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Tiger Time => Steamers (1993-1998 Tigers) => Topic started by: Danwarb on April 22, 2017, 11:27:09 PM

Title: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Danwarb on April 22, 2017, 11:27:09 PM
Hi guys,

(Phil I know your reading my every letter in every post I write here as I'm referring to you hot X).

When I start my steamer from cold I can hear a ticking sound thats in rhythm with the sound from the exhausts. Then after 15 or 20 seconds it fades and disappears.

My previous steamer also gave this ticking sound but it never went how ever warmed up she got.

Is this a possible sign that one or more of the pistons is tapping the valve at the top of each stroke before coming back down?

Cheers guys.

:ear
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: London_Phil on April 23, 2017, 12:09:29 AM
Its done that since I bought it.
The only thing I never did was change the cam chain, but it never caused me any issues.
I seriously doubt its pistons valves interference.
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: John Stenhouse on April 23, 2017, 01:05:51 AM
No way it would be piston valve contact, it's timing would have to be miles out to do that, so far I doubt it would run.
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Danwarb on April 23, 2017, 07:33:41 AM
Phil relax man! Your attention to care and details is incredible, the whole bike sounds and feels so solid and quiet (like no steamer I've owned before).

So what could be the cause of this familiar ticking sound I get from steamers?
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: London_Phil on April 23, 2017, 09:20:53 AM
If it helps, I did do the shims because that was what I thought it was, and it made no difference to how it sounded.
I wonder if it could be a slight blow from the exhaust pipe / head seal ring, as it seemed to come and go, and never seemed to get worse.
As that required removal of exhausts, and the risk of  problems with the exhaust port studs, I decided I could live with it, as it had no effect on running, ( unlike carbs, coils, fuel, etc, etc..), but is a little irritating.


Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: bemusedinsojo on April 23, 2017, 10:09:16 AM
Whenever I start mine it makes a sound like money sucking out of my wallet. Faint at first but getting louder.
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Danwarb on April 23, 2017, 02:42:34 PM
Quote from: bemusedinsojo on April 23, 2017, 10:09:16 AM
Whenever I start mine it makes a sound like money sucking out of my wallet. Faint at first but getting louder.

:*&*

The first Steamer I had sounded SO agricultural, truly like a tractor. People used to turn around and say. "I thought that was a diesel van."

:rfl

Seriously though, what is this ticking sound I've had with all three steamers, its in time with each engine 'blow' from the exhaust. It only sounds when the engine is cool or at higher ravs around 6 and 7 thousand?
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Mustang on April 23, 2017, 05:15:58 PM
Quote from: John Stenhouse on April 23, 2017, 01:05:51 AM
No way it would be piston valve contact, it's timing would have to be miles out to do that, so far I doubt it would run.
steamers are not an interference type engine . even in a catastrophic failure the big end of the rod will hit the cylinder liner long before the piston top even comes near the valves .

:icon_redface:

(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee47/2uoykcuf/repairs/101_1817.jpg)
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: John Stenhouse on April 23, 2017, 07:46:10 PM
I bet that took a bit of polishing out
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: GavD on April 23, 2017, 09:20:37 PM
Quote from: Danwarb on April 23, 2017, 02:42:34 PM
:*&*

The first Steamer I had sounded SO agricultural, truly like a tractor. People used to turn around and say. "I thought that was a diesel van."

:rfl

Seriously though, what is this ticking sound I've had with all three steamers, its in time with each engine 'blow' from the exhaust. It only sounds when the engine is cool or at higher ravs around 6 and 7 thousand?

I've always found that pushing your earplugs in a bit further cures these worries!
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: John Stenhouse on April 24, 2017, 01:24:05 AM
Or turning up the tunes!  :icon_razz:
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Danwarb on April 24, 2017, 01:35:39 PM
 :rfl

Ok I get it, just go with it, it's how these bikes sound and all your steamer machines seem to sound the same!

:icon_study:
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: bemusedinsojo on April 24, 2017, 01:48:54 PM
When I first got mine I thought people would wonder why I was riding with a thrown rod.
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: JayDub on April 24, 2017, 05:05:07 PM
Mine does it, so did my last one  :nod
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Danwarb on April 24, 2017, 05:46:05 PM
Quote from: JayDub on April 24, 2017, 05:05:07 PM
Mine does it, so did my last one  :nod

Ok that definitely clears it up that it seems it's a general sound these engines make, I'd love for us to work out what causes it but even if we did, we'd be looking at some serious engineering to solve it I'm sure.  :nod
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Geoff W on April 24, 2017, 10:18:08 PM
If you make it to the meet up in June, you can listen to mine, it will take all your worries about odd little sounds away. She sounds like Animal from the muppets has been given  Snap On chest of tools to play.
But she pulls like a train and gives little trouble from the engine or gearbox.
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: bemusedinsojo on April 24, 2017, 11:46:06 PM
Quote from: Danwarb on April 24, 2017, 05:46:05 PM
Ok that definitely clears it up that it seems it's a general sound these engines make, I'd love for us to work out what causes it but even if we did, we'd be looking at some serious engineering to solve it I'm sure.  :nod
And some serious head shrinking.
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: Mustang on April 24, 2017, 11:59:15 PM
it's simple.................

harmoniccs.

the water box that surrounds the cylinder liners amplifies things like a snare drum or a tom tom . :augie
Title: Re: What are the Lack of Valve Clearance Symptoms?
Post by: GavD on April 26, 2017, 08:16:43 PM
Quote from: Geoff W on April 24, 2017, 10:18:08 PM
If you make it to the meet up in June, you can listen to mine, it will take all your worries about odd little sounds away. She sounds like Animal from the muppets has been given  Snap On chest of tools to play.
But she pulls like a train and gives little trouble from the engine or gearbox.
:iagree
I've listened to Geoff's a few times, made mine sound like a sewing machine!! Due respect to Geoff's ol' girl though, she's got a fair few miles under her belt. She don't hang about though, couldn't keep up with Geoff when we met up for last years meet and headed over the A66 to Brough  :wheel
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