Noisy Tappets.

[stupotads]

I don't know if this has just started happening, or if I have only just noticed it, but when my NTV is cold, for the first couple of miles the Tappets seem quite noisy. After a couple of miles, they cannot be heard & the engine sounds sweet.
Normal or not ? Anything to be concerned about ?

[yellowmelos]

They may just need adjusting.... but you should not hear them.. maybe cams are starting to wear... or taps...

Is the noise coming from the front or the back
if from both.. check the back's anyway as they are easier to get to.... check oil level aswell

[smartiedarkblue]

hiya,

You shouldnt hear them at all, but the fact that the noise is only present when the engine is cold would indicate that they are only just out of tolerance.

If the noise persisted when the tolerance had been taken up by the heat then they would be way out.

You need to check them off the top of my head i think exh clearance is 0.25mm and the inlet clearance is 0.15mm that may be wrong i shall check when i get home tonight.

The rear cylinder is easy takes about 30mins, the front however is a pig and i would not recomend takling it without a haynes manual if its your first time. It can take 60 - 90mins.

Remember leave the engine a good 12 hours to cool before checking clearances, it can not have a trace of heat in it.

take it easy
ed

[gothitjulie]

Whilst you're in there, check that the domed cylinder head stud nuts are tight (40Nm I think). The cylinder head studs can come loose, if they have you need to extract the studs & use some hard threadlock on them.

[stupotads]

Oil level is fine. When time allows, I will get the tolerances checked. Thanks all.

[McF]

Probably nothing to worry about; sounds like they just need adjusting as already suggested.
When were they last done?
Recommended interval is every 8,000 miles (12,000 Km)
Correct Honda clearances are:
Inlet 0.13 to 0.17mm
Exhaust 0.18 to 0.22mm

What about your oil? Thin "worn out" oil will make your engine noiser although I'd generally expect this to be more noticeable when hot

How many miles on your aNTy?

[stupotads]

Mileage is about 25500 now, although It could never be proved. I do have all the previous MOTs, and for 4 years it only did the mileage to the mot station & back !
As for the oil & filter, I change every 4000 miles, so shouldn't have any issues there. The bike runs sweet though, with no oil leaks, & doesn't burn any either.
Hopefully, I will get a good few years out of her. I love it !!!

[stupotads]

Took the bike to a local bike mechanic last week to get the carbs cleaned properly in a Ultrasound Bath, as they were very gummed up through lack of use by the previous owner. I mentioned the noisy tappets to the mechanic when I dropped the bike off, & he said he would check it out.
I was very pleased when he told me the noisy tappets turned out to be a poor seal on the exhaust link pipe !! Result. Running sweet again now.

[McF]

Always nice to hear a good outcome
and no doubt cheap too?

What did you think of the ultrasound bath treatment?
I've been thinking of it for the carbs off one of my R80s

[stupotads]

When the carbs were stripped, there was a lot of yellowing in the float bowls that couldn't be cleaned with normal carb' cleaner. Probably due to the bike being sat around for almost 5 years prior to my ownership.
Once they had been in the bath for nearly an hour, they were completely spotless. There is a definate difference in the way it runs.

[McF]

Sounds good, was the treatment expensive?

[stupotads]

Total cost was £80, but that included fitting two new throttle cables, a clutch cable, & a choke cable. (I supplied the parts). I was happy with that.