[Newbuellertoo]

This morning on the way to work noticed a new noise that wasn't there when I rode home last night. Sounds like clicky, valve noise coming from the left front area of the engine. Quite loud and seems to lessen around 3500 rpm.
2003 LTE 41,000 miles. Haven't done any work on it recently, lots of oil in the engine.
Exhaust leak? Tensioner? Valves?
Ran fine on the way in, iIdles fine, vibration doesn't seem any different.
At this point I'm riding it home. Any suggestions?

Thanks all.

 

[Daveh]

A baseline valve check wouldn't hurt with that many miles. You can use the K1200RS procedure listed in www.gunsmoke.com/motorcycling/k1200rs/valves/ its the same for the LT.

 

[Newbuellertoo]

Thanks Dave, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and do a valve check although I was trying to avoid it this summer.
The strange thing is the noise seems to have just started out of nowhere. Maybe it's just slowly increased in volume until it became noticeable.
I'll check the exhaust headers when I get home to make sure there are no loose bolts or cracks as well.

 

[1dbweldor]

Probably just injectors. They make quite a bit of noise in the lower RPM's. Valves on these engines TIGHTEN with wear. Take a long screwdriver or a mechanic's stethascope and place it around on the left side of the engine while it's running and locate the sound before tearing into it. When you hear a tick keep moving it around till the tick is the loudest. Look at a breakdown of the engine and locate where your tick was loudest and see what moving parts are closest then summize this is what's ticking.

 

[jzeiler]

Sudden appearance is more likely to be exhaust related. But 1dbwelder has some sound advice if you want to isolate it.

 

[Newbuellertoo]

Weirdest damn thing. Two blocks away from work stopped at a traffic signal, the noise just stopped!!!!! Started and stopped out of nowhere.
Is the cam chain adjuster mechanical or hydraulic? That's my current guess for the source of the noise. Could some of the mechanical wizards out there comment?

 

[dshealey]

A baseline valve check wouldn't hurt with that many miles. You can use the K1200RS procedure listed in www.gunsmoke.com/motorcycling/k1200rs/valves/ its the same for the LT.

Except for the glaring error where it says to remove the spark plugs BEFORE doing the clearance measurments. DO NOT remove the plugs. Doing so MAY cause an error in readings if flecks of carbon from removing the plugs drop down onto any open exhaust valve seats.

The service manual for the LT states that plugs should not be removed.

 

[dshealey]

The chain tensioner is hydraulic. It is spring loaded for startup, engine oil pressure further loads it.

Another possibility for clicking is broken exhaust headers, where they are welded into the stubs that bolt into the head. Pretty common. Can be rewelded.

 

[gary45]

this spring one forum member found during valve check that his tensioner was partially seized - not sure you would hear much noise from less tensioned chain tho

 

[mwnahas]

Had a similar sound that I could only hear at idle. Went away when warmed up and at higher rpms. Also the bike had just a bit of tendency to back fire. Turned out to be exhaust crack. Had it welded.