tapping noise

[Pitbull01]

when my bike warms up it starts tapping..its coming from my top end and i

know my oil level is fine. What could this be??? i was told that it might be the

valves..if so around how much is it to get the valves re-done?

 

[STROKER]

not a whole lot to go on, but i would first check and adjust pushrods. lots of threads on here about how to do this. what engine do you have,and what oil you running??

 

[Pitbull01]

i have 107 ci s&s...like i said its only once it finally warms up it starts tapping. im running lucas 20w50 that what my harley too...dont know i i didnt check to make sure thats what this bike took.

 

[woodbutcher]

big V-twins will have some tapping. what yours is doing may be the best it can be but adjusting the push rods might quiet it down some.

 

[Keith S]

As others have said, it may be normal, but you can start with this:

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/463-pushrod-adjustment-how-pics.html

There is also a video in the same forum.

 

[TCALZ06]

I would get it checked out. That is what mine did and when I put synthetic in it did quiet it down but I had piston slap and had the hole motor rebuilt.
Found out after I took it in to have heads and cam done.

My engine is very quiet now

 

[Five Five]

I would get it checked out. That is what mine did and when I put synthetic in it did quiet it down but I had piston slap and had the hole motor rebuilt.
Found out after I took it in to have heads and cam done.

I agree with TCAL ....this could be leading to a more serious problem .... are you running an oil pressure gage ? Have you cleaned your tappet screen ? your top end may be starving for oil .... could be a bad lifter ..

 

[Pitbull01]

im not sure what a tappet is let alone the screen...im not the slightest bit familiar with motors.

 

[NascarNutCase]

im not sure what a tappet is let alone the screen...im not the slightest bit familiar with motors.

I think the question now becomes, are you willing to learn? I'd pick up a copy of a service manual for your model and year. If you don't feel you want to accept the challenge of attempting some maintenance on your own, then find a reputable repair shop. One last thought though, there is a wide base of knowledge at your finger tips right here in this forum. All you have to do is ask.:2thumbs:

 

[BadBrad]

You may also want to check and see if there are any members near South Pekin, IL. Adjusting pushrods is not that difficult but if someone is close by, it would make it that much better to be shown the first time.

 

[knucklehead]

Do you have compression releases on that motor?

 

[Pitbull01]

not sure if i have a compression release... my atv has one so i just looked for something that looked similar and i didnt see anything like whats on my quad but i wouldnt think they would be to similar...so i guess im saying im not quite sure what im looking for...im going to check the tappet screen ...is there a how to about that here?

 

[Pitbull01]

this might sound dumb but a friend of mine at work said that me running a low octane(cheap) gas might be making my motor make noise...if that is a possibility i am going to try that first as it seems to be the cheapest thing to try

 

[Mad Dog]

this might sound dumb but a friend of mine at work said that me running a low octane(cheap) gas might be making my motor make noise...if that is a possibility i am going to try that first as it seems to be the cheapest thing to try

That would be a great place to start. What you are hearing might be an engine knock from low octane fuel. Try a few tanks of 91 or 93 octane and see if that helps. Just a thought.

 

[Pitbull01]

i was also told if it was my valves it would be making that noise all the time and not just after my bike warms up...even after it warms up it only makes the noise if im giving it gas ...if im sitting at an idle it doesnt really make that noise at all..if it does i cant hear it over my exhaust but once i start giving it gas again it starts tapping...i wouldnt call it a knock and im not sure what a ping would sound like...lol so many different noise an engine can make...lol

 

[MARV]

check your plugs. sounds like your running way lean.

 

[Pitbull01]

this is a pic of my spark plug....its kinda white and burnt looking

 

[MARV]

your running hot.

probably sucking air at the manifold.

check for leaks.

 

[Five Five]

this is a pic of my spark plug....its kinda white and burnt looking

your running lean my friend ..... not good to continue running it in that condition.....

 

[Pitbull01]

could it possibly be that i have a velocity stack and maybe the guy who had this bike before me never jetted the carb to make up for the massively increased air flow...this is what my bike has as far a the velocity stack...

when i bought it it didnt have a filter on it...when i get the money i think i am goin to change it....could that cause it to run lean...having so much more airflow than normal if the guy didnt jet the carb