noise question

[Shasta]

Hello

Can you guys listen to this clip for me and tell me if all sounds okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c95dJIyY2dc&feature=youtu.be 

There is a slight tick from the engine area but that sounds common especially after an oil change.

There also seems to be a noise from the exhaust.  Its hard to explain.  In the video it starts at about 19 seconds.  It is most pronounced when i point the mic near the exhaust.  One can here it again around 1:07.  Also 1:24-1:41.  Also some ticking around 1:55.  Again at 2:05 when revvvving.

For the record I overthink everything.  So feel free to tell me to shut up and ride it.

Thanks, Matt

[Jess from VA]

Yes, it sounds like something is loose inside the exhaust.  Tack, tack, tack.

Could someone have drilled out the insides at all?  Pull the tips or look up there with a light.

Just a piggie cut would not make that noise.

[Mr Whiskey]

Sounds more like a "sputter" than a "tick" to me.
I'd run a can of this through her, see if it cleans up.
http://www.amazon.com/Berryman-Chemtool-Carburetor-Treatment-Injector/dp/B000CCMNAG

[Shasta]

Thanks for the reply.

I don't think the piggies were cut.  The bike was a garage queen with 4100 miles on her when i bought it.  I can still see the three lil piggies stacked vertically in the exhaust.

Any advice on plan of attack?

Ride planned for tomorrow.  Think its good to go?

Thanks again, Matt

[John Schmidt]

The exhaust doesn't sound fully stock to me. From what I can hear, my guess...and it's only a guess, the pipes have been drilled at the point where the piggies leave the muffler and there's debris loose inside. Keep in mind, the piggies are a few inches long....maybe 9-10 inches. If they're not almost all the way back to the end of the last cover, then they have been cut as well. Take a closer look, maybe even remove the end cover and take a picture to post. Take a shot up inside the piggies if you can, that will show if the last baffle has been drilled. Just doesn't sound stock to me.

[Mr Whiskey]

Thanks for the reply.

I don't think the piggies were cut.  The bike was a garage queen with 4100 miles on her when i bought it.  I can still see the three lil piggies stacked vertically in the exhaust.

Any advice on plan of attack?

Ride planned for tomorrow.  Think its good to go?

Thanks again, Matt

I've been wrong before sooooooo.......
but I'm tellin ya man that sounds like a spit & sputter to me.
4100 miles, how long did it sit?
Turn the lights off & look for spark jump.
If you're ridin' tomorrow & can't get Berrymans, dump a can of Seafoam in it with some hi-test.
Cheap, wont hurt it a bit, jus might clear up & run like a raped ape!

[signart]

Not stock exhaust, but I agree with everybody. Not running right AND a rattle. Far as anything serious, don't think so. Start with the Berrymans as suggested, I recommend tank of AV fuel. You have some work to do on that exhaust

[Gavin_Sons]

I also think your baffles have been drilled and also with whiskey man about a sputter.

[Rams]

I didn't watch the video or listen to the exhaust but, based on the aforementioned posts, I'm tell'n ya, it's ready to puke it's guts out and leave you stranded on the side of the road if, it doesn't blow up and destroy the earth and all the planets surrounding our sun.

Tell ya what, give me your address and I'll (reluctantly and with sincere desire to assist) drop by your place and remove this dangerous two wheeler so that you'll never be tempted endanger the human species again.    You've done enough just by letting us know the danger exists.   It's time for you to rest easy knowing I've taken care of this for you.

Will be standing by with baited breath awaiting your PM clearly stating where I need to pick up this suicide machine.    BTW, please sign, date and have that title notarized by the time I get there.   

[Shasta]

Thanks guys.  So even if I can see the three piggies intact the baffles could have still been drilled correct?

Got the seafoam in at the recommended dosage.  Should I put in a higher concentration?

If there is debris in the pipes is it still safe to ride?

Thanks again, Matt

[Gavin_Sons]

My stock set of pipes I bought to hack up had all kinds of crap in them. It wont hurt anything. Might annoy you. Go buy a can of barrymans, much better than seafoam. 

[Shasta]

I have seafoam in my tank now.  Can I add berrymans or do I need to wait for a fresh tank?

[Gavin_Sons]

I'd wait for a fresh tank. Seafoam could help, some have good luck with it.

[Steve K (IA)]

I agree what was said above.  Sounds like a sputter.  
Might double check the tightness (carefully) of the header nuts, but I think either some SeaFoam or Berryman's B-12 will clear it up.
You said you have SeaFoam in there now, if it was me, I would wait til you get most of the SeaFoam burnt out and if it isn't running better, try Berryman's B-12.  Remember to let it sit for a day after getting the treated gas into the carbs so it has a chance to work. I know sometimes that can be hard to do.  

[Shasta]

The exhaust seems to be intact.  Stuck a stick in all six piggies and stopped about a foot in with no signs of drilling.  That is where one would drill correct...not the splat surrounding the piggies.  I will attach some pictures this evening.  Glad the exhaust hasn't been messed with (I think) and hoping the sputter is from sitting and that the seafoam and Berry's will help.  I will keep u posted and continued input is appreciated.  Thank, Matt

[Shasta]

I will also check the header bolts...7 lb ft correct?

[Steve K (IA)]

I will also check the header bolts...7 lb ft correct?

Correct.  I never use a torque wrench.  I use a little 1/4" drive ratchet and just put 3 fingers and a thumb around the head of the ratchet so I can't over tighten and using my little finger for a tiny bit of leverage. But if you have a torque wrench that reads that low and you have confidence in it, go ahead.  Those studs break real easy.

[Robert]

Sounds like a miss in the engine that one cylinder is trying to light. Check the plugs and the carbs its not running on all 6. I wouldn't worry about the exhaust till I get the thing running smoothly.

[Shasta]

Oh man...not much skill beyond oil changes and some basics on my KLR.

Any advice on home specifically diagnose a possible cylinder out?

Thanks, Matt

[RainMaker]

Just sounds like dirty carbs to me.  Definitely would try the Berryman B-12 and Techron in separate tanks.  I usually dump the whole bottle in - bike clears up within that tank.

[Shasta]

Also, the engine feels super strong and smooth.  Would it feel this way if a piston was not firing?

[Earl in Pensacola]

When my '97 with about 150K on it started sounding like that on only one side (the right-side). I borrowed a like new (quite) right-side exhaust from a friends Valk and installed it.  Everything went quite!! I noticed that when I shook my exhaust, there was something loose inside that apparently was causing the "rattlie" sound. I found a like-new (quite) replacement for my bike.  I still have the "rattlie" in the garage. 

[sheets]

I hear a sputter and tink-tink sound. Have no idea what would make the metallic tink sound, but it sounds like its in the pipes. The sputter or stumble might be a vacuum leak. A garage queen could have some rotten vacuum lines or a vacuum cap on one of the intakes. Been nearly four years since I've heard the flat six rev up. Kinda made the hair on my arms stand up when I hear her growl.    

[Firefighter]

We can't really tell what the noise is for sure. Did this start all of a sudden, has the bike been sitting too long?  Can you feel anything wrong when you ride?   It will most likely be:

 fuel    (gummy carburetor) try the additive.

 Ignition    someone suggested looking at the plug wires in the dark looking for a spark jumping. You already know which side, right? Could remove the plugs and look for one different than the others. The recess for the plugs can hold water and dirt (they have a hole for a drain). Make sure plug wire ends are clean and on the plug properly. Could pull each plug wire seperately and see if you can tell which cylinder is causing trouble. Use a tool or pull the wire and then start the engine!

Might have a vaccum leak, find which cylinder then check vacuum hose or rubber cap for that cylinder.

Think that would be some of the things I would check or do first.

[Shasta]

Thanks for all the reply's!

Rained today so didn't get out to run the Seafoam through the tank.

Should dry out tomorrow.

Based on all the possibilities I would like to try the simplest fix first.  Run in with Seafoam.

I bought it two weeks ago and road it 200 miles home with a problem.  Changed the oil and took it for a few country road jaunts.

It runs amazing and fast as crap but i do not have a reference point as to how they are "supposed" to feel.

WOULD DOING A 120 MILE TRIP TOMORROW BE A BAD IDEA BASED ON ALL THE POSSIBLE ISSUES?  I WANT TO RUN AT LEAST A TANK THROUGH.

Thanks again, Matt

[Shasta]

Road it 200 miles home WITHOUT a problem...

[Rams]

Road it 200 miles home WITHOUT a problem...

Excellent,
My only suggestion is, run it by your local Honda Dealer and ask if they have anyone experienced with a Valkyrie.   Or, see it there is any experienced Valkyrie mechanics from this forum near you or in your area.    It would be worth a couple hundred mile trip to know what is going on.

Either that or go back up and see my earlier post about how I would save the universe from this dangerous doomsday machine.   

Actually, my advice would be to attend Inzane and let Big BF take a look at it, they come no better..................   

[Bighead]

Ride it and see if anymore problems develop, not likely if it starts fine. If it is the carb jets plugged a bit a lot of times they will clear up. If it the low speed jets you shouldn't notice anything at Hwy speeds. If it were me I would ride the crap out of it for a few days and reassess.

[Mr Whiskey]

Ride it and see if anymore problems develop, not likely if it starts fine. If it is the carb jets plugged a bit a lot of times they will clear up. If it the low speed jets you shouldn't notice anything at Hwy speeds. If it were me I would ride the crap out of it for a few days and reassess.

[Shasta]

Thank you!

I will update tomorrow.

With some pics of my ride.

Matt

[Steve K (IA)]

Thanks for all the reply's!

Rained today so didn't get out to run the Seafoam through the tank.

Should dry out tomorrow.

Based on all the possibilities I would like to try the simplest fix first.  Run in with Seafoam.

I bought it two weeks ago and road it 200 miles home with a problem.  Changed the oil and took it for a few country road jaunts.

It runs amazing and fast as crap but i do not have a reference point as to how they are "supposed" to feel.

WOULD DOING A 120 MILE TRIP TOMORROW BE A BAD IDEA BASED ON ALL THE POSSIBLE ISSUES?  I WANT TO RUN AT LEAST A TANK THROUGH.

Thanks again, Matt

I really don't think there is much wrong there. If it had a dead cylinder, you would know it. It wouldn't pull strong or go fast.
Ride it.

[Robert]

More than likely it had a fouled plug or plugged jet in the carb which riding could clear both of those up. Run some Seafoam or Chevron techron through the thing and see how it goes. If Ok then your good to go. Idling smooth and smooth acceleration is the sign that it would be ok. I don't know if you could tell either which is why it would be a good idea to have someone who knows what there listening to there to tell. Glad it worked ok for you enjoy the ride.

[Hooter]

   IF it sat that long did you pull and change the plugs? I would anyway with that much set time. I would use the Sea Foam but dump about a half can in if not a little more. You asked about dose. I use it all the time and never have had a problem with carbs. Check the intake nuts as well as the exhaust nuts. Make sure the clamps on the intake are good and snug as well. Tight is tight and broke is broke so just make sure everything is good and snug.
   You stated you change the oil? (DISCLAIMER: not an oil thread) what oil did you put back in it?

[Shasta]

I used rotella triple protection 15w40 Dino.

I will snug up the bolts as suggested and add some more seafoam.

Thanks again!

[Shasta]

50 mile ride today and she runs beautifully.  Pulls strong idles steadily at around 900 rpm and starts instantly.

Only pulled 50 miles of seafoam through the carbs.

Noise is still there.

I will head by dealer tomorrow and see what they say.  On a related note would you expect a dealer to listen and give me advice free of charge?

Thanks, Matt

[SpidyJ]

Oh man......the dealer?  I'd take the exhaust apart and eliminate that first.  Look for something there if it runs as good as you have described.  Could be a loose bolt that holds the piggie assy.........or some other gremmlin jumpin round in the pipes.  Who knows what the previous owner has done to those pipes.

Dealer?!?  Oh no, not me. 

[Shasta]

Yea not much of a dealer guy myself.   Is it possible to take apart the exhaust and look inside?  The piggies are intact and no holes are present in the baffle plates...

[SpidyJ]

Start by taking the exhaust tip off.......run it and check for the noise.  Are the piggies bolted on or still welded as from the factory?
Remove the side that  is making the noise and move it around to see if there is something loose in there.  Check for holes in the headers.

[Jess from VA]

You could also remove or loosen the rear exhaust hanger nuts, then tap the cans with a rubber mallet, or shake them (gently, keeping in mind the header connections).  And/or take a foot/18" of garden hose and use it like a stethoscope... go quickly on the cans before they heat up.

As a hanger queen, moisture may have resulted in rusted something.  A big magnet will probably not move rusty stuff around.

Get a set of new gaskets before pulling any exhaust.

If something is loose inside the cans back in the baffles (it sounds like it), I don't know how to go after that.   Ask Mark T.  

[longrider]

remove the affected side as SpidyJ suggested.  That way you can shake it to see if in fact there is something rattling.  The baffles inside may have a weld broken