Ticking sound - valve-shims?

So I've been getting ready to check / replace my valve-shims for a while now and I noticed a ticking or kinda rattling noise coming from the top-end. Is this indicative of this issue or could it be something else that I should check while in there.

Could someone breakdown exactly what is going on here with these shims that requires replacement - are they getting worn is it the piston heads?

Also - I'd like to have all the shims on-hand that I could need - is this possible and/or what should I order?

I understand the process to calculate what shim in needed for each valve, I just don't want to sit around with the bike out of action for a few day while I order them. I'd like to have enough on-hand so to speak but then again I don't want to waste too much money.

 

What bike? The ticking sound is normal on at least the 550's. If it's something new then???

Just check the valves. Put it back together. Then order the shims you need and possibly the gaskets that go with the cover if needed. That way your bike won't be sitting around.

Hope this helps.

 

Check the clearances and the current shim sizes. Unless they are way out you can ride for the two days that it will probably take to get new shims from Chacal.
A rythmic ticking is good (think a sewing machine). A rattle could be bad. Do you have the means to upload a video or soundclip?

The shims require replacement because when the valves close they seal tightly against the valve seats. That causes the seats, and the valve faces to wear just a little bit. Over time that wear becomes great enough that they are no longer in spec, and need to be brought back into spec with shims.

All valves require adjustment, even the ones on your car. It just happens that car engines have been using hydraulic adjusters for the better part of 50 years, and they adjust automaticaly.
Other valvetrain designs use other methods of adjusting clearance. For example the engine on the typical push mower has valves that are adjusted by grinding the stem of the valve where it contacts the cam.

One other thing. Put the model and year of your XJ in your signature so we always know what XJ you are asking about. While all XJs are from the same family, there are some significant differences between the various models.

 

Thanks guys - don't I need to replace the gasket after taking the head-cover off each time?

I'll try and get a sound clip tmw.

Although you should know me as the famous robot with xj650 I have updated my signature - I did have this in the old forum but when we went to the new software it wasn't available - didn't know we'd fixed it till now.

 

if you have a larger new bike dealership nearby they should have your shims, check with them first. I think suzuki uses them in some of their bikes too. Your looking for 29mm shims.
then your looking for a few days of rain and go for it. you'll be back up again before the weather breaks

 

I went to a smaller bike repair shop here expecting nothing but they had all the shims I needed in stock & only charged me like $2 a piece.

You'd spend a fortune to get all the shims you might need in advance.

 

29 mm shims are used on ALOT of different bikes. Including one of the most universal bikes, klr 650's.

 

Now all you need is to get the weatherman to cooperate.

 

All those days praying for it not to rain and now......

 

Rainy days are for riding too. Just do the job whatever the weather is.

 

Yeah that's easy to say when you live in the desert . I use to ride no mater what - I've ridden in snow, rain, fog you name it but that was back in England where you don't really have an option if you want to ride more than 2 months a year, plus I had several non-vintage bikes, full leathers and rain gear. Still it wasn't that much fun and I probably did it a lot more than I would have if I'd had a car. Now in the good old USA I have a truck and don't find riding in the rain on a vintage mutated streetfighter to be any fun at all, so I don't. If I had a stock 750 SECA with a fancy windscreen I probably would.

 

I'm just at the edge of the Great American Desert (this is a historical reference. very few people consider it to be an actual desert). I also spent 33 years in Oregon, commuting by motorcycle for many of them.
The secret to all-weather riding is having good gear. I stay dryer on the bike than most people do walking from their car to the front door (even when I had a sportbike).

The one reason why I don't ride in rain much anymore....lightning cares not how good my raingear is LOL

 

Agreed - gear is essential. I don't have any aversion to riding in the rain with the right gear and the right bike. It's just not fun without it but I remember actually enjoying it sometimes in London when I was fully waterproof. We used to go and side our CBR's sideways down the mall on the red painted section that used to be there for the queens horses, bit naughty but hey we were young and dangerous .

 

Total segway from the original topic, but lightning struck an underground wire 20ft from me last year. Took about an hour for my hearing to come back. I don't gamble with angry looking clouds anymore.

 

So back to the thread -



I've been tweaking with the idle screw of late and it appear to be better/different now.

 

.. video was taken in a parking garage so the sound is a bit off.

 

I hear the primary chain slap at idle (normal, you can bump the idle up to 1,300 RPM and it will go away. There is no tentioner on the primary chain, just a guide). I can't hear valve tick (there should be some) but that may be due to the sound quality of the video. Overall you have a healthy sounding engine.

 

Only issue is that's running will 1/2 "choke". I have to go full on the choke to start it now every time regardless of the weather and it's pretty mild here. Then after about 10 mins it will warm up enough to dial it back down to 1/2 but it take a good solid 30 mins before I can close it completely. Do you think another 1/4 or 1/2 turn on the idle would fix that?

I'll try and get another clip from outside where there less echo.

 

You probably have one or more idle passages that are dirty.

 

Thanks - I gave gave it another 1/2 turn and I think i found the sweet spot. Put some seafoam in the gas too.

I have a few jokes about dirty idle passages but I'll save them.