84 GPz 550 - is this a normal amount of ticking, or a concerning amount of tick?

Bike warm idle

Hi guys,

I finally have my GPz on the road, it is a hoot. I am noticing a lot of ticking noise coming from what sounds like the top end. I previously shimmed the valves to get them into spec, and have read that these engines tick. However I am hoping one of you gurus can listen to my video and tell me if this is a normal tick or not. You can hear it best when I move the camera to the right side of the engine.

Thanks!

Sorry no video attached

Edit: video now attached, let us listen...

Bike warm idle at the top of the post Michael.

Thanks Warren

Sounds like he need to adjust the cam chain and a little carb sync.

Hi,

Cam chain is automatic tensioner. I did just synch the carbs, they are spot on.

Don´t trust an automatic tensioner.
Have to do some work on an automatic tensioner on a friends 750 Zephyr, same symptoms like yours.
The automatic tensioner internals are stuck without any re-tension movement.
Have to do some fine sanding/polish and cleaning on wedge shaped tensioner rods, (a little pitting marks), to get the movement back to normal automatic mode.
Try to reset the automatic cam chain tensioner.

OK - thank you. So just take the wedge out, polish it up, reinstall? Or is there a special procedure?

I don´t know if it look like your tensioner but some pics of your tensioner would help.

The Kawasaki ZR 550 750 Zephyr 1990-1997 cam chain tensioner parts



550



750

I've never seen a 550 have a tensioner problem (unlike the 650 and 750's).

If you find you need to remove the valve cover, you might want to read the valve train warning in my signature. It will also have a bunch of cam related info.

Thanks lou. Yes, I had read your valve train warning this past winter when I was shimming my valves. Do you hear anything in the video that is concerning, or does it sound ok to you?

Did you aim for the center of the valve clearance range? If you make the gap larger than the middle target value, the valves will tick a lot more (which is an indicator they are hitting harder).
Also, the FSM specifies which valves to check for particular crank positions. It's not super simple or intuitive. It takes some very close reading to do it correctly. I have a few notes on it on that same page.

I can't get the video at my work. I'll have to check it out when I get home.

I aimed for the looser side of the spec, in the hopes that this would make a longer service interval.