Clicking 2002 Valkyrie

[chemisti]

2002 Standard with 35700 miles.
Purchased about 2 months ago.  Really love the bike.  Out for a cruise before the weather got too hot today.  Bike seemed to be running fine @ 40 - 70 mph.  Enjoying the ride.
Sudden onset of a loud clicking noise on (sounds like) right side.  I stopped in a little town and listened to it for a couple of minutes.  I was about 30 minutes from home so I rode it home gingerly, listening for any change along the way.
Clicking is fairly loud - easily heard over the 6x6 pipes at idle and at highway speed.

I am new to this bike and not a gearhead - but not totally afraid of a wrench.  I have put highway pegs, a new power/usb outlet, riser extensions, and changed the oil so far.
Bike did not suffer from a noticeable loss in power and otherwise seemed to be running smooth.
Ideas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4kN_S1PAi0
This is a quick smartphone video right before I put it in the garage and turned it off.

Any help appreciated.

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's hard to say. But it sounds like just loose exhaust header nuts .

[chemisti]

Additional Information:

Speeds up/Slows Down with RPM.  Continues obviously when bike is not moving.  When decellerating (engine braking) it nearly disappears and becomes loud again when applying throttle.

Good description is that it is similar to a card in bicycle spokes (remember when?) except it is dependent upon engine speed not wheel rpm.

[John Schmidt]

Exhaust leak judging by the frequency. Snug the header nuts with a box end wrench, don't use a torque wrench....you often end up snapping off one of the studs.

[Bighead]

Exhaust leak judging by the frequency. Snug the header nuts with a box end wrench, don't use a torque wrench....you often end up snapping off one of the studs.

+1 and don't over tighten as John said they will snap off.

[chemisti]

I tried tightening up the header nuts.  I used a 1/4" drive socket wrench with a universal joint and snugged them up a little.  Didn't seem to help.  I figured a 1/4" inch rig would limit the torque and help me finesse it a little.  It tightened them up as much as I dare.

Thanks for the idea - actually I was thinking that it sounded a little like an exhaust leak.  It seems to me to be related to one cylinder based on how often it happens.

I started the engine again and when I get down next to the bike it sounds to me like it is coming from the top of the engine.  I listened to the valve covers with one of those cheap engine stethoscope gizmos that I already had and the sound does not seem to be coming inside from the valve covers.

I have noticed that I will need to replace the gaskets (o-rings) on the intake headers -  several of them have just a little residue around them - could it be related to one of them?

[The emperor has no clothes]

No, I don't think you'll get any noise with leaking intake tubes. At least I didn't. Maybe since you have the cobra pipes whoever put them on used wrong gaskets. Some guys have had issues with a stuck gasket and then another added on to it. Also I think there have been some issues with fiber gaskets. If you've tighten them and still got leaking I think I would pull them and check the gaskets.

[Patrick]

Exhaust leaks on these monsters can sometimes be a royal PITA. As said, it 'sounds' like its time to drop the system and take a look. I'd recommend having a new set of rings on hand before doing that.
If the intake rings are leaking, they won't get any better. At least, they are easier to replace.

[Firefighter]

Sounds like exhaust from here. Is it the same when the engine is cold and first started? Might take a rag and cover the exhaust one at a time and see if you can cause sound to change. The headers are held on by nuts and studs, the studs break easy. The torque is seven foot pounds. No loose spark plug, right? Let us know,  Firefighter

[twdurdentwd]

Sounds like exhaust from here. Is it the same when the engine is cold and first started? Might take a rag and cover the exhaust one at a time and see if you can cause sound to change. The headers are held on by nuts and studs, the studs break easy. The torque is seven foot pounds. No loose spark plug, right? Let us know,  Firefighter

Check out the exhaust headers themselves also, PO for my I/S scraped something on exhaust leaving a tiny hole in exhaust which proved to be cause of my ticking

[rhinor61]

hmm...
When is the last time the valves were adjusted/checked?

my 2 cents..


John

[Michvalk]

Could be a loose sparkplug. Has this bike been desmogged? Could be a plug for that process has fallen out.

[Willow]

Pair valve?

[.]

I checked out the video and the sound is pretty much identical to the sound mine has been making. The main differences are that the clicking sound on yours is a bit louder than mine and you can't hear it all on my Valk from the left side of the bike. But otherwise it's the same noise mine makes so I'll be interested to see replies on both threads I've commented on regarding this issue.

[whitestroke]

I started the engine again and when I get down next to the bike it sounds to me like it is coming from the top of the engine.  I listened to the valve covers with one of those cheap engine stethoscope gizmos that I already had and the sound does not seem to be coming inside from the valve covers.

I have noticed that I will need to replace the gaskets (o-rings) on the intake headers -  several of them have just a little residue around them - could it be related to one of them?

Stick the stethoscope between the carbs. Top of the engine. If noise is there, check paire valve.

[chemisti]

And the winner is:

"Could be a loose sparkplug. Has this bike been desmogged? Could be a plug for that process has fallen out."

posted above - just took me a while to figure it out.

[longrider]

Good video.   Exhaust leak maybe.  But to show up that quick and no broken or loose studs I'll bet you have a plug loose from a desmog or one of the retainers for the smog system has come loose.

[Michvalk]

And the winner is:

"Could be a loose sparkplug. Has this bike been desmogged? Could be a plug for that process has fallen out."

posted above - just took me a while to figure it out.

So what was it? Loose sparkplug, or desmog plug?

[pago cruiser]

"And the winner is:"

Glad it was simple.  I was scrolling the thread,  hoping (for your sake) it was not the identical sound I had on a 95 Triumph Tbird.  Coming home from work one day, turned a corner after riding 409 miles or so, and click click click etc etc.  THAT noise turned out to be the center cylinder spark plug (NGK) electrode separated from the plug; and embedded into a valve seat.  Weird stuff...