Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

  • AaronOregon
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Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

21 Jun 2012 11:51
#530734
Sounds good cold, but once it heats up after riding for awhile and I stop the valvetrain is noisy. I just checked all the valve clearances a month or so ago. They are all within limit, but some may be on the tighter side. Is this chatter the tighter ones when they expand? It's not the chain as I just installed a manual adjuster and it is awesome! Thanks!

Aaron
1980 KZ750E - Pods - 4 into 1

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  • wireman
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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

21 Jun 2012 12:53
#530742
Yes when valves heat up clearance shrinks B)
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  • Patton
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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

21 Jun 2012 13:41
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AaronOregon wrote: Sounds good cold, but once it heats up after riding for awhile and I stop the valvetrain is noisy. I just checked all the valve clearances a month or so ago. They are all within limit, but some may be on the tighter side. Is this chatter the tighter ones when they expand? It's not the chain as I just installed a manual adjuster and it is awesome! Thanks! Aaron

Could be the cold thicker oil is doing more padding between the cam lobes and buckets when the engine is first started. And when warmed, the oil thins to its normal operating viscosity.

Cam chain noise is often reduced by a good carb sync.

Good Fortune! :)
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

21 Jun 2012 14:37
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"Cam chain noise is often reduced by a good carb sync." -Patton

Yes! Thank you! Can't emphasize that enough. I think a lot of guys don't make that association and dismiss it too soon as a culprit for a noisy valvetrain.

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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

21 Jun 2012 15:59
#530769
I'd also bet it's the oil thinning out. Mine gets more "clicky" when hot, I think it's normal.
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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

21 Jun 2012 17:41
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Exhaust leak.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.

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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

22 Jun 2012 01:07
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loose bore on number three and piston slap... :laugh:
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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

22 Jun 2012 01:30
#530912
What oil are you using Aron? Delo or Rotella would be a good choice, non of that 5-30w crap.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
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  • AaronOregon
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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

22 Jun 2012 01:49
#530921
I think I put 15w-40 in it. Just cheap stuff. The bike cost me $200.....

Aaron
1980 KZ750E - Pods - 4 into 1

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Re: Valves chatter and tick more when engine is hot?

22 Jun 2012 01:51
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Patton wrote:
AaronOregon wrote: Sounds good cold, but once it heats up after riding for awhile and I stop the valvetrain is noisy. I just checked all the valve clearances a month or so ago. They are all within limit, but some may be on the tighter side. Is this chatter the tighter ones when they expand? It's not the chain as I just installed a manual adjuster and it is awesome! Thanks! Aaron

Could be the cold thicker oil is doing more padding between the cam lobes and buckets when the engine is first started. And when warmed, the oil thins to its normal operating viscosity.

Cam chain noise is often reduced by a good carb sync.

Good Fortune! :)

Carb sync done last month with gauges.
1980 KZ750E - Pods - 4 into 1

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