Valve ticking?

[Nessism]

You need to back off the lock screw enough to allow the plunger to move out fully and act freely. Don't think you can back it out too much other than if it falls out.

[Gorminrider]

To me, it serves no purpose other than to test that the tensioner is working correctly after it's installed.

It stops the pushrod moving back! It too is self-adjusting as cam chain wears. The cam-chain tensioner is a one-way device! and it doesn't bounce backnforth! Unless of course, you turn the big knurled knob with the engine running...because
if you want, you can turn the bigknob (a little! maybe Try turning the big knob next time you adjust valves to see what i mean) and the camchain tensioner will relax a little if the camchain is moving....some people even eschew the automatic function and effectively make it into a manual tensioner by setting the lockscrew when they "like the feel" of the camchain turning the knurled knob. Maybe it saves wear on the tensioner blade too? oh well.
Try turning the big knob next time you adjust valves...

Your cam chain only stretches when it wears. The pushrod only goes in against the blade to take up that wear. It's not much-the pushrod never will move much in the lifetime of a camchain.

[hannibal]

Update!

Thanks for all the help. After removing the cams and inspecting everything I could think of, I didn't see anything wrong. I happened to pick up the intake cam by the sprocket and felt the cam wiggle. Just like three years ago, a sprocket screw had become loose. I'm just glad I recognized a foreign noise and stopped riding. This saved me from snapping the chain again and all the issues that followed.

I removed both screws on the intake cam sprocket, cleaned off the oil, and reassembled with Loctite blue (242). I put it all back together and the noise was gone. I've done about 50 miles since then and all seems well.

I used Loctite when I fixed this the first time, but I'm guessing I didn't clean the parts well enough for it to work as intended. I'll recheck valve clearances after a few hundred miles and double check the sprocket screws. Since my bike seems to hate these screws, I'll just check and tighten them every time I check valve clearances and hopefully I won't be this close to killing my motor again.

Thanks again for the help!

[erki52]

Just a quick note, from selling Loctite for 20+ years. Loctite hates any high temperature (long term temp resistance 150 deg C). It may work ok for a while but the temperature of the engine running may render the Loctite useless.

[Nessism]

Threebond T1360 is rated for high temperature. https://www.amazon.com/Three-Bond-Me.../dp/B00230HCO2

[Gorminrider]

Wow! That's good news! You don't want a bolt bouncing around in there! I try to "help"- we all do but it just goes to show...there's always a possibility that doesn't come immediately to mind. Good on you for keeping at it when you knew something was wrongo

And see? now there's a tip on Loctite/ and Threebond! It's why I read these.

[steve murdoch]

Glad you found out the culprit, Jordan.
Also, thanks for posting the follow-up. In too many threads we never get to see the solution or resolution.