Engine tick

[reax222]

I'm new, so here it is. My dad passed away 3 years ago. The bike sat for 2.5 years, we started every couple months and ran it 30 minutes or so. We kept stabil in the fuel too.

It's a 2009 GL1800 17,000 miles. My stepmom had a friend take it to honda for the brake recall, they put fresh gas in it. I started riding it shortly after that.
With in say 50 miles after getting it back from Honda, it started ticking on start up. They filled the bike up with regular gas, so I thought bad gas. I put in high test gas and a little sea foam. With in say another 100 miles the noise became constant (from start up until I shut it down). There is no loss of power, it doesn't over heat. So I changed the oil, mobil 1 10w-30 and a new I think it was a fram filter, no leaks and it's at the proper level. I checked the oil after first start up and 20 miles later- still at the proper level.

I've put several tanks of high test through it and the noise has remained constant for the last few hundred miles. The noise is coming from the right side, and sounds like the front cylinder. I put a screw driver on the valve cover and could not hear the tick inside the head. I took the lower cover off and it appeared to be more rusted on the front header tube and it wasn't as tight as the rest of the bolts. I took it to my dad's mechanic and he said it sounded like it was out of oil. I've shut it down and it will be trailered back next week for him to tear down. From some of my reading there is an injector noise that sounds like valve noise, and I'm hoping that's the cause. Any other ideas or suggestions?

[flash2002]

Hi reax, first thing I would is take the fram filter off and install original honda filter, Fram is not the best filter to use, they could have different valve pressure, it could cause problems. That noise you hear, good chance it's normal, it's the injectors that you hear, dont take it apart for nothing. Just change the oil maybe to synthetic and honda filter and ride.

[reax222]

I thought it was normal, but I can now hear it at 40mph. When I get time to tinker, I' read about using a touch of 2 stroke oil in the fuel to lube up and quiet down the injectors.

[flash2002]

Just do like I do and raise the volume on the radio, LOL

[Ghostman]

If youre going to put Seafoam in make sure you put the correct amount per the gallons of gas. Ride it awhile to get the Seafoam in the injectors and fuel rail and then let the bike sit for a few days for the Seafoam to do its work. After 3 or 4 days top off the tank add the correct amount of Seafoam and find yourself a nice highway to ride the tank off. My wing makes the ticking from the injectors when it starts and with an 1800 it has noises the 1200 and 1500 didnt so you have to get used to her. Also make sure the Mobil oil you put in is NOT resource conserving or Energy conserving because of the wet clutch. Be sure your radiators overflow bottle is at the correct level too.

[dragon2000]

Looking at the dates you listed, this perhaps is a stupid question however did he buy the extended Warranty? Also from the dates it would also be safe to assume that the 3 year Warranty (date put in service) has also passed?

In regards to using SeaFoam, I can attest to how this works as I use it in my cars, snowblower and motorcycles. Before you take apart anything I would go with the suggestion of using this first.

Steve

[reax222]

No warranty left. The sea foam has had a chance to work but hasn't made a noticeable change. I'm getting more confident it's the injectors but I haven't found much about replacements. I don't want it to sound as raggedity as it currently does.

[reax222]

I added a little 2 stroke oil to the gas and it's made a bit of difference in the noise. I think it's time to try a little lucas Fuel system cleaner/top end lube and hopefully get good news about the valves next week.

[dragon2000]

I added a little 2 stroke oil to the gas and it's made a bit of difference in the noise. I think it's time to try a little lucas Fuel system cleaner/top end lube and hopefully get good news about the valves next week.

You mentioned the bike has been sitting for a while I think with all of the cleaning additives you used it maybe time to give a bike a good run.

Steve

[reax222]

Turns out several shims were pulverized. My mechanic couldn't even find pieces and one valve keep was just about free.

[Ghostman]

Did he say what the possible cause of these were? Ive never heard of a valve issue with an 1800 like that.

[reax222]

Only thing he could think of is the valves got gummy when it sat for the two years.

[cact57s1]

I just bought a 2006 Gl1800 and afyer driving about 80 miles I heard a tick like a lifter. I took it back and the dealer is going to work on it. They say they think it is because of the ethenol in the gas. They are working on it now and I should hear from them soon. It has only 22000 miles on it.

[cact57s1]

I heard today, a valve keeper came off and thats what the problem was.

[verheul]

How often do most of you have your valves checked?

[Viking]

How often do most of you have your valves checked?

Like - never. From this thread, maybe I should. Still low mileage on the bike tho. On a ridden bike, the dealer tells me to check at 60K miles and adjust the valves and change the timing chains at 100K miles. Seems about right for a six cylinder engine, like a car, so sounds right for a Goldwing also - maybe?

[cact57s1]

I was told at the dealership, they are seeing more of this type of problem and believe its caused in part from ethenol in the gas. When I saw the carbon buildup on the valves I was suprised as my bile has only 22000 miles on it. The service manager said it looks like the previous owner used yhe bike very little and did short hop[s with it. All causing the problem, you should take the bilk out and open it up every so often, and USE HI-TEST 93 OCTANE OR HIGHER, to help keep the carbon at a min.

[mraven]

I just purchased 2004 with 15k miles on it. I has sat for the last 2-3 years. I have been running 91 and seafoam and just changed the oil, 10w40 amsoil syn. I have a metallic tick when the rpm is below 2k, not constant. Does not sound like lifters to me. Could I be hearing the fuel injectors?

Very new to the 1800. Power response is good with no hesitation in the throttle at all.

[tman100]

Almost the exact same experience. Thought i would post this before I took the bike to a dealer in case someone had a similar experience and could give me some advice.
Here's a summary of the issue:

- 2006 Goldwing with 260 miles on it. Previous owner never rode it.
- Hasn't been started since 2011 and once i got it here last month it wouldn't start at all
- Did some troubleshooting and figured out the fuel pump and fuel level unit was all rusted and needed to be replaced
- So totally cleaned out the fuel tank and installed the fuel pump, added seafoam and fuel level unit, now the bike starts up
- However, it doesn't sound good at all when i crank it and if it idles long enough, starts to smoke a little from the crankcase area
- No fault lights come on, it just sounds like it's struggling to stay on and a ticking noise from the engine area.

Changed the plugs and the oil also before i started it but that didn't do the trick. have not raised the engine past idle b/c i'm afraid it may damage the engine. That ticking sound makes me think the engine isn't getting enough oil but not sure. Take a listen at the link below.



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[alwims]

I know you're going to think I've lost my mind, but I had a ford pickup v10 sound like that in the past. Drove me crazy trying to find it. Turned out to be an exhaust leak at the header where it bolts to the engine. Make sure your exhaust bolts are tight. Just a thought.

[WingAdmin]

I know you're going to think I've lost my mind, but I had a ford pickup v10 sound like that in the past. Drove me crazy trying to find it. Turned out to be an exhaust leak at the header where it bolts to the engine. Make sure your exhaust bolts are tight. Just a thought.

Yes. Many a time a slight exhaust leak right at the header has been mistaken for valve or injector noise. It sounds almost the same.

[tman100]

Interesting. never would have thought about that one. Thanks for the info.

[WINGER3]

I know you're going to think I've lost my mind, but I had a ford pickup v10 sound like that in the past. Drove me crazy trying to find it. Turned out to be an exhaust leak at the header where it bolts to the engine. Make sure your exhaust bolts are tight. Just a thought.

Yes. Many a time a slight exhaust leak right at the header has been mistaken for valve or injector noise. It sounds almost the same.

That is my thought also as soon as I heard it.

[Taw1985]

I know you're going to think I've lost my mind, but I had a ford pickup v10 sound like that in the past. Drove me crazy trying to find it. Turned out to be an exhaust leak at the header where it bolts to the engine. Make sure your exhaust bolts are tight. Just a thought.

Yes. Many a time a slight exhaust leak right at the header has been mistaken for valve or injector noise. It sounds almost the same.

Hate to bring a old old post back to life , but my 04 gl1800 sounds exactly like this. 6 years of storage. Spent 3 weeks changing all fluids. Did first start tonight and it has the exact sound as a exhaust leak. I was hoping the poster of the video was still around to tell me what he did to fix the problem but his last post was 2015.

[Big Bob]

Earlier back you said you changed the oil to Mobil 1 10w30, did you put the motorcycle Mobil oil in the bike? I don't believe it has affected the way the bike runs, but the automotive oil DOESN'T have the transmission additives that the motorcycle oil has in it. Good luck!

Bob