TICK TICK TICK

[Sumo]

Hey there everybody ! Have put several hundred miles on the CT , also put a radial Shinko on the front, rides comfortable, but there is something about it I can not put my finger on. My MPG went up by about 5 , and with the new tires and replacement rear end I purchased from young Mr. Leo in memphis, it is amazingly quiet. That is until this TICKING had developed. Something in the top end. I can sometimes make it ho away by adding some Marvel Mystery oil to the fuel. Which ironically enough increased my MPG also. But, that is but an inadequate band aid.
So what is the likely culprit ? Fire away , I am ready !

[debron]

Pretty sure it's the hydraulic valves. Mine does that and so do many others here. A fresh oil change usually silences it for 1000 to 2000 miles then it will start again. Interestingly dino oil keeps it quieter longer possibly because the dino is 15w 40 and the synthetic is 5w 40. also long trips in hot weather tends to bring it on after 3 days of 300+ miles each. Now I throw in a couple of ounces of sea foam a couple hundred miles before an oil change and that seems to help.

[Sumo]

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Any danger with it ?
Has anyone had it fixed ?

[gearheadfla]

My mileage also went up with the car tire, the RPM came down a couple hundred, the CT is a little taller than the MC. That also made getting it up on the center stand even easier.

[cushman eagle]

The lifters ticking, can also be caused by the oil level being too full, and the crankshaft foaming the oil. This is the reasoning of the 3qt.22oz rule of thumb, for the amount of oil to be added after an oil change including both drain plugs and the filter.

[kehnisz]

I had tried Rotella 15-40 - then went to Valvoline 20-50. Did the Sea Foam in the gas, in the oil etc. THEN, Don Medina asked me what Oil Filter I was using. I was using the EMGO filters. Don suggested I switch to the K&N oil filter.

I went so far as to record my oil pressure readings (at the fitting on the left lower side of engine)
Cold (80 degrees F) RPM Hot (180 degrees F)

20 IDLE 15
60 2,500 55
50 4,000 70


This year, when using the K&N, with the Rotella 15-40 (3 qt 22 oz), after 5,000 miles of running spring, summer (California Central Valley and Reno) and fall, freeway speed and up and down mountains. NOT ONE TICK TICK TICK of the lifter in that time. I had struggled with eliminating this annoying intermittent issue that went on for over 10,000 miles and through 3 oil changes (using the EMGO filter).

At this point; 6,000 miles later - second K&N filter and oil change - still no tick.

So, a K & N filter worked for me!

[voyager55]

I can't see how a oil filter would effect anything. As long as it's designed for the 1200, any brand will be fine.

[Lucasind]

It sure makes you wonder........ one of the thoughts I have about oil filter selection making a difference is the type of material used in filter construction, and the speed at which the oil passes through one filter as compared to another, "FROTHING" of the oil is not desirable, and this could possibly be happening to a lesser extent with the K&N as opposed to the other,,, I don't know... just throwin it out there !! Let's hear what others think .........................tony

[voyager55]

I read about owners who use spin on cartridge filters, like cars use- Wing owners etc. There's always a debate on which filter is best, which has more/best filter media etc etc. Never any mention of our type of filters. Emgo probably made the oem Kaw filter

[Sumo]

I will try the Kn filter. Just a few dollars more . I guess an inferior filter could
Slow the return of the lubricant ?

Anyways. I will let you know what I come up with. Thanks for the responses and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

[96desertXII]

Mine does it when I get on the city streets for a couple of miles after runs on the highway above 80mph or more, #4 exhaust I think.

[Sumo]

Could you clarify the statement about the exhaust ? Are you saying it is
Involved with the exhaust portion of the valve system ? Or is your number four exhaust ticking from cooling down? That noise is very different from what I am talking about. When I first heard mine I was positive a piston was about to come out of the head ! :)

[kehnisz]

In regards to price of the K&N - this filter 'kit' includes the two o-rings. If you had replaced the o-rings as OEM parts with the EMGO, the price of an EMGO change would have been more than the K&N, which had already included the o-rings.

So, survey says....who out there with the valve ticking noise would like to provide the name of the filter they were/are using?

96 - Voyager - during the 40K to 50K miles on the speedo, used EMGO.

[Kevin B in Illinois]

HLA issue,,Hydralic Lash Adjuster. I had this issue with my 95 and tried the bleed down test (according to the shop manual) and eventually replaced them after speaking with Mr. Leo back in the late 90's . Seems that the 95 and 96 Voyagers had more issues with these than the other years. Replacing them wasn't a big issue, but the cost was for the adjusters....I would go with some Rotella oil changes and see if that helps clear out the tick tick tick sound. Hopefully that works.

Kevin Braddy
IPVMC President
Motorcycle Enthusiast

[ekap1200]

Just askin, How many miles are on this engine? ' any bad history of any kind like a fouled plug at one time, How long have you had it ? Things do wear out at some point in time. /Gene K.

[Sumo]

I got it at 28000. 42000. Now. Regular oil changes. Mostly with rotella. Did try rotella synthetic once, and Mobil one syn. Once. . No apparent differences.

I guess I will increase the frequency of my oil changes to 2000 miles down from three thousand . It does happen after long runs at highway speed. So the frothing oil is def the big suspect .

[Sumo]

And yes the wearing out question has entered my mind. I am more than willing to get it fixed. If there is a fix !