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Hey all,

I came here previously for some valve adjustment insight as I changed out the shims to get the appropriate valve clearance on my 81 KZ50E. Prior thread can be referenced here.. www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/610299-va...ustment-measurements

So at this point the head has been put back together and the bike is up and running again. I am now noticing what sounds like a ticking sound coming from the #4 cylinder once the motor gets warm and stay ticking while hot. It started pretty much right after I got it put back together so I fear it's something to do with the valve adjustments that were made. For reference, cylinder 4 I & E both had extremely small clearance at the beginning of the job (.038mm each). After adjustment, C4 Intake is at .178mm & Exhaust is at .152mm clearance. The clymer manual calls out clearance from .08-.18mm so I felt like this was within spec.

I saw on another forum on here that some people were theorizing that the issue could be an exhaust gasket. I changed the exhaust gaskets this week and no change, the valve is still ticking. I recorded a video and uploaded it hoping a trained ear could take a listen and provide some more insight.

youtube video - dont mind the smoke, just a little bit of remaining oil on the cylinder from a prior oil leak.

Thank you!

Have you rechecked the valve clearances?

I have not rechecked valve clearances since I got my final measurements and put the bike back together. I was holding out hope that I wouldn’t have to go back in and mess with the valves again but that hope is starting to dwindle haha

Yeah, double check. If they are good don't worry about the tick. A little clatter from the valves means there is some clearance. Better than the other way around.

Sounds more like a loose cam chain. Are you sure your cam chain tensioner is ok?

It is a pain but I would double check. I checked my KZ750 Twin clearances several times before I put the cover back on. Got the same result as you did. Went back in and found one intake need a thicker shim. Be damned if I know why. Sounds good now.

I'm thinking reed valve in the cam cover.
Steve

I had adjusted the cam chain tensioner when I did the valves. I hand checked it a few days ago when doing the exhaust gaskets and the locking nut was tight so I assumed it was still appropriately adjusted. I will double check again when I get in to re-measure the valves

I dont know much about the reed valve covers on this bike other than they were installed for emissions purposes to mix exhaust w/ oxygen on the way out of the motor (I think). They seem pretty straightforward on how they are attached to the bike so what could go wrong with them that would cause a ticking noise?

I suppose they would come off when I re-checked valve clearances anyways so I could look at them then.

Be aware that the cam chain tensioner spring needs to be removed when the valve cover is installed or the chain will be over tensioned.

I have a manual tensioner so when I take the valve cover off I back it way out, then upon reassembly it gets tensioned when the valve cover is back on

lousankz wrote: I dont know much about the reed valve covers on this bike other than they were installed for emissions purposes to mix exhaust w/ oxygen on the way out of the motor (I think). They seem pretty straightforward on how they are attached to the bike so what could go wrong with them that would cause a ticking noise?

I suppose they would come off when I re-checked valve clearances anyways so I could look at them then.

One of the reed valves may be broken. That off the four screws and the cover and check.
Steve