Triumphrat

SpaceCoastRat · 02-17-2008

I just picked the Scrambler up after the 12,000 mile service and noticed a more pronouced ticking sound at idle when I started her up. After a glorious 50 mile ride home the ticking seems a little less pronounced but still a bit more noticable than before the 12k service. The dealership has been outstanding and the bike still runs and rides like a dream but is the ticking sound normal after valve adjustments or should I be concerned? I'm not a gearhead but I have gotten some truly outstanding tips from the masters on this site. Thanks for answering what may well be a pretty stupid question.

mecscc · 02-17-2008

If they did a valve clearance adjustment and several of your shims were out of spec on the tight side, it will "tick" louder. Why don't you find out if they had to loosen up the valves a bit? If so, that might be the issue. Did you call and tell them the issue, and ask?

dazco · 02-17-2008

As i understand it, valve clearances generally become lessened with miles due to carbon buildup. So they actually tighten instead of loosening as you would think with wear. therefore if they were indeed too tight, as monte said they would have adjusted them and with more clearance they would now tick louder.

road_dog · 02-17-2008

I agree... your valves clearances were probably less that what they should have been. That was the case with mine anyway. I just had my 12K service done as well. When the dealer called me to let me know my bike was ready to pick up, I ask the mechanic if any of the clearances were out of spec. He told me that all my intake valves were OK, but 3 of the 4 exhaust valves had less clearance than the factory specs. Unfortunately I haven't been able to go pick my bike up, so I can't comment on the amount of "ticking sound". Not yet anyway... but hopefully real soon.

CAPTDON · 02-17-2008

I would think the valve clearance (due to wear ) would require "thicker" shims to make up for wear? I never heard the "carbon buildup" theory?? Have to look into that one?

mikeinva · 02-17-2008

valve get tighter as they wear most of the time because the go up into the head more as they wear the seat and valve face.If they get looser something in cam or shim has worn not a good thing

Geimer · 02-17-2008

What I've read in this forum, but not experienced myself yet is that the valve clearance may tighten over time because as the valves close they are actually embedding themselves into the seats (or wearing or something to that effect). The seats should work harden and reduce this effect over a longer time period. But this would account for tighter clearances, which, as has been mentioned already, would need to be increased if the clearance was below spec. Thus a bit more tick after the adjustment. I agree that a check back with the dealer to see exactly what they did with the clearances would be wise. Then you could quit worrying about it.

dazco · 02-18-2008

As i said in my post, "as i understand it". meaning this is what i have heard here. But thinking about it now and reading the responses, it would be the opposite wouldn't it? i mean, carbon buildup would hold the valves in a slightly further position that was previously a slightly open position. see what i'm saying? So i would think carbon buildup would do just the opposite of what i was told here. Having consumed about 5 beers at this point i suppose i may be spacing. But if not, i gotta start drinking more.

But in any case, i would then wonder why valve clearance mostly changes towards the smaller size? I have heard thats the norm, and when i did mine they were indeed for the most part all tighter.

SpaceCoastRat · 02-18-2008

The service dept was closed on Sunday when I picked her up but they just told me the valves were actually a bit loose and they tightened them which may explain why it sounded a little different. The really aggravating thing is the bike stalled out in traffic last night for the first time ever and took a whole lot longer to warm up this morning than usual. I live in Florida so cold has never been an issue but I adjusted the idler screw a bit higher and that seemed to help. The dealer told me that it may take a little while to settle in so i'm gonna keep an eye on her for the next few days and take her back in if needed. I've got another year left on the warranty but it's annoying when you have the factory required service done and it seems to run a little worse.

CAPTDON · 02-18-2008

WOW valve adjustment on an 06? Must do a lot of ridin! This "valves gettin tighter thing " still has me confused? Ever since I have been workin on cars & bikes since I was young - a long time!, I always tightened up the adjuster to make up for minor wear. I dont buy this carbon build-up thing. If that were the case- it would make the valve clearance looser, not tighter.