Loud ticking after valve adjustment By pazuzu (Read 1,014 times)

[pazuzu]

I adjusted my valves about a month ago to .005. I noticed that my previous problems of stalling under WOT were gone. However, I noticed a considerable ticking noise. So the other night, I adjusted them again to .004 and the ticket got worse. I adjusted them again to .003 and the ticking was just as bad. I put the cover on with the valves at .003.

I drove it to work today and the performance is crap now. Doesn't stall under WOT but generally runs poorly especially after stopping at a stop sign and then starting off again. The problem didn't get better or worse through the 15 minute drive.

When I adjusted the valves the other night, the scooter was cold (2 days sitting). I Thought I had it at TDC based on the markings on the fly wheel and the holes on the gear (big hole at the top, two small holes on the sides). I did notice that the bottom valve (exhaust) was really tight. No clearance. I had to work pretty hard to loosen it. Not the nut, but the valve itself.

Considering it ran well before this last adjustment, the fact that the exhaust valve was really tight, and the fact that it runs worse and ticks a lot at .003, it makes me wonder if I really wasn't at TDC. But I can't see how that's possible since I had the holes in the right place on the gear.

Any ideas what it could be? I'm going to adjust them back to .005 and see if it runs better, but I can't imagine that would help with the ticking.

[randyjaco]

Are you sure that you are setting them at Top Dead Center? Are you able recheck them prior to readjusting them to see if they are keeping the setting?

[cyborg]

The engine was not at tdc

[rks]

An alternative method can be found in reply #3 of this thread...valve adjustment

I just have to add this......the last time my chinese scooter valves needed an adjustment was at 2,500 miles......that was more than 8,200 miles ago. I check them annually, but have not adjusted since 7/17/13. They do make a happy tickity-tick as I ride......as they are supposed to.....if you can't hear them, they are too tight.

[pazuzu]

I fixed the problem. This time when setting the engine to TDC, I rotated the engine until I saw the TDC markings on the gear, but instead of lining the markings up exactly, I let it naturally fall into place. If you've ever done this, you'll know what I mean. As you rotate the flywheel, there are periods of resistance followed by a quick release. As I let mine naturally fall into place, the markings were off by a few degrees. At this point the exhaust valve was very loose. After adjusting both to .004, the scooter runs great and is much quieter.

[cyborg]

Bingo