My '83 KZ440b, riding project in the works.

I picked up an '83 KZ440b about two months ago. It had 3,090 miles on it when I got it, needed a jump and a fuse to start it but she fired right up. New battery, fuse, tires, windshield, saddlebags later and she sat like this...

unfortunatly it had a sticker down the middle and it was bubbling up and when I removed it paint came with it so now I am in the process of trying to redo the tank. I also have a ticking sound coming from the engine, it runs fine all through the power range but I know the ticking needs to be addressed. Luckily I mostly ride easy down roads that are 35mph or less, and I keep the RPM's low, driving like an old lady on her way to church. Around here the cops are everywhere and they have a lot of good places to hide so I make sure I don't give them any reason to even consider pulling me over. Most of them just wave when they see me, crotch rockets get pulled over constantly while I cruise right on by.

Here you can see the sticker before I removed it. It was off center and had air bubbles so off it came, along with some of the paint under it right down to the metal.

The "ticking" noise is something other than just SOHC valve chatter?

Just put a cooler sticker over it I am pretty sure I saw something that would work at the graphics shop I hang out at occasionally. its a black or dark charcoal wide stripe with smaller stripes on the side like the cafe guys use. its in their clearance bin. until you get the time to paint her up.

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mwriders wrote: The "ticking" noise is something other than just SOHC valve chatter?

I don't know, how do I tell the difference between a normal ticking sound and a problem ticking sound?

martin_csr wrote:

Rocks wrote: I picked up an '83 KZ440b about two months ago. It had 3,090 miles on it when I got it, needed a jump and a fuse to start it but she fired right up. New battery, fuse, tires, windshield, saddlebags later and she sat like this....

I don't know much about the 440s, but that might be a 1980 model B1.

You're right, it is an '80 I was thinking of something else when I typed 83

My '80 440B1 (not so cosmetically nice as yours, I'm sorry to say) has quite a bit of valve chatter on start up. Nothing especially loud or troubling, but "clicking" nonetheless as the rocker arms contact the valves. This quiets as the engine heats up and the lash is reduced. There is a lot of stuff moving around in there compared to the more efficient twin cam heads.

mwriders wrote: My '80 440B1 (not so cosmetically nice as yours, I'm sorry to say) has quite a bit of valve chatter on start up. Nothing especially loud or troubling, but "clicking" nonetheless as the rocker arms contact the valves. This quiets as the engine heats up and the lash is reduced. There is a lot of stuff moving around in there compared to the more efficient twin cam heads.

I'll see if I notice any change in the sound after it warms up.