Valve adjustment

[lcdrjoe]

I have a loud ticking when I start up the 87 interstate. This bike was seized up real bad and I've gotten her up and running to the point of taking her down the road a couple miles. However, the right head is ticking bad. I've read lots of posts about adjusting the valves and how you have to do a lot of disassembly. Attached I think there should be a pic of a head assembly. I'm wondering if I remove the cover, can I check which one is loose by simply moving the rocker like I would on any other engine? If so, I should be able to pinpoint the culprit. After that, is it possible to just remove the bolt that has the allen head socket and put a shim in there?

[lcdrjoe]

So I took the valve cover off and checked for any loose-ness in a rocker. I found none. Rotated the engine around to see if that made any get loose. No loose rockers. I started her up and tried to feel for a loose one. Didn't really feel any that seemed loose or 'tapping'. I did manage to get oil all over the place, so I know oil is being delivered there. I have to take the carbs off, again, to change out an o-ring that is allowing fuel to leak out between #2 and #4 carb. After that I may just run it and see what happens. Maybe it needs to pump up or something.

[Andy Cote]

IIRC the GL1200 has hydraulic lash adjusters; no adjustment required or possible. I also seem to remember that the fuel pump is on the right side and makes a ticking sound just like a valve train noise.

[lcdrjoe]

Sure enough, I started her up and disconnected the fuel pump electrical connector and nearly all the noise went away. Thanks Andy. It is a new aftermarket pump, so maybe they are extra loud.