's getting in to the perfect temps for me again here, currently 74° at about 3:00.  Upon starting her up and idling in neutral I'm hearing a ticking (different from a clicking), I think from the right right side of the engine somewhere. Maybe goes away (or is drowned) when I blip the throttle, but sure enough comes back again. I don't know what I'm hearing but I sure don't like it.  Seems almost like an electrical or plug type tick, but not as synchronized or steady.  

Only thing I've done recently is switch out the carb diaphragm springs from Tourer to Interstate but I've done several 100+ milers since, running really great with no issues.  I do try to maintain the bike as best I can, but know at 64,000ish miles the bike has not had some things done like a valve job, etc..

So, any ideas what the ticking could be?  Could it be related to the carb diaphragm spring change, even though it's been noise free for a few hundred miles since?  Could it be needing a valve job?

Sounds bad enough she's staying at home until I figure out what it could be.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Could be a simple valve adjustment is in order.

[Valkorado]

How simple?  I kick myself when the simple jobs aren't.

[The emperor has no clothes]

How simple?  I kick myself when the simple jobs aren't.

Probably the easiest valve adjustment I’ve ever done.

[hubcapsc]

I never touched my valves for 100,000 miles. Last year I rode my bike to a
nearby town where a fellow who specializes in working on Valkyries changed out
my timing belts and some other tune up stuff. He said the valves
were still mostly right.

Valves and belts are both easy, and both can be done wrong and
really mess up the works.

I bet you don't all of a sudden have chattering valves.

Maybe a pipe ticking? Or something else easy. Once when
I was five states away my bike started making a noise that
I knew had to be bad. Finally found it to be a loose air-wing.

I've changed out my carb tops with Cobra ones, so I've
had them off and looked in there where you messed
with the springs... I guess it could make noise if
one of those diaphragms got a hole in it?

-Mike

[Valkorado]

I guess it could make noise if
one of those diaphragms got a hole in it?

God forbid, I thought I was being careful.  I'll check tomorrow.

[Valkorado]

Just in case #2 here?  Would this be drop in easy?

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/oem-schematic/3

[The emperor has no clothes]

I guess it could make noise if
one of those diaphragms got a hole in it?

God forbid, I thought I was being careful.  I'll check tomorrow.

I don’t think a torn diaphragm would make any sounds, much less a ticking sound. I think it just wouldn’t work correctly. But, I guess stranger things happen. A loose header nut is a good suggestion also. Checking the valve clearances is so easy, it’s not worth not doing. Even if you are not comfortable doing it, I’m sure you have friends that are familiar with this style of tappets. If I was trying I’m sure I could check all 12 in 30 minutes.

[Jims99]

I would check for exhaust leak, is it desmoged? Could be a line rusted a pin hole. Don’t overtighen the exhaust bolts, I believe it’s only 7’lbs. please double check.

[hubcapsc]

What these other guys said....

The carb tops are only interesting in that you
messed with them not long ago.

-Mike

[Valkorado]

Thinking I may be on to something here,  but I gotta wait a day to test my theory.   The Bullet is a desmogged Cali model.  The desmogger had plugged some carb tubes with a (gasket?) sealant, and when I was doing the carb springs the other day I noticed some minor leakage around the old sealant.  Even poked one big glob with a screwdriver to make sure it felt solid and thought it did. Sure enough, when I got back in there and poked it with a screwdriver again today, it popped right off.  The center one didn't take much effort and also popped off.   Found the last little bit of J.B. Weld I had lying around and mixed a batch up.   It's difficult to get back there but I used a flat screwdriver and globbed some on the ends hopefully sealing the holes up.  It may even take a second covering tomorrow for peace of mind.

J.B. Weld is our friend.  Off to buy more so I can do the other side.





Will try to remember to post if this did the trick.

Thanks for the replies.

[Valkorado]

Whoo-hoo!  That was the culprit.  The bike is running much snappier as well, and it has always been fast.  Smoother in the middle too.  It could be that those old glob plugs may have had more air leaks than I was aware of, or that the Interstate springs are actually giving my old Tourer a bit of a boost, or a combination of both.  Anyway, I bought more J.B. Weld today (they have a new "improved" original formula --  5030 psi strength instead of the old 3960 psi original blend).  Same 550°f heat resistance.  



Rain is predicted for a few days, and it'll be a good time to do the other side.

BTW, after looking at my service manual I'm sure happy it wasn't the valves.  No way I'd want to do that the first time solo!

[Valker]

Valves are really quite easy, even for a novice. I adjusted mine for the first time at 125,000 miles. Only two of the twelve were out of spec and that by only .001 each. Glad you got the ticking fixed.

[rug_burn]

Hey, Valkorado:  
  That's how my diaphragms look, too.   Puckered.
  I always figured they are on their last leg...  and just now, I took one out, and it had a hole in it, a tiny split..!
  I glued it closed with some pliobond.  It can't be any worse than with the hole open, and it wasn't that bad then...
  At about $115 each, it's worth getting your money's worth out of them.

[Valkorado]

Hey, Valkorado:  
  That's how my diaphragms look, too.   Puckered.
  I always figured they are on their last leg...  and just now, I took one out, and it had a hole in it, a tiny split..!
  I glued it closed with some pliobond.  It can't be any worse than with the hole open, and it wasn't that bad then...
  At about $115 each, it's worth getting your money's worth out of them.

That's what they've looked like every time I've had the covers off, so I wouldn't have known they're supposed to look any different. I did double check for holes or tears and am not seeing any so I guess I'll just keep on using 'em, puckered or not.

[mello dude]

Valves are really quite easy, even for a novice. I adjusted mine for the first time at 125,000 miles. Only two of the twelve were out of spec and that by only .001 each. Glad you got the ticking fixed.

I used to be into VW beetles and doing the valve adjustment was stupid easy. I had a good chuckle when I cracked open the valve covers on the Valk to do those....