Another carb sync and ticking problem

[U771663]

I just inherited this 81 interstate and all in all seems to be a nice bike for its age. The only problem I can see is that it doesn't really want to idle and ticks like crazy. I adjusted the valves per the manual and no luck. Obviously a good carb cleaning and sync will fix the idle but what about the ticking?

[chrisz]

Ticking? When does it start? When it is ticking while idling, or accelerating, decelerating, or when shut down and cooling off? We don't have much to go on with your post regarding the ticking you are hearing.

[U771663]

As soon as it starts and it does get faster with engine speed. I adjusted valves per spec but the engine was slightly warm. I am going to recheck in the next day or so while it is completely cold. I wouldn't have thought it made that much of a difference.

[WingAdmin]

As soon as it starts and it does get faster with engine speed. I adjusted valves per spec but the engine was slightly warm. I am going to recheck in the next day or so while it is completely cold. I wouldn't have thought it made that much of a difference.

Was it ticking before you did the valve adjustment?

And yes, the valves are supposed to be done when the engine is dead cold (like sat overnight). When dealing with thousandsths of an inch, heat expansion matters.

[U771663]

Sorry for the late response. I readjusted the valves completely and it is still making the ticking noise. I think I have the carbs under control.

[4wred]

Do you have a stethoscope? Try to isolate where the ticking is coming from.These engines can be really noisy when carbs are gummed up and not synced.Are you sure it's running on all 4 cylinders?

[U771663]

I used the ole screwdriver stethoscope. Sounds more like towrd the fuel pump but I would think that is awful loud for a fuel pump. Just took carbs off and cleaned them good and resync'd them.

[virgilmobile]

The fuel pump is lever operated from a lobe at the rear of the can.The lever is spring loaded to keep it in full contact with the can lobe much like a valve rocker. Should the spring be broken,it will tick just like a single valve rocker loose.

[indianakid]

that is not what i would call a "ticking" sound. to me it sounds like it is not running on all 4.

[Maz]

+1 on that. Sounds like 3 cylinders to me.
Maz

[U771663]

I will definitely check in on that this evening. Thank you guys for the input.

[virgilmobile]

Start the bike from dead cold.Idle only for 8 seconds then shut down.Lightly tap each header.A cold header is a dead cylinder.
Compression test each next.

[U771663]

Well it's firing on all 4. I took valve cover off checked head torque valve clearance and removed fuel pump and tach drive as well. I reached my finger up in the fuel pump to feel the arm that rides the cam. It feels a little sloppy to me. Dunno. This is all new to me. The bike that is.

[virgilmobile]

You can run the bike for a noise test with the pump removed...just to see if its making the noise.As I recall, the pump arm should not be loose in riding on the lobes.
By the way does the pump have a chrome cover over it?
Mine did.stupid thing had a mounting bolt right on the carb mount.Vibration from the lifter made the cover ring like a bell.always sounded like a bad ticking lifter.I removed it and the ticking subsided.

[U771663]

I did just run it a couple hrs ago with the pump off. Still made the noise. I read somewhere that sometimes you would have to adjust the valves a hair closer than recommended or "by ear" until the ticking subsides.

[virgilmobile]

Not really.Honda is very specific about clearances.
Keep in mind that it is on a cam with no wear marks and the same for the rocker contact.
I did have a worn cam with a small flat spot that ticked and a rocker worn almost concave.This gave me false measurements.

[U771663]

Would it be possible the timing is off 1 tooth?

[virgilmobile]

One tooth off will cause a poor running bike but not excessive rocker noise.

[indianakid]

IT IS A POOR RUNNING BIKE !!!

verify the cam timing is correct.
verify the ignition wires are correct.
verify compression.
remove the carbs and verify the jets are clear. the 81 has pressed in idle jets. they have to be removed to really clean them.

Get it running right then track down any ticking.

Best of luck.

[U771663]

Sorry for not reposting a lot earlier. I got the problem fixed. Timing belt please one tooth off. Thank you for your time and suggestions.