Clicking noise from top of cylinder

[Anonymous]

i've started hearing a new clicking noise coming from the top of the engine. i've been wanting to adjust my valves, could this be the cause? i don't really have much free time to work on the bike, how big a project is this, time wise?

thanks.

[Anonymous]

Very likely the cause if it is indeed from the top of the engine. An exhaust leak sounds similar - at least to me, my hearing is about gone.

Time wise, first time, maybe 2-3 hrs. Make sure you have a new gasket, you will probably need it.

[Anonymous]

i've just replaced the exhaust gaskets so i know they're not leaking.

hopefully after mid-terms i'll have time to work on it. how bad is it to ride it before i adjust the valves? i'm talking 'bout 20mi/week to school and back.

thanks

[Anonymous]

Clicking can turn into pistons slamming into valves... This is not a good thing, I would personally not run the bike until you check the clearance. This is, after I turned two of my exhaust valves into an S shaped piece of metal on one cylinder.

[saaz]

Clicking/ticking is too large a clearance on the valves, which will not lead to valve hitting piston. From my experience exhaust valves if anything tend to reduce clearance, which is a problem as burnt valves can result.

Take it easy. A few weeks will not really matter as the motors are tough. It is not something you should let go on for too long tho...by this I mean a few thousand kilometers (in Australia we have gone that way!)

[moto_dan]

i've just replaced the exhaust gaskets so i know they're not leaking.

hopefully after mid-terms i'll have time to work on it. how bad is it to ride it before i adjust the valves? i'm talking 'bout 20mi/week to school and back.

thanks

Not to second guess your recent maintainence of replacing your exhaust gaskets, but I've found that often times on bikes after a few miles with new gaskets the bolts may need to be retorqued. Finding exhaust leaks is simple by using a length of tubing(emission/fuel line) holding one end to your ear and probing the area with the opposite. I didn't catch what model of bike you're talking about? If you have adustable rocker arms and not shims then I would suggest an immediate inspecition to prevent castrophic damage just in case a rocker arm adjusting nut has not backed off.

[Anonymous]

oops. forgot to mention it's a 1980 GS550e.

i've taken the valve cover off and indeed, four of the gaps are too large. i've since replaced the shims and now all are within clearance. now i just need to get the right gasket so i can put everything back together. the dealer gave me the wrong one the first time and i didn't have my old one with me to line up the holes.

damn school and work. so inconventient. always getting in the way of me messing about with my bike!

thanks for all the advice. i'll report back once i get everything back together.

-john

[Anonymous]

These engines are a little noisy. That clicking may be your cam chain tensioner needing to be reset/adjusted/rebuilt. I messed with mine on my 77gs550 and the clicking sound went away almost 80%. I intend to pull it off and reset it after giving it a once over this winter. That should solve my engine noise problem....hopefully.

[Anonymous]

These engines are a little noisy. That clicking may be your cam chain tensioner needing to be reset/adjusted/rebuilt. I messed with mine on my 77gs550 and the clicking sound went away almost 80%. I intend to pull it off and reset it after giving it a once over this winter. That should solve my engine noise problem....hopefully.

how can i check on the cam chain tensioner?

[Evil Hobbit]

These engines are a little noisy. That clicking may be your cam chain tensioner needing to be reset/adjusted/rebuilt. I messed with mine on my 77gs550 and the clicking sound went away almost 80%. I intend to pull it off and reset it after giving it a once over this winter. That should solve my engine noise problem....hopefully.

how can i check on the cam chain tensioner?

Clymer manual should have good instructions on this. It does for my 1100