Yet another "ticking" thread

[kc5deb]

I've searched around, and found that the remedy for the ticking seems to be a consensus that it's an exhaust leak, and tightening up the nuts (or the addition of one in some cases) on the header will cure it. But, might be a bit different here.

I have the ticking coming from the left hand top end of my 99 Sprint ST. Yesterday, I was checking the plugs, and they didn't come out too easy. I eased them back in to where I felt the shoulders on the plugs seat, and torqued to 9ft lbs. I thought I had everything blown out of the recesses that the plugs lay in, and didn't think I buggered up the threads... But, with the way they felt going in, there's no way I didn't ding them up a little. My fear is that I allowed some metal fragments to drop into the cylinder.

When I started it back up, I heard a tick coming from the left of the bike. It hasn't done that before. It's always sounded like a 20 year old perkins diesel idling, but, it's never ticked.

I shut it down, and immediately came here to check around. After reading up, I checked the header nuts, and all are there. I didn't try to tighten them, because they're rusty as hell, and I didn't feel like snapping one off to add to what I might have done to the motor already.

I did figured that if I had chunked metal through the motor, it would be smoking and making some other nasty noises as well. I went ahead and rode it for about 30 minutes (it's been sitting for about 2 months with only the occasional start) to blow the cobwebs out. Unfortunately, it didn't blow out the ticking sound.

Does this still sound like an exhaust leak? It wasn't ticking the day before, and it only began ticking after I put the plugs back in. I don't notice any lack of power, it's not missing; it otherwise runs fine?

[Jinkeez]

Hi kc5deb,

I haven't posted here much so I'm essentially a newbie, and although I'm a novice rider (1 summer so far), I've got the exact same bike as you, and what sounds like a similar ticking, although I've not really able to determine if it's coming from the left or right on my engine.

I got my Sprint used, with around 38k miles on it, and it had the ticking all along. I've asked a few different mechanics about it (one of them at Buck's Motorsports, a Triumph Dealer here in NY), none of whom seemed particularly alarmed... The suggestions I received leaned toward valve noise or cam chain noise (I haven't got any experience mechanically); but never with any implied urgency. I'll be watching this thread with interest to see if I ought to making arrangements for service, though.

[oldndumb]

Don't know about your ticking noise, but tend to think that Jinkeez's comments are in the ball park.

For future reference, if you ever want to check fasteners for tightness, there is a recommended procedure meant to prevent over-torquing damage. You should first loosen the fastener, and then torque it to the correct specification. If you check torque without first loosening the fastener, you will over-torque it.

This becomes more important the higher the torque value is. There are heavy equipment operators that have learned this the hard way ($$$), after checking their head bolts.

[iceman]

..... without hearing the noise kc5 - its hard to say - but if you are sure that it has suddenly appeared then that indicates a possible problem.
When my bike was only a few weeks old I noticed a rumbling in the gearbox when it was idling - it stopped as soon as the clutch was pulled in then reappeared when the clutch was let out.
Once I was aware of it suddenly it seemed to get a lot worse and I had visions of the whole thing flying apart.The mechanic had a listen and said it was normal and I have since listened to a few others and he is right (something to do with straight cut gears).Now that I have accepted it as normal I hardly notice it anymore.
You will need to get a Triumph mechanic to check it out to either put your mind at rest or avert a disaster.
The triples do have some unique sound effects

Good luck!

Grant

[oldndumb]

Originally Posted by iceman

When my bike was only a few weeks old I noticed a rumbling in the gearbox when it was idling - it stopped as soon as the clutch was pulled in then reappeared when the clutch was let out.
Once I was aware of it suddenly it seemed to get a lot worse and I had visions of the whole thing flying apart.The mechanic had a listen and said it was normal and I have since listened to a few others and he is right (something to do with straight cut gears)

I am not saying that this is the cause of the noise you hear pulling and releasing the clutch lever, but this is what I have found on almost every bike I've worked on.

The clutch pull or push rod, depending on the design, rides in a bearing housed in the clutch pressure plate. The pressure plate can be be installed in as many different positions as it has springs. In other words, if you remove the pressure plate, it can be rotated and reinstalled in any position.

Through an accumulation of manufacturing tolerances, there is one perfect position to reinstall the plate which will let the push/pull rod rotate in the bearing with the least amount of friction. The other positions will produce noise, but not hurt anything so long as "the rod moves in and out feely and is free to turn" (words from the shop manual).

If you take the time to try the different positions, and identify the optimum one, you will then have a hard time hearing any noise difference when you pull/release the clutch lever.

My experience with straight cut gears makes me expect to hear a whine, not a rumble.

[RexxyPup]

Just an odd ball to consider.

My baby developed a ticking noise that dissapeared when the clutch was pulled in, and was louder under decelleration.... Triumph tech thought it might be clutch or gearbox.....

turned out that I had lost the nut of the bottom right oil cooler mount and it was vibrating in the mount.

Have a look for some daft stuff before you scare yourself with the expensive

Rexx

[dogarajo]

I've got the same issues with my 'tona. I laid it over on its left side this fall and once I fired it up again, I have a ticking noise. I did manage to ding the #1 header (left side cylinder), so I'm hoping thats the main cause of the tick.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to work on it anymore, but its interesting to hear about other machines doing it, with only changing the plugs.

Here's the link to my other thread asking for advice. I know this doesn't help, but doesn't hurt.
http://www.triumphrat.net/daytona-de...g-daytona.html

[dolson]

One thing to use in trying to diagnose engine noises is a mechanic's stethoscope. These can usually be had at any auto parts store. Putting the probe on the offending area and walking it around while listening one can usually identify the problem.

Barring that one can also go the cheap route and a long grimy screwdriver in the ear works too.

Don

[cardboardkiller]

Originally Posted by RexxyPup

Just an odd ball to consider.

My baby developed a ticking noise that dissapeared when the clutch was pulled in, and was louder under decelleration.... Triumph tech thought it might be clutch or gearbox.....

turned out that I had lost the nut of the bottom right oil cooler mount and it was vibrating in the mount.

Have a look for some daft stuff before you scare yourself with the expensive

Rexx

+1

I had a rattling noise coming from my Land Rover on start up but it went away after it warmed up. This noise sounded bad and came on all of a sudden one day. I checked the oil, changed to a different weight oil and tried seafoaming the engine. No dice.

It was a freaking heat shield on the resonator that had busted the back weld. A mighty twist and a few drops of blood later, no more rattling.