gs 1150 engine ticking

[dorkburger]

Since buying this bike in '99 its had an annoying ticking in the engine. first a little history, as i think it may shed some light on the problem...I purchased it after a 12 year slumber with just 1200 miles on it... i believed the mileage to be true, due to the fact that all the suspension linkage, and parts that are only clean once....were spotless.It had been crashed,however as evidenced by the gs 1100 stator cover and replacement fairing. Plus welded on front engine mounts discovered later. It also had a bald rear tire with rubber crumbs inside the fender. At first,i figured it was valves,as it still had the 600 mile service sticker on the speedo. i took it in for its first service at 14 years old. It still had the tick. At about 5000 miles ,it began running terribly. I had recently adjusted the valves ,and figured maybe they were tight. After peeling off the valve cover,i noticed that a pair of exhaust valves had one stuck open. i removed the head and found a screw stuck under a valve. Damage was minimal, just 2 bent exhaust valves. Head,cylinder, and piston were fine. i replaced the bad valves, adjusted the valves, and...more ticking. At 19,000 miles ,it still ticks. Its first noticeable at idle after warming up for 4-5 minutes. Also in any gear at 3000-3400 rpm, it can be heard. After reading countless posts, im guessing clutch or starter clutch issues. I checked the cam chain tensioner per the suzuki factory manual, and it seems to be ok. Thanks for any advice.

[stetracer]

There is one screw in the front of the clutch cover. If the wrong one is installed ( to long of a screw ) it will hit the clutch basket making a slight noise I have seen them cut what looks like threads in the outer edge of the clutch basket. Or you still got a screw or nut bouncing around in there. Or are you use to the noisy top end of the GS models

[tom203]

Have you actually removed cam chain tensioner and reset it correctly to be sure?

With all your repair work, have you pulled stator cover and checked for loose parts clinging to rotor magnets ?- if really ambitious, pull rotor and inspect starer clutch.

Any idea where the jammed-under-valve screw came from?

[chef1366]

My head ticks no matter how well the valves are adjusted.
These 16 valves are just noisy.

[dorkburger]

Thanks for the info. I had to replace the burnt up stator a few years ago, and all seemed well in there, although i didn't thoroughly check the starter clutch. It was done at my last house in the driveway at night, before a 3 day weekend ride. ( hastily- poor i know.) As for the cam chain tensioner, i would like to revisit that, as ive never held it in my hand. I also had to replace the clutches (fibers only)shortly after putting it on the road. they were initially stuck, then slipped like crazy when freed up. Ill check the bolts. As for the mystery screw... i have no idea. i never removed the spark plugs before getting it running, and didn't have them out until much later- honestly! i would admit it, as it wouldn't be my first time losing things in the cylinder -different bike. It was a small phillips head that looked like it could have been a body or trim screw. My garage is currently a shambles after losing my shed due to hurricane sandy. There are yard and garden tools perilously close to my cycle. When space, temperature, and time allow i will look into these. Thanks

[mrbill5491]

I always have a ticker when I adjust the valves. Just seems to be the nature of the beast when it comes to 16 valves.