Do your valves chatter at startup? Video added

[whitestroke]

When I start my bike cold,(So. Ca. cold) I get chatter till the oil get to valves (less then 5 sec.), well I think the oil is what quiets them down.  Once warm it sounds like a sewing machine. I'm assuming this chatter is normal but I've never heard the subject brought up here before.

[Patrick]

Are you sure its the valves 'chattering' ?  They shouldn't. How long has this been happening ?  What oil are you using ? I can see valves making some noise at start-up because of engine temp and that noise should reduce or disappear as the engine warms. But, these engines are not known for engine or valve noise. Maybe its time to check the lash ?

[matt]

What year bike and how many miles.  Could be a few things but I have seen trimming belt pulley bearings make a noise

[R J]

I'd say it is probably a non-synthetic oil in the cranckcase.

We won't know that till he responds to us.

[Hoser]

Valve clatter is never normal on a valkyrie, I would see how much oil is in the crankcase first.  Hoser 

[salty1]

No valve chattier on either of my Valks. As mentioned above, are you sure that's the noise you hear?  ???

[Ricky-D]

Yep, no hydraulic lifters in the Valkyrie, actually, no lifters in the Valkyrie. At least the kind you think about in auto engines. Overhead cams means there are cam followers.

And five seconds would make any mechanical clearance changes from heat highly unlikely.

I'm thinking first off it's oil pump related.

I'd recommend a new oil filter. Could be the anti-back flow feature of the filter is failed.

***

[uturn]

any chance its a broke starter gear, and the rattle is while the gear spins down?

[whitestroke]

OK more details.
I went out and started my 98 Standard with only 12k miles today, the chatter last about 2-3 seconds. It's been going on for about 5k miles right before my latest oil change. I'm 95% sure it's valve chatter(tick,tick,tick,tick) as fast as you can say (tick,tick, tick, tick), my jeep 4.0 (straight 6) makes the same sound at start-up.  Only happens when cold. There's 5K on the Shell Rotella Synthetic oil. The filter is a Mobile 1.
I guess I'll try a different filter and oil.

[BigBad1]

Could be the pair valve. They have a steady tick at ideal and sound like a ticking valve. Has it been desmoged. If not, the pair valve sits on the top of the engine below the carburetors. Click on the link below and read part about "what's that ticking sound". Also, I strongly recommend the Honda oil filter.
http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/#NOISE

[whitestroke]

It's only for 2-3 seconds at cold startup, wouldn't PairValve be constant?
 Is there an easy way to post a sound file? If not it may take awhile to post a youtube video.
Can it be done with my phone?

[Patrick]

Good question, has it been desmogged ?

Really listen to it and pin point the location of this noise.

[whitestroke]

It has been desmogged, well sort of.  The pair valves are still attached and the chrome tubes still go to them.  The end of the pair valve where the rubber hoses go are capped off and everything else is removed.

I don't want to not be able to reattach the smog system in case Ca. starts smogging old bikes like they did with diesel vehicles.

[BigBad1]

Yes the pair valve would be constant when at Idle. The Honda oil filter has a low pressure bypass in it. Not sure if the Mobile 1 does but if so, it could be that this is not functioning. If that's the case, you could get some chatter for a second or two while the pressure builds.  Honda recommends valve adjustment at 12k miles. Most people will tell you that the valves don't need adjusting every 12k miles but often the first one does need to take place due to break-in.

[Hoser]

OK more details.
I went out and started my 98 Standard with only 12k miles today, the chatter last about 2-3 seconds. It's been going on for about 5k miles right before my latest oil change. I'm 95% sure it's valve chatter(tick,tick,tick,tick) as fast as you can say (tick,tick, tick, tick), my jeep 4.0 (straight 6) makes the same sound at start-up.  Only happens when cold. There's 5K on the Shell Rotella Synthetic oil. The filter is a Mobile 1.
I guess I'll try a different filter and oil.

Make swure the oil is 10W40 or above, as called for in the manual.  Hoser

[whitestroke]

Chatter had went away last seconds of video, sorry I shut it down so quick, but I was in a enclosed garage. Chatter is at idle only and goes away at 40 seconds into video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJPCQH7M8_w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Ricky-D]

Sounds like an exhaust leak.

Use a section of garden hose as a stethoscope and track down from where the sound emits.

Might take a few times but eventually you should find the source.

***

[signart]

Don't know if you're running stock pipes, (doesn't sound like it) but in addition to what's already suggested about exhaust leak, try using a welding glove or similar to block the tailpipe and see if the noise changes.  If one side changes note and the other side doesn't, well you might have something. This would be easiest with stock tailpipe probably, but it's something simple to try.

[Patrick]

That is a heck of a 'chatter'. Could be exhaust gasket noise. They can be a royal PITA to get quiet. I don't know if you know, but, be very careful when tightening the exhaust retainers. They can break pretty easy. Just barely snug them.

[salty1]

Thanks for the video. It definitely was effective in communicating the unusual "chatter" problem. The exhaust diagnoses sure sound reasonable. No more than 7 ft lbs or 84 in lbs on those header studs. Good luck! 

[BradValk48237]

Do you have the Chrome trans covers on????

My 2000 I/S makes the same sound on cold start up and it get fainter as it warms up....

To me it does not sound like a valve or exhaust "tick:, but more like a clunk..... I had a 1200 Wing that had a sticky lifter later in its life and that was a definite "tick",but it would go away ( I know the Wings have hydraulic lifters, but it was a "tick" not a clunk...LOL)

I did not hear/notice it until I put the covers on and it sounds like its on the back of the motor..right? If you put pressure on the cover does it get quieter? Mine does.

Also, it could be one of the cylinders starving for fuel???... More like "clunk, clunk, clunk"??  Thats kinda what i think, as its a bit rough on start up, then all the cylinders kick in. In your video it sounded a bit rough, then smoothed out... same thing with mine.

I have no shifting, clutch problems etc, it just does that. I have had several people, mechanics and other Valk riders hear it and ride the bike and tell me its nothing to worry about. Bike rides and moves along just fine.

I di think my carbs are a bit clogged and have run some Techtron thru it and it seemed to get better.

Also, do you really only hear it when you are off the bike next to it on the left side?.. not so much when in the seat?

Mine does the same thing....

If its a problem, I have had it for a couple of years and 30K miles.....

I had a 85 Wing , that made the same noise for most of the time I owned it....100k+,

I think its a combo of noisy trans and fuel issues.., These bikes do have a noisy trans, but it goes away after a bit.

Just my 2 cents.

B

[Rio Wil]

Is the noise localized to just under one valve cover?  It almost sounds like the engine is missing a bit also.  I am thinking you might have a broken valve spring.....although can't explain why the noise would go away 

[pancho]

It really doesn't sound like the motor is running on all six when you fire it up. May want to try letting it idle and pulling the plug wires one at a time,, make sure the engine changes rpm,.....  aside from the tick  ....

[whitestroke]

My bike has stock pipes and I start it without the choke/enricher (always) . I would tend to agree that it misses at startup. For kicks I started it up this evening using choke/enricher and no chatter (it might take longer then 24hrs. to get chatter).  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMBQjfe52kM
Would no fuel in a single cylinder cause valve to slap?
This is slow to troublshoot since I have to wait for complete cooldown or maybe longer for the oil to drain out of the filter/galleys to get chatter again. I'll keep at it since most of you don't have this noise.

[BigBad1]

I agree with the post above that it sounds like a fuel issue. If it does not do it with the choke on, I think that would confirm it. As stated in an earlier post, try some Techtron through a few tanks of gas.

[Patrick]

Well, noises can be difficult to determine. Especially in aluminum and if you're not next to it to be able to hear it for yourself.

[Ricky-D]

I went back and listened to the first video again:

The one thing I can say for sure is that it is idling way too low.

Why you would want to idle that machine so low is beyond me

and especially when the engine is cold.

It makes no sense and it is hard on the engine, besides the probability

that (oil at that low a temperature and idle so low) you are not

getting proper lubrication. (oiling)

That noise could be a piston slapping! It definitely is not a valve!

***

[whitestroke]

It is idling very low so you can hear the chatter.  I usually start it without choke, no gas and as soon as it starts I bring up the idle with the throttle. So the chatter only last for a few seconds.
I also run a once of techron every fill up. She runs awesome at all rpm ranges when warm and idles at 900rpm

[whitestroke]

Started her again this evening with no choke and had no chatter (same as last night with choke). So It seems that 24hrs is not enough time to get chatter.  This leads me to believe it's oil related and not cold related or anything else creating chatter.

[Patrick]

Hmmm, maybe the filter is leaking/emptying down.