Maiden Voyage, have noise when hot...

I re-verified the timing and it is spot on. Then I reset the cam chain and locked the tensioner with a longer bolt to rule out that as an issue. Took it for a ride and the noise came back after a few minutes. I am convinced it is valves so I will have to re-check the clearences and look for anything obvious. It runs well, VERY well. Holy crap its got some power...

The valves will always have some faint ticking noise, even when at the smallest in-spec gap.

It's just the nature of flat tappet engines...

Cheers.

I found the culprit, my valve clearences were all perfect. OldManRock was close with his guess of the top chain guide. I modified the factory guide to use the sprocket from an APE guide. The head of the fastener I used had little clearence to the valve cover and I can see a small cresent shapped mark where it has been rattling against it. I think as the rubber mounts got warmer they got more pliable and eventualy the vibration started tapping the valve cover. That was the metallic click I heard. I clearenced the cover a bit and ground the bolt head down some. If my theory is right I shoudln't have the noise when I drive it tomorrow.

is that bearing running on a plain old socket caps shaft? id almost bet that sprocket is dancin round on there too... you need a shoulder bolt in there. they have a much lower profile head and a polished shaft surface. i believe theyre also harder steel. search for shoulder bolt on the net youll see what i mean

this is what i mean

Nope not an issue, there is a precision machined shaft the sprocket is rolling on, the bolt just sandwiches it between the sides of the mount. It is no differnt than the factory part in that respect only Kawasaki used a big rivet to do the same.

Looks like I resolved the problem. The APE chain rollers do seem louder. The Kerker kinda drowns it out though

Thats great you narrowed your problem. Very satisfying. Once my brakes didn't work very well so I made my horn louder.:laugh:

arai59 wrote:

Thats great you narrowed your problem. Very satisfying. Once my brakes didn't work very well so I made my horn louder.:laugh:

made me chuckle and it actually makes some sense lol good one arai59!!