Motor Noise

Energy One
chili08k9

chili08k9

I will buy the 1st round
Hey guys, Im at the end of my rope, I have a 08 EFI K-9 and while at myrtle B/W in spring my bike developed a noise that "ONLY" sunded like an exhaust leak, I had no tools and didnt sweat it, I did B/W then rode home about 250 miles, the bike had no loss of power and no other sign of a problem, got home and got some new gaskets and replaced them, started bike in garage thought noise was gone, next day went for a ride, same noise showed up almost as soon as I got out of driveway, still no loss in power, just very distracting, went by three different shops and even got info from S&S, everyone seems to think it was the roller tappets, got new ones from S&S replaced and adjusted them all. thats all good. The old tappets had no wear and looked just as good as the ones I replaced, I Went for ride (rain shortened 10 miles) and oh ya, Same Fu**** noise. the bike only has 10,500 miles I have changed the oil using only Mobil 1 Synthetic, every spring (only about 2500 miles yr) this noise SOUNDS like an exhoust leak piss, can hear it thru 4th gear then bike and road noise overtake it. but using a stethoscope on differend areas of the motor I cant pin point anything, Can any one please point me in the correct direction, I just dont know what else it could be. and hate shotgun trouble shooting.
thank you all :cheers:
mike
 
Marky-Marc

Marky-Marc

Well-Known Member
If it sounds like an exhaust leak, tick tick, and you used a stethoscope on the engine and hear NO noise coming from the engine...or do you hear noise with your stethoscope but can't pin point it in the engine?

Does the noise increase with acceleration or stay the same? Meaning, does it tick faster or stay the same? OR, is the tick random?

Have you checked your exhaust for a tiny pin hole or a break in the welds under the heat shields? Used the scope on your exhaust to see if you it gets really loud through your stethoscope (before it's hot obviously).

Are the exhaust mounting studs good? Maybe leaking? Cracks around the exhaust Flange?

I have TP heads, and mine tick like an exhaust leak ALL the time, haven't found the 'sweet' spot yet....so, how are your lifters?

My idea is, if you are sure it is an exhaust leak, and you have no noise with your scope on the engine, chances are, it is an exhaust leak somewhere....unless your key is clanking the side of your bike, or something else clinking on metal while riding (happened to me once) :D

If you hear noise from the engine through your scope, have you adjusted the pushrods?

Does it do it while idling or only when moving? Or does it only do it when you rev it up and not at idle? Could be a bunch of things...

Just some ideas...

EDIT: Look at your exhaust where it mounts to the frame, that's where exhausts usually start cracking.....
 
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pauldeepsea

pauldeepsea

Guru
Maybe a manifold leak? Also what type of air filter are you running? Try starting it and use brake clean a spray the exhaust /manifold to check to see if it's leaking by. If you have a leak it will change the idle. Fuel tank venting?
 
BadDawg Bill

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
You might want to check your pipes where they connect to the bike. They tend to crack there and can cause a whistle type noise. Drove my brother inlaw nuts for months till we figured it out. Another area is if you have baffles in the pipes. A piece could have broken off and wedged itself sideways and is causing the noise.

If it were an intake problem the bike would run like crap.

Good luck
 
Raywood

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Can you pin point it to one side of the motor? If not another common issue is the motor mount bolts on the coil cover. Bolts are too short and work loose as many of us have experienced. Get some longer bolts so more bolt threads get a better grip. Plenty of room in the heads.
Also having not pin pointed it except to say it sounds like an exhaust leak have you check your belt tension and alignment?
Just thoughts to concider
 
chili08k9

chili08k9

I will buy the 1st round
Thanks guys, I know its not much to go on just thought someone may have had this issue. the pipes dont have any holes, it is a FI bike, noise with motor sitting still takes belt out, I will check the bolts thanks for that Ray, I have changed the exhaust gaskets and retorqued the flange bolts, also checked the Thunder city baffles there normal, I have to go out of town for a few days but when I get back I will get a better picture of whats going on.
thanks mike
 
chili08k9

chili08k9

I will buy the 1st round
OK guys got back into town and took the dog out for about 100 miles, still have a tick tick sound in the front cylinfer I think. very hard to pin point. did the adjustment again for the pushrods not much needed. so i took the oil fliter off and cut it open only had a very small amount of aluminum, inside very small amount. took the drain plug out and only had a very small amount of steel on it. I have been using Mobil 1 for the last 4 oil changes, but several good trusted engine builders here in NC have told me that I should be running Petroleum oil instead so thats where I am heading, but that wont fix the tick tick tick coming from somewhere. just an update.
 
chili08k9

chili08k9

I will buy the 1st round
Bill thats what we thought I got 4 new ones from S&S and changed them in the first post. then everything else is trying to find the noise. thanks for the input
mike
 
BadDawg Bill

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
chili08k9 said:
Bill thats what we thought I got 4 new ones from S&S and changed them in the first post. then everything else is trying to find the noise. thanks for the input
mike
Click to expand...
The only other thing I can think of is the cam. Is it worn? If the pushrods are adjusted then it has to be the cam or the valve guides. Man, I wish I were there to help ya...
 
PYLOO

PYLOO

Member
Hey Mike. I'm going thru the exact same problem as you mine is in the rear cylinder tho. I changed all the same parts as you also. Everyone here has pointed me toward the valve guides. I didn't get a chance to pull the heads yet, but that's where I'm headed next.
 
chili08k9

chili08k9

I will buy the 1st round
George, please IM me if you get it fixed, with the valve guides. (could be s&s has several sizes listed) It seems like im just doing shotgun trouble shooting. I changed the tappets and adjusted the push rods twice, cut open the oil filter and only found a very small amount of aluminum, onl;y a very small amount of steel on the drain plug, went back to regular oil, CRANKED IT UP AND IT HAS THE SAME NOISE AS BEFORE. one shop telling me may be the crank bearing (i think thats B.S.) I guess its time to pull the trigger and do the heads and new cam. hey its only money right...
 
chili08k9

chili08k9

I will buy the 1st round
I have tried several things, but when I pulled the front plug wire off after it was warmed up and the tick tick went away, then put plug wire back on and it came right back, then pulled the rear plug wire no difference the tick was still there I know that means something but I just dont know what, NOW WHAT at least I know its in the front cylinder somewhere right????
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
chili08k9 said:
... but when I pulled the front plug wire off after it was warmed up and the tick tick went away...
Click to expand...
Take a spray mister; fill with water; wait for it to get dark; start engine; with the mister; spray the front spark plug wire. See if that front plug wire spikes in the dark?

Mechanically it should keep ticking. However this might be an electrical arc someplace?
 
P

pauly

Active Member
Sven said:
Take a spray mister; fill with water; wait for it to get dark; start engine; with the mister; spray the front spark plug wire. See if that front plug wire spikes in the dark?

Mechanically it should keep ticking. However this might be an electrical arc someplace?
Click to expand...
You are onto something Sven, but I would just swap the leads around and then it should be the other cylinder ticking if it is a bad lead.
Worth a try and costs nothing!!! :cheers:

Paul.
 
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