Rocker noise

How do you stop a noisy valve train ? It sounds like the exhaust valves. I pulled the rocker box, everything looks ok. Reset the valve clearance again. .004, ive got oil up there. It sounds like a loud sewing machine. Starts out loud at start up, calms down at idle and at low speed, gets really loud about 40+ mph.

I'm still trying to get carb set up right, and don't have much power over 50, I've been playing with jetting and timing.

I dont know if this is of any use,but i had a speed twin that was rattly as hell,and no amount of fiddling with the carb or anything else would make it run right all the time.I bought and fitted a new concentric and the bike fired up and ran rattle free.It seemed that the slide in the carb was causing the death rattle,and the carb bore and slide seemed good enough to use.

thanks, but got a new carb, im starting to tkink its not the rockers but maybe stator / clutch. Ill get into it tonight.

Originally Posted by RetroRob

How do you stop a noisy valve train ? It sounds like the exhaust valves. I pulled the rocker box, everything looks ok. Reset the valve clearance again. .004, ive got oil up there. It sounds like a loud sewing machine. Starts out loud at start up, calms down at idle and at low speed, gets really loud about 40+ mph.

I'm still trying to get carb set up right, and don't have much power over 50, I've been playing with jetting and timing.

Are you sure it's not just the typical noise for the alloy head? My iron head triumph sounds much quieter.

All of my alloy heads have been a bit noisy.

Have a listen.

My Triple sounds like a loud sewing machine, and I think it is one of the most beautiful sounds in the world,....next to the wailing sound of the triple exhaust !

Damn nice looking & sounding bike BP

The one in the post is not mine. I had it in my youtube quiver. I had the same concern about my top end until I saw this. Figured if this dude put that much into a resto his top end is dialed in. Besides I cant keep anything that nice for more than five minutes.

mines a lot more clanky, metalic sounding, not in a good way. I had a preunit that wasnt this noisey.

*Your youtube quiver" funny! I get more "whirring" type noises, than the purple one, though I have an extra cylinder,and my Tach port is front and center, with no cable attached , so its louder than the purple bike There is still a distinct sewing machine noise that emits from the top end. Between that noise, the noise emitting from the opened 3-1 exhaust, and all the vibrations,......well, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, and tingly in my special place !

Pulled the primary cover, seems the noise is louder down there, maybe clutch, rotor or main sprocket chucking or primary chain. I've got a belt drive on the way, so I'll wait till that comes and hopefully find the source of the noise.

Is it a "chattering" type noise coming from the primary , if so, it sounds like you may have a jacked up clutch basket, which may be due to worn out clutch rubbers,improperly installed clutch rubbers, or other clutch related issues. Possibly worn out clutch plate, springs, etc. Sounds like its time to strip the primary, get that clutch disassembled and check the damages. the grooves on the sides of the clutch basket should be nice and smooth, not chipped, dinged, or worn. If the damage to the clutch basket is too severe, you may need a new clutch basket, before you install the belt drive. You have a new belt drive on the way, you may as well go ahead and strip it down (the primary and clutch), you'll be into it soon enough anyway.

How's the primary chain tension? Maybe it's slapping.

I looked at thing last night, clutch had some wobble, readjusted that for the 100th time, there is some chain slap and mabt some chucking in the sprocket. All that will be gone when the belt dive shows up, its includes new clutch basket and different multi plates, so no sense trying to fix whats there now. I should see this thing pretty soon.

Don't get me wrong Rob, I wasn't necessarily saying "fix it " , just strip it so that when your new belt drive ,and clutch parts come in, all you'll need to do is pop it in. Also to check for other possible culprits and potential damages.

Originally Posted by starwolf

Don't get me wrong Rob, I wasn't necessarily saying "fix it " , just strip it so that when your new belt drive ,and clutch parts come in, all you'll need to do is pop it in. Also to check for other possible culprits and potential damages.

Agreed, could be a bit of chucking in the clutch hub. Im just hoping its not internal like main bearing

+1 on the clutch rubber. Had an "odd" sound till i rebuilt my clutch with new bumpers and cork plates.
MRB

You can use a long drift (piece of metal, breaker bar etc.) to figure out where the noise is coming from. Cup your hand around the end of said rod and place it to your ear. Put the other end directly on your engine(head, primary). The rod will magnify the noise. Move it around till you find the source of the clanking

Originally Posted by Speedfiend

You can use a long drift (piece of metal, breaker bar etc.) to figure out where the noise is coming from. Cup your hand around the end of said rod and place it to your ear. Put the other end directly on your engine(head, primary). The rod will magnify the noise. Move it around till you find the source of the clanking

I once knew an old Indian guy, who had an item he called a "probe-a-scope" .(though I am uncertain if that was its actual name) It looked like a stethoscope, but instead of the small circular "pick up" as on a traditional stethoscope. It had a long hollow probe, for finding the source of noises.

Same principal.