Amazing adventures of the Super Chicken!
 

So, I reached 50,000 miles on my Chicken last week! I was on top of Skyline drive, the sun was out over the clouds, I held her and told her I love her. It was a beautiful moment. I bought her new in February of 2003. I have done a few mods, like slip on scorpions, stage 1 jet, pro shift/clutch kit, steel lines all around, 4 deg timing advance and PAIR valve removal. I'm on my 3rd chain and ORIGINAL SPROCKETS. No kidding, they still look great, too! I've only done regular maintenance and I had to replace my fork seals at 40,000 miles. Other than that, she has been worry-free!

About a month ago, she started developing a ticking sound. Matches RPM regardless of speed. At first I thought a valve adjustment was due as well as cam chain tensioner replacement. So, I did. The ticking continued. Over time it sounded more like an exhaust leak. The header pipe gasket was gone, so I replaced the copper gaskets at the cylinder exhaust and on the connecter pipe. This ticking is starting to piss me off. It seriously sounds like an exhaust leak coupled with a faulty cam chain tensioner, but I've already replaced that shiznit. Any suggestions before this sound drives me insane?!

Oh, and here's a picture for you to enjoy! On top of the world, skyline drive, in Virginia U.S.Attachment 24260

I hope your better half doesn't find out about this indiscretion.

ticking puzzler. I don't think it would be a faulty CCT, which I assume you replaced with OEM's......that would be too weird. Sounds like something not getting oil, kinda like hydraulic valves when you first start the engine.

Maybe you need to get a stethoscope to help you zero in on that noise before you end up replacing everything.haha

WOW ... What a view... What is the altitude there???

what side do you hear the ticking on the most.
could be a sticky valve,even tho they check out fine,maybe its sticking in a different position.
could valve seals make that noise if they are no good.

Lots of wheelies in that 50K????

Get a room already!:eek: J/K

Does it make this ticking if you're in gear only ? Or, will it still do it in neuteral, and giving it gas ?

By this way, you will narrow your search a little to engine, or rolling parts.
Don't get me wrong, can still be an engine issue.

The fact that you have never replaced sprockets while changing chains makes me wonder if this is not the issue.

You are most likely eating up chains by not switching sprockets. I got 26k out of my stock chain and sprockets, you should get at least 20k out of a chain. The sprockets may look fine but they will wear out a new chain fast.

Did you replace both exhaust collars? Check where the header attaches to the heads also. And another thing could be that your cans may need to be repacked. You can take a screwdriver and place the tip to where you want to listen and the handle to your ear in place of a stethoscope.

Good tip ! Never thought of trying this.

Can you repack Scorpions?
I got 20K out of my first chain, 20K on my second and my third is on the brink, so yes I will be changing sprockets this time.

This is at 3,200 feet above sea level.

It matches RPM regardless of being in gear, or nuetral, moving or not. although it is a bit more pronounced under load.

I'm no mechanic, but even manual cct's can need adjustment, so it may be worth checking that they're still correctly set.

hopefully, it will be somethig simple to sort out so you can enjoy the next 50k miles :)

what were you valve readings when you checked? did you set your ccts with the engine running? did you listen with a stethoscope yet?

we hope its not a ticking time bomb or cause it'll destroy all the evidence.

The sound chooses to come and go when it pleases, so it's been frustrating trying to put it on my stands when it's noisy.

You should be able to repack the silencers. No reason not to, however, best way is to search their site, or even better, call !

Scorpion Moto Products

:cool:

Did u replace the ccts with manuals or autos?

Stock, Auto's.

Typically these engines have valves get tighter, not looser (noisier), so it's doubtful that it's valve clearance. Though it may warrant checking valve clearances...when was the last time you checked/changed shims? At that point, with the valve covers off you can get a feel for how well the stock tensioners are actually holding the cam chains. I changed mine to manual about 15k ago or so, and adjusted them while running and never checked them again. Still was getting a little noise recently when I went in to do my valve adjustment, and was surprised at how loose the front one actually was (I don't remember if I pulled the front valve cover. Adjusting by sound certainly isn't a perfect science, and I was certainly worried about overtightening. It's much quieter now. Seems possible that you have a tensioner that isn't keeping perfect tension.
-R

there's a skyline drive in Northern California, too. Not sure of altitude but is likely to be 1000 to 1500 feet above sea level. Much the same view and twisty roads. Wish I could offer suggestions on your problem. Nice looking bike!

Skyline. Many miles there both motorized and pedaled (many more with pedals). What a great place. Did you ride up there on 211?

211 is a great road, but I've got better, less traveled ones :)

Indeed (Ever ridden Crest Hill?). I was pretty amazed to see the "High crash area" motorcycle signs last time I rode there. It's as if they've just accepted that sportbikes will be stuffed under the guardrails ever now and then (I've seen a few myself).

I did a great moto ride out that way a year ago (on a rented Harley..). We did some great stuff.

There's a 20 mile long road that leads to Crest Hill just before it gets REALLY interesting. Always stop at the Griffin Tavern for a pint!


UPDATE: Put the bike on the stands to try and isolate the sound. It sounds like it's coming from half way back, right side. I re-checked all the pipe connections and it turns out that one of my pipe clamps is going bad, stripping out whatnot. I took my pipe off and notice a rattle when I lightly banged it with my hand. This is probably the sound that I've been hearing. Sounds like the baffles are wearing loose. Sounds like I need some new pipes. Hmmmmm...... What to get!?

UPDATE:
The sound is getting a bit more pronounced and my bike started running just a little funny. Almost like detonation, but not really. I put the bike on the stands yesterday and decided to get down in to it. I checked the valves and everything is gravy there. I did find a vacuum line in the Air Cut valve. I'm sure that could attribute to the lean condition in the rear cylinder. But STILL, this damn ticking noise. It's driving me crazy for realz.