Loud valve clacking - SOLVED

[MoraleHazard]

I recently did a valve adjustment and TB synch on my 04 Rockster. Power is better and smoother, etc., etc., but what I notice is that the clicking sound of the valves seem to be much louder, especially when slowing down to almost a stop. I hear a clacking sound which I can't remember having been there.

Any thoughts?

VVV Pretty much my same symptoms though mine is a clack, the normal valve noises but louder and much more pronounced when coming to a stop.

EDIT - It actually was low oil. I hadn't checked it recently and the oil was low. Filled it up, and the noises went away.

[lguardiola]

I have same problem here....I did valve adjustment and after that I began to here a clanking sound, which is more noticeable when I'm slowing down (i.e arriving at a stop)....

any advise guys???

[MoraleHazard]

Well, I pulled the valve cover and didn't have my fear that when I did the valve adjustment, I hadn't tightened the locking nuts properly. I can't think of anything else that would be horrible noise-wise.

Edit: terminology clarity.

[CycleRob]

MoraleHazard,

First, the terms used in your post confused me for a few seconds:

"Well, I pulled the cylinder head and didn't have my fear that when I did the valve job, I hadn't tightened the locking nuts properly".

To end all confusion, You pulled the valve cover and did a valve adjustment. The cylinder head contains the valve train parts and a valve job refers to lapping in or replacing worn/bent or burned valves and their oil seals.

Now about the clacking sound on closed throttle engine deceleration. That sound is made by the worn TB (ThrottleBody) shafts as the very high intake manifold vacuum on engine braking deceleration pulsates the closed butterflys that are solidly attached to those TB shafts. Some high mileage OilHeads with very worn TB shafts make that clacking sound as the engine idles! Those powerful pressure changes are large amplitude, low frequency pulsations most bikes do not see because there is one TB feeding one 565cc cylinder. That movement over time with the normal roadside silt/grit also drawn in around the exposed pivoting TB shafts contributes to their wear. I occasionally sprayed a very short blast of chainlube at the bearing's shaft entry point close to the throttle wire pulley. Besides lubricating the normally dry shaft, with foul weather riders it could also collect that roadside silt/grit and turn itself into a destructive, captive, grinding compound, and why I have not endorsed the occasional chainlube mini squirts (@ 6K service). My `02 R1150R with 63,874 miles (102,795 km), that was ALWAYS downshifted (a lot) had no such clacking engine decel noises or noticeably worn, pulsating TB shafts. YMMV.

[MarkShelley]

The right hand throttle body is normally the one that begins to rattle. If the rattle is only on the right side it is most likely to be that.

[rprothero]

one other possible culprit could be the stock chain tensioner..I know after my last service I noticed a clacking decel on my bike and I was at 24k miles..At first i checked some of the cabling CycleRob mentioned but all seemed to be good there..Then I checked on some other forums and noted a common tick / clack symptom being reported as part of an issue with the stock(left jug) tensioner failing..They are about 80 bucks but as soon as I replaced the noise went away...Just a thought if all else brings no positive results..BTW how many miles are on your bike?

[lguardiola]

BTW how many miles are on your bike?

Well mine has 16,200...its not a lot but it is a 2004...

Im wondering if in my case it could be the Throttle body adjustment....I bought my bike back in December and I did all the maintenance on it, except for Throttle Body adjustment....but I did notice that noise after I did the Valve Adjustment....

It hasn't given me any problems aside from that noise, but I don't to leave it like that, and something else happening....

[MoraleHazard]

^^^ That's my bike's year, a Rockster, and approximately the mileage.

I occasionally sprayed a very short blast of chainlube at the bearing's shaft entry point close to the throttle wire pulley. Besides lubricating the normally dry shaft, with foul weather riders it could also collect that roadside silt/grit and turn itself into a destructive, captive, grinding compound, and why I have not endorsed the occasional chainlube mini squirts (@ 6K service). My `02 R1150R with 63,874 miles (102,795 km), that was ALWAYS downshifted (a lot) had no such clacking engine decel noises or noticeably worn, pulsating TB shafts. YMMV.

Are you saying I should be giving the short blast of chain lube or I shouldn't?

Doing some more troubleshooting, it seems like the noises (as well as a rattle) happen around the 2000-3500 rpm range. A long slow reduction of speed tends not to produce the noises while a sharp reduction in speed does. Just hanging out in the rpm range tends to produce noises that are less severe. At idle and above 4000 rpm, typically at highway speeds, the noises go away.

I'm not getting the sense from here and elsewhere through internet research that this is a "stop riding now" problem. Is this accurate?

I could look at replacing the tensioner springs this winter?

Oh, and thank you everyone for the help and replies.

[timl]

My 2004 Rockster (56k miles) has occasionally experienced a clanking sound when pulling up to a stop sign when the engine is very hot on a hot day. This is most noticeable when using lighter weight 10W40 oil which I normally run in the Winter. I always assumed it was the cam chain tensioner reminding me that it’s time to upgrade to the newer part, which I never did. I wouldn't worry about this.

I also get an occasional clacking sound at the throttle body if the idle is too low, and it goes away if I give it a little bit of throttle to get the idle up to normal.

[billbeemer]

i'm confused. IF you moved the valve clearances any at all, then resync the throttle bodies. very simple with tool from beemerboneyard. the other theory is the clanking is from left cylinder cam chain tensioner. that was the problem with my '03 r1150r.
it was a poor disign and doesn't oil properly thus clanks at times. go to www.rubberchickenracing.com. http://www.rubberchickenracinggarage.com/chain.html

the new tensioner is an upgrade that works properly with oil. it's a bit of a pita job, i did it slowly with a box end 17mm and 15mm. make sure you are close to tdc so the chain aint got no tension on it. some people say the upgrade tensioner can be had at the dealer, i don't know. if it's the upgrade tensioner, it will be a different size. one is 17mm, one is 15mm. can't remember which. even if it aint the problem, you should upgrade to insure u ain't banging that plastic tensioner so bad it disintegrates! good luck.