Ticking Valve at idle on cylinders 3 or 4...

So i found that i have a ticking valve on either cylinder 3 or 4.. It seems to only tick when the motor is warmed up and been running for a few minutes. Its a small tick (almost sounds like its low on oil but its not).. Like i have said 1000 times before, it runs like a monster and i have good compression. Im worried though because i called a good mechanic i know that specializes in the older KZ bikes and he said that if it gets bad enough it could "spit a shim" meaning that it could fire the shim out and destroy the head. I plan on driving this thing some more before it gets completely cold out there. i just want some peace of mind:D He said that if the the adjustment gets too far off that the shim will start to float in there at around 6000RPM and at that point it could shoot out. Do you guys think i should get in there and just do the job now or do you think it can wait till the storage period when i totally overhaul it?

Thanks guys,
KT

Kitten Tooth wrote:

So i found that i have a ticking valve on either cylinder 3 or 4.. It seems to only tick when the motor is warmed up and been running for a few minutes. Its a small tick (almost sounds like its low on oil but its not).. Like i have said 1000 times before, it runs like a monster and i have good compression. Im worried though because i called a good mechanic i know that specializes in the older KZ bikes and he said that if it gets bad enough it could "spit a shim" meaning that it could fire the shim out and destroy the head. I plan on driving this thing some more before it gets completely cold out there. i just want some peace of mind:D He said that if the the adjustment gets too far off that the shim will start to float in there at around 6000RPM and at that point it could shoot out. Do you guys think i should get in there and just do the job now or do you think it can wait till the storage period when i totally overhaul it?

Thanks guys,
KT

Tim,

Would need one of your videos to hear what it sounds like.

If you want to check the valves and need a valve cover gasket....pm me your mailing address and I'll send one off to you no charge. If you tell me what size shim you need, I'll send one of those also...

Larry C

Exhaust leak most likely.

How many miles since the valve clearances were checked and found or set within specs?

Good Fortune!

mkay, A short trip to the garage tomorrow and ill find out what size shim. Do the shims wear out over time? I'm honestly not sure how that all works. All i have done to a motor was timing and putting the pistons into the cylinders. (not on a KZ1000 though) Soon enough ill do it on one of these though:)
Once again, Thanks Larry!!