tight or loose valves, which is worse again?

[snowbeard]

I have a noise that I'm pretty sure is my valve(s). it sounds like a hiss, and it is getting progressively worse...

at 5500-6000 rpm I can just make it out over the wind gaps on my helmet, it sounds sort of like a hiss, but it's on a cyclic pattern, so I think it is one of my valves being +/- ?

so what would a tight valve sound like, more of a clicking?

loose valve more of a hiss?

and which one is about to frag my engine!?!?!

[mark m]

and which one is about to frag my engine!?!?!

Tight valves are the problem, as a tight exhaust valve can burn due to inadequate cooling. Loose valves are simply noisy. They will be clattery, especially at idle when cold. I do not know if there is a noise associated with tight valve lash clearances. I always adjust mine to the loose limit of the allowable tolerances (0.005" in the case of my 1100), as I prefer valve noise over toasted valves...


Mark

[scotty]

well i agree that a hiss is not lose valve but what the heck makes you say it is tight valves. Backfiring through the carbs or exhaust maybe???
i think you should discuss what work you have done to the engine recently and what makes you think it is a valve problem. Are you sure the noise is a hiss and not a light metal to metal sound coming from the camshaft area???

[snowbeard]

well I can't say for sure it's a hiss, its loudest at highway speeds, but then also the hardest to really hear.

it could be more of a clacking noise, and the cam chain tensioner is leaking oil slightly, but I haven't done anything to the internals of the engine for the two plus year's I've owned it. the furthest I've gone so far is to replace the o-rings on the manifold boots, which seems to have reduced my high idle after warm up.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with engines, so I'll latch onto a possibility and try to learn the specifics of that problem and whether they are similar to what I'm getting.

do the valves "creep", then needing to be adjusted often, or is it pretty much a one time thing when you get inside it and maybe change something?

[scotty]

I believe at this point you are hung up on the valve idea. Other obvious symptoms should occur with tight valves

[snowbeard]

that could very well be.

maybe someone this weekend will recognize the sound, if it will occur for them...

mostly just wanted to make sure it wasn't a well known problem that I needed to worry greatly about. I may still need to worry, but...

Thanks!!!

[scotty]

wel if it is the metalic sound my friend i assure you you need to worry