Valve noise

[Old Red]

“Everything else seemed fine. No backfiring or other strange sounds.”

Are you saying it is running fine, on all four cylinders? If it is running on all four cylinders I doubt you have a bent valve.

The other Earl

[Tat2demon]

Sorry, but it is the truth. Even if you had light contact afterwords, the stems could be bent not letting the piston/valve contact to occur because the bent valves are open. Here is the positive that you are looking for...you might be lucky. Do you feel lucky?

I'm not necessarily looking for positive but "U R Screwed" is anything but helpful.

Rechecked the shims, 2 were still a little on the tight side. Compression test showed fine all the way across but the motor was cold. Will check again tomorrow after I swap those two shims and am able to warm it up first.

[Tat2demon]

“Everything else seemed fine. No backfiring or other strange sounds.”

Are you saying it is running fine, on all four cylinders? If it is running on all four cylinders I doubt you have a bent valve.

The other Earl

Yeah other than the one being a more noticeably loud than the others it seems to be running just fine. We got more snow yesterday so I wasnt able to take it out. Just ran it in the garage.

[skids]

I'm not necessarily looking for positive but "U R Screwed" is anything but helpful.

Rechecked the shims, 2 were still a little on the tight side. Compression test showed fine all the way across but the motor was cold. Will check again tomorrow after I swap those two shims and am able to warm it up first.

In that case, you are probably in good shape. When you bend a valve stem they tend to stick in the open position, giving excessive valve to cam lobe clearance.

[Tat2demon]

That would make sense.

Its a good thing I had to work on it again. As I was, it occurred to me that I didn't torque my clutch star plate bolts when I put it back together last night.

[DGXSER]

OK, two suggestions....

1. Check the rest of the nuts and bolts you installed or didn't during your evening of working on the bike in a drunken stupor.

2. Do not work on your bike in a drunken stupor anymore!!

Seriously though, does sound like you might want to slow it up a little bit on the assembly processes. But yes, if your compression numbers all look good I doubt seriously you have any bent valves.

[GLoweVA]

Just a thought, but an exhaust leak may sound like 'tink' 'tink' and may seem like a valve noise.
Try spraying some fine mist type water from a spray bottle (or smoke like from a cigar) around the headers and see if it goes 'puff' 'puff' somewhere, that'll be an exhaust leak.

I've got a couple of leaks and I can believe that it may seem (hear) like valve noise.

+1, if the compression numbers are all good and the shims are in(or near) spec then all should be good with the engine, then your 'extra' noise is coming from something else.

[Tat2demon]

OK, two suggestions....

1. Check the rest of the nuts and bolts you installed or didn't during your evening of working on the bike in a drunken stupor.

2. Do not work on your bike in a drunken stupor anymore!!

Seriously though, does sound like you might want to slow it up a little bit on the assembly processes. But yes, if your compression numbers all look good I doubt seriously you have any bent valves.

Lol no drinking that night. Just too many interruptions. It seems anytime people see me working on the bike they decide thats the best time to come talk to me.

[Tat2demon]

Just a thought, but an exhaust leak may sound like 'tink' 'tink' and may seem like a valve noise.
Try spraying some fine mist type water from a spray bottle (or smoke like from a cigar) around the headers and see if it goes 'puff' 'puff' somewhere, that'll be an exhaust leak.

I've got a couple of leaks and I can believe that it may seem (hear) like valve noise.

+1, if the compression numbers are all good and the shims are in(or near) spec then all should be good with the engine, then your 'extra' noise is coming from something else.

I hadnt considered that. I did put in new exhaust gaskets the same day. Ill have to check that when it warms up a little out there.

[Tat2demon]

With the motor warmed up I got 170-145-165-170. The one making the noise is the 165.

I started a paper towel on fire for some smoke and didnt see any exhaust leak with that but Ill try again later when the gf gets home and I can use a cigarette.

[BA80]

Two things, 1) Did you check the compression with the throttle wide open? It needs to be open to get an accurate reading. 2) Put a little oil in each cylinder and recheck.

If your getting 165 in the noisy one it isn't a bent valve, possibly the clearance isn't just right yet.

All those readings are pretty fair. The 145 is a touch low but not bent valve low.

[skids]

With the motor warmed up I got 170-145-165-170. The one making the noise is the 165.

Oh my, that compression is way too high! Are you sure you put the head gasket back in? (just kidding)

[Tat2demon]

Yep throttle was open. Will try it with oil tomorrow.

[Tat2demon]

Oh my, that compression is way too high! Are you sure you put the head gasket back in? (just kidding)

I thought those numbers were a bit high too but its a cheap $28 gauge.

[BA80]

I thought those numbers were a bit high too but its a cheap $28 gauge.

Yeah, That's not the issue. It gives you an idea what's going on though. Your not testing the guage.

120 -130 is about normal.