Engine ticking noise

[Colo814]

I recently purchased an 89 FJ and just finished my second ride (110 miles) on the bike this afternoon.  This if the first FJ I have owned so I am relatively new to the bike overall.  I have noticed that higher up in the engine there is a rhythmic ticking sound that I can hear when the engine is idling and when I ride it a lower speeds and can hear the engine.  The bike seems to be running great so I am not sure if I should be concerned about the noise or not.  The guy I bought the bike from recently did a valve adjustment so I am not sure if the noise is coming from the valves or not.  Any help or direction that members could provide would be extremely helpful.     

[craigo]

If the noise is coming from the #3,4 cylinder area around the head, this is normal. The FJ lump makes a lot of noise. You will hear a lot of rattle and tick sounds. All is normal. Word is, if it seems to be running fine, it is.

No worries,

CraigO

[Dads_FJ]

Ticking noise on my bike was traced to an exhaust leak at the cylinder head, just needed to replace the exhaust gaskets.  Hold a piece of paper near the area in question and if there's a leak exhaust gasses will move the paper.

[andyb]

Per above exhaust leaks:  They're easiest to find simply by starting the engine in the dark.  You can usually see the flashes of light from flame leaking out around the gasket.

But mostly yes, it's normal to have a pretty noisy motor.  If you have a tick that gets louder when you open the gas, it's almost definitely an exhaust leak, though you may not be able to hear it if you have loudish exhaust baffling, or excessive wind noise

[FJmonkey]

Could be a loose valve, last time I adjusted mine I did not have the correct shim and did not want to wait for one in the mail. Loose is better than tight so I chose to have a slightly loose intake valve. I can hear it when at idle but with the revs up it can't be heard. It might even tighten up by the next valve check and not need changing....

[MOTOMYSZOR]

Could be a loose valve, last time I adjusted mine I did not have the correct shim and did not want to wait for one in the mail. Loose is better than tight so I chose to have a slightly loose intake valve. I can hear it when at idle but with the revs up it can't be heard. It might even tighten up by the next valve check and not need changing....

Old post but it is even better for me.
In my bike all clearances are in middle range and only one intake valve have 0,16-0,17mm. And I can clearly hear it when at idle. exactly as Monkey.
Should I live it or adjust?

[Mark Olson]

Personal choice,

If you still have it apart replace the shim , if it is put back together and running leave it alone.
It can serve as an indicator for valve adjustment ... so when it gets quiet you know it is time to go thru the rest because they are now tight.

If your engine is too quiet your valves are tight and you may burn a valve. Personally I will check mine once a year during spring maint.

[FJmonkey]

Personal choice,

If you still have it apart replace the shim , if it is put back together and running leave it alone.
It can serve as an indicator for valve adjustment ... so when it gets quiet you know it is time to go thru the rest because they are now tight.

If your engine is too quiet your valves are tight and you may burn a valve. Personally I will check mine once a year during spring maint.

+1 Mark, a tappy valve is a happy valve...

[2Dirty]

Personal choice,

If you still have it apart replace the shim , if it is put back together and running leave it alone.
It can serve as an indicator for valve adjustment ... so when it gets quiet you know it is time to go thru the rest because they are now tight.

If your engine is too quiet your valves are tight and you may burn a valve. Personally I will check mine once a year during spring maint.

+1 Mark, a tappy valve is a happy valve...

Hi guys. Just got my 86 running last week. Just checking if I have the same problem or something unique. Bike runs great and only 8500 miles. So, my engine sounds fine at startup but then when she's warmed up, #1 cyl seems to emit a tap that gets faster with acceleration. Is it just the valves? I did orders valve tool. Thabks

[FJmonkey]

Hi guys. Just got my 86 running last week. Just checking if I have the same problem or something unique. Bike runs great and only 8500 miles. So, my engine sounds fine at startup but then when she's warmed up, #1 cyl seems to emit a tap that gets faster with acceleration. Is it just the valves? I did orders valve tool. Thanks

When I bought my '89 one of the first things I did was check and adjust the valves. I changed 9 shims mostly due to tight. 8000 miles later when I was at RPM for the ride with Wheel Chock gang you could hear loose valves. So Robert and I (mostly Robert) checked and adjusted every valve shim. 2 were ok but we adjusted them back to nominal. One was very tight, zero lash. Others were loose. Checking your valves is easy to do and does not require any special tools other than feeler gauges. Changing the shims requires a special tool. It is very convenient to both while you have the valve cover off. But you could check them and know if you need to rent the RPM shim kit or invest in the special tool. It is the tight valve(s) that cause the expensive problems and you cannot tell from sound, only measuring them when the engine is cold. So if you are in doubt, at least check them.

[Nimbus]

I had a 'ticking' and assumed the valve clearance, nope turned out to be #4 low compression, like 50. Easy to check compression first.
H

[Dads_FJ]

Personal choice,

If you still have it apart replace the shim , if it is put back together and running leave it alone.
It can serve as an indicator for valve adjustment ... so when it gets quiet you know it is time to go thru the rest because they are now tight.

If your engine is too quiet your valves are tight and you may burn a valve. Personally I will check mine once a year during spring maint.

+1 Mark, a tappy valve is a happy valve...

Hi guys. Just got my 86 running last week. Just checking if I have the same problem or something unique. Bike runs great and only 8500 miles. So, my engine sounds fine at startup but then when she's warmed up, #1 cyl seems to emit a tap that gets faster with acceleration. Is it just the valves? I did orders valve tool. Thabks

If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for your bike? 
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/5477473413.html

[2Dirty]

Personal choice,

If you still have it apart replace the shim , if it is put back together and running leave it alone.
It can serve as an indicator for valve adjustment ... so when it gets quiet you know it is time to go thru the rest because they are now tight.

If your engine is too quiet your valves are tight and you may burn a valve. Personally I will check mine once a year during spring maint.

+1 Mark, a tappy valve is a happy valve...

Hi guys. Just got my 86 running last week. Just checking if I have the same problem or something unique. Bike runs great and only 8500 miles. So, my engine sounds fine at startup but then when she's warmed up, #1 cyl seems to emit a tap that gets faster with acceleration. Is it just the valves? I did orders valve tool. Thabks

If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for your bike? 
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/5477473413.html

I bought her in PA (eBay) for $1300. The PO couldn't get the carbs from leaking gas. I just put in a new float needles & seats, and rear tire. Now just changing out things that needs it.