Ticky Ticky... Is this cam bucket thrashing I hear?

[davidz0241]

Thanks for the insight guys. I did do the valves very recently and all was good for the first few hundred miles and the bike was smoother and happier than ever. I did everything according the workbook, however it is possible that one of the valve clearances is just over spec. The right most exhaust valve I could get it to slide at .033 and if i really jammed it in there i could get a .035 to fit. I am begrudgingly willing to open the thing back up and get it dead to .3 like the center 4 exhaust. I did write down what shims are in place currently so i can order them up beforehand and get the .0025 shims that triumph offers instead of the .005 that everyone in the next 200 miles seems to use which would put them all at equilibrium instead of the left most and right most being at top edge of clearance and the centers perfect. It's my hope that cam buckets are what I'm hearing and this would resolve it. It's quite the endeavor opening this thing up so I really wanted to know that it would be worth it to spend the enormous amount of time to get in there and and make the small change. As far as I'm aware my '14 explorer is outside of the danger vin range and I made sure of this when I purchased it. This was one of the requirements for my purchase. FWIW, basically all of my exhaust valves were tight, and all my intake were in spec.

[Saulius]

 I'm hoping that the sound is only due to too much valve spacing ... Well, it's impossible for the other head to be defective ... In my case.
I like Triumph, but if it turns out that the modified head is defective ... You know what the fuck this is ...

[davidz0241]

My hope is the spacing as well. I'm worried however, such a small difference would not seem to make such an issue one would imagine. Expect the worst, hope for the best I suppose.
There is one other possibility I suppose. I hear an exhaust leak could cause a "ticking". I'm not sure if it would be rpm variable like what I'm hearing however. This is very possible, as my exhuast weld failed and thusly was hanging from only the header join. It's now been welded back up but I wonder if further damage was done there.

[eps]

Hi - just a little thing but does the noise change if the clutch is pulled in ??

[AlaskaFish]

Have you been able to compare your TEX to another TEX for sounds?  That might help answer your question.  I'm not that far away if you decide you'd like to hook up for a comparison.  I have a 2012 TEX that you could listen to in Arlington to your south.

John

[CaptainTrips]

You could try the 'mechanics stethoscope' which is a long screwdriver. With the bike idling, press the pointy end of the screwdriver against various locations on the engine and place your ear against the handle to try and isolate the region where your noise is coming from. Or pick up a real mechanic's stethoscope.

[Pomegranate]

Really good idea the stethoscope. My Explorer had an odd tapping noise that was related to engine speed and particularly noticeable when pulling away. I ended up stripping the clutch to no avail but finally found the problem by using the screwdriver trick and it seemed that the noise was coming from the alternator, the end near the clutch. I removed the alternator and found that the bearing was loose in its housing. I replaced the bearing and locktited in position and the noise was gone. I eventually replaced the alternator with a second hand low mileage one. The screwdriver ‘stethoscope’ was the key to pinpointing the noise. Even better is if you know a nurse or dr with a proper stethoscope or by one on eBay!

[Saulius]

After the first stethoscope specialist I replaced the exhaust manifold gaskets, the tic tac sound remained. After a second stethoscope specialist I did the timing and replaced the chain tensioner, the tic tac sound remained ...

[davidz0241]

Do you have a video of yours saulius? Is it the same I'm experiencing? I'm pretty convinced its due to too much space but I still have not opened the thing up again. Also, I had a hell of a time trying to get the mid exhaust gasket replacement in. Any tips/tricks for that one? Well it's somewhat comforting that it's at least not likely due to timing. You did replace the screws on the cam gears right? They're suppose to be single use and replaced each time. Do you have any starting issues?

[CaptainTrips]

Originally Posted by davidz0241

You did replace the screws on the cam gears right? They're suppose to be single use and replaced each time.

Cam timing is a one-time-only procedure that is done at the 20k mile mark. It should not need to be done again unless there is major engine work done.