LIGHT TAPPING NOISE

I have a 1981 kz1100 and it made a light tapping noise when i started it up the other day but once engine warmed up went away. Any ideas. I was think exhaust leak

brent456 wrote: I have a 1981 kz1100 and it made a light tapping noise when i started it up the other day but once engine warmed up went away. Any ideas. I was think exhaust leak

Valve shim adjustment

Dave

An exhaust leak can sound like a loose valve. It goes without saying that the valves MUST be checked and adjusted per the factory manual so I'd do that straight away regardless. Even with the valves okay, and there being no exhaust leaks, some light ticking during warm up is normal for these old bikes.

Well i had the whole top end rebuild and piston re-ring. Also had 4 in one exhaust put on at the same time. only have maybe 400 miles on it since the rebuild.

Nessism wrote: An exhaust leak can sound like a loose valve. It goes without saying that the valves MUST be checked and adjusted per the factory manual so I'd do that straight away regardless. Even with the valves okay, and there being no exhaust leaks, some light ticking during warm up is normal for these old bikes.

I agree with what Ed says above.
Exhaust leaks are common and sound like a valve ticking. But dont usually stop once the motor is warmed up.
So put a wrench on the exhaust nuts and eliminate this as a possible source of the tick ( easy )
Next Valves...
If the tick stops when motor warms up chances are the valve tolerances tighten up and this silences the tick.
If so the tick is from a valve which may even be in spec , but at the looser end of the specs.
You should recheck your valve clearances after a rebuild and periodically their after.
Its part of on going maintenance
Ride it and enjoy it
Dave