Tappet noise

Energy One

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
Well, this post originally started as one that was to be about the chrome I finally added to my Bulldog Bagger. I finally broke down and got a set of wheels, and sent to MecLec the hand and foot controls. I also sent in the cam chest cover (the cone by the rear brake pedal).
Blacktopper and I got it pretty much done, then Mr. Murphy took a hand in things. The cam chest has a carrier bushing to support the far end of the camshaft, and when I removed it, the camshaft came out too. So then the lifters and pushrods all slid down into the space recently occupied by the cam.....I'm in my 70's, so you'd think I already know that gravity always wins.....can't put the lid back on that one, gents. This meant removal of the tops of the rocker boxes and loosening of the rockers arms, then replacing the lifters, re-adjusting the tappets, re-installing the cam, etc.
I had read Bigelk's (Kel's) 'tear down' post about fixing noisy tappets (mine were noisy, no doubt). Generally, the fix involves drilling the tappet housing to install Allen screws---seemed like an easy thing to do as long as it was torn down that far anyhow. For those of you who missed it, I copy/paste below a pic from Kel's thread to show what it is. Just drill holes and install Allen screws to stabilize the rocker arm rods. You only have to do one end of the rocker arm, the one that depresses the valve spring). If there is any play in the rod end at all, it is really loud. Runs OK, but is noisy. This apparently doesn't work for everyone, but it's easy to drill and tap for a 1/4" Allen.
Then I found out about the oil return gallery that is not readily visible,along itch yet another corrective experience re: Gravity. I found out about it by dropping an Allen screw....scared to death it tumbled into the return oil gallery down into the sump. A quick phone call to Mr. Sachs clarified that under no circumstance should I turn over the engine in any fashion until the Allen was recovered. This may include splitting the case.
Really?? I'm the guy who just has to have the chrome, eh? Crap!!
Well, I found it soon, still up towards the top, and was able to recover it with a magnet. Note to self: next time, stuff a rag in it!!
Below is a pic befor the inaugural ride to Parsons for lunch, resplendent with chrome, and much quieter lifters.
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Srodden

Well-Known Member
It’s always a learning experience if you don’t work on these full time. Glad you found the rouge bolt lol
 

Sven

Well-Known Member
Squideers: Man, my ears hurt I need a quarter twenty tap and it's a wrap.
Me Can It Clicks: You crying about those taps and wraps, ticks and clicks?

Squideers: Yeah, hows did chew know?
Me Can It Clicks: You kept chewing your cud in my ears about it for so long.

Squideers: Well, I wanted to detune the HP on the bike.
Me Can It Clicks: So you did tap! I told you no one listens to turtle.

Squideers: Look, it's my bike and I'll do what to it withit.
Me Can It Clicks: Not my bike so squidayway and add some friction so it wears out the parts on one spot, tap-tap.

Squideers: What is it now bouncing your index off my shoulder.
Me Can It Clicks: I was just cleaning my extension so I can point with it and say, look I told you so.

Squideers: So what, it's quieter.
Me Can It Clicks: Rub beer dub-dub, two rockers in the mud, add the pins and now rub two hands together, which stayed cold?

Squideers: Not the equal wear at the rocker and pin theory and not let it float so no wear is concentrated at one point, hello?
Me Can It Clicks: You said it not me. You know the clicks are coming soon setting the pin stationary, he said laughingly.

Signed,
And you wonder why I have the "Garage Schlongs"
 
Thats a lot of work for some chrome Rick......but it does look good. The Allen head screw could have ruined your day, the other stuff was a upgrade
 

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
There are two 'laws' operating:
1. Law of Unintended Consequences:
Sven's 'Me Can it Clicks' (mechanic) observes that when you wind up going deeper into a repair than you planned, there is opportunity to fix what needs fixed.
2. Murphy's Law:
Child: "Grandpa, How did you get so smart?"
Grandpa: "Wisdom."
Child: "How do you get wisdom?"
Grandpa: "Experience."
Child: "How do you get experience?"
Grandpa: "By making mistakes."
 

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
Squideers: "Not the equal wear at the rocker and pin theory and not let it float so no wear is concentrated at one point, hello?
Me Can It Clicks: You said it not me. You know the clicks are coming soon setting the pin stationary, he said laughingly."

Svenspeak:
Squideers: Never equal wear-always concentrated because the rocker arm bar is notched (1) at the pushrod end and cannot rotate. Maybe someday bushing tapatap, but all quiet on the left bank.
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bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
I have tried all That, srill ticks like crazy as you and I spoke about on the phone the other day. I am just going to have to break down and buy new bushings and have them put in
 
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Razorback

Member
Supporting Member
The Scoot looks great Rick. Going to be a lot less elbow grease to clean that chrome.
 

BWG56

Guru
I have tried all That, srill ticks like crazy as you and I spoke about on the phone the other day. I am just going to have to break down and but new bushings and have them put in
Whether the job big or small, do it right or not at all.

I believe your right BroGrassHopper:old2:
 

john sachs

Well-Known Member
Pinning the rocker shafts is NOT going to put any extra wear on the rocker arm bushings. Actually it will take longer to put wear on the bushings.
If Sven is saying "pinning the shaft is going to create a problem", he's 100 % WRONG. I can't figure his poetry out, nor do I want to.
John
 

Sven

Well-Known Member
I have tried all That, srill ticks like crazy as you and I spoke about on the phone the other day. I am just going to have to break down and buy new bushings and have them put in
If the top end is noisy, and you have adjustable pushrods, run a 1/4 of a turn down on each rod. This shortens the rod is the direction. The setting might be too tight. Tight valve lash causes ticking. You've got nothing to lose.
 

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
If the top end is noisy, and you have adjustable pushrods, run a 1/4 of a turn down on each rod. This shortens the rod is the direction. The setting might be too tight. Tight valve lash causes ticking. You've got nothing to
I think I'm going to try that.. I thought the opposite
 

john sachs

Well-Known Member
I have tried all That, srill ticks like crazy as you and I spoke about on the phone the other day. I am just going to have to break down and buy new bushings and have them put in
Why don't you have someone who has experience rebuilding Harley or S&S rocker arms check yours. I see rocker arms with 100,000 miles on them with NO WEAR problems. If the bushings need replacement, again, find someone who has experience on replacing and fitting. Also look at the end where the pushrod sits. That area on the rocker arm gets wallowed out occasionally.
 

Jwooky

Well-Known Member
Pinning the rocker shafts is NOT going to put any extra wear on the rocker arm bushings. Actually it will take longer to put wear on the bushings.
If Sven is saying "pinning the shaft is going to create a problem", he's 100 % WRONG. I can't figure his poetry out, nor do I want to.
John
Absolutely correct.
 

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
Why don't you have someone who has experience rebuilding Harley or S&S rocker arms check yours. I see rocker arms with 100,000 miles on them with NO WEAR problems. If the bushings need replacement, again, find someone who has experience on replacing and fitting. Also look at the end where the pushrod sits. That area on the rocker arm gets wallowed out occasionally.
I thought I did have someone experienced check everything. This whole tear down started because of the noise, I sent Randy the entire top end, Pistons, jugs, heads and rocker assembly's, I don't wanna go into detail, but basically my engine has been messes up ever since I got it back, head gasket leaks because it's not true, and still ticks like crazy.
 

john sachs

Well-Known Member
I thought I did have someone experienced check everything. This whole tear down started because of the noise, I sent Randy the entire top end, Pistons, jugs, heads and rocker assembly's, I don't wanna go into detail, but basically my engine has been messes up ever since I got it back, head gasket leaks because it's not true, and still ticks like crazy.
Keep looking.
Who assembled your engine after Randy did the machine work/mods on it ?
 
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