GS 1000 only 4k miles, intermitant ticking sound

[pnedac]

I picked up this GS1000G over the weekend and I got it running. I have a feeling that NOTHING that ever been done to this bike. That said, it will need a tear down because all the gaskets are shot, but it does run very well.

I am hear a tick tick tick then nothing then tick tick tick while it is running at idle. Experience would tell me that it needs to have its first service done and the valves are slapping, but I could be wrong. I think the guy must have missed that service appointment at the dealer in 1981. Must be a procrastinator type.

Any thoughts on the ticking. It does not sounds catastrophic, but it is noticeable.

Thanks,

Pnedac

[Nessism]

The valves tighten with mileage on bikes like yours, not loosen. Maybe someone attempted a valve adjustment but botched the job? Might also be the cam chain tensioner is binding. It also could be normal. Can you post up a video of the noise?

[Rich64N]

I bought my 79 GS1000N with 18K in 2009 and the advice on these forums has unfortunately at times has been too correct. I kept putting the diagnosis and testing to a winter project (climate not good for winter riding) and then the Regulator/Rectifier (R/R) failed catastrophically (um, 55V AC, not 13.8V DC) and fried lots (easy indication, low beam burns out, damn King County Sheriff gave me a ticket (not a fix-it - think he was a HD guy)). The links in the post above and BassCliff's stuff make more and more sense to me over time (um, 78-9 R/Rs are a bit different than they say, OEM is 2 units, gets replaced by one, but I figured it out).

The Previous (original) Owner one removed (I'm 3rd owner, 2nd owner put maybe 1K on it and let it sit) was as bike mechanic (not Suzuki, Honda) and I know the mechanicals were taken care of. But my gas tank was a minor mess from having sat a few years from #2 owner. Pulled and drained, degreaser (Awesome from Dollar Tree) then dried.

As for your tick-tick, valves, OR gummed up something