Slight tick from 5th gen VFR

Did a search and really couldn't find anything, so here goes. Bought a pristine 2001 VFR this past spring and have noticed a slight ticking sound coming from the right (lower) part of the engine. I say slight--kinda sounds like a bb in a beer can--no affect on performance--bike runs flawlessly. I guess the sound comes on when the bike is warm--but I can't be positive.

It's got about 20k and I don't think the valves have been checked recently. Any advice? Thanks for any info.

 

Mostly you should be keeping it above 9000 rpm, even for commuting etc, that way you won't hear the ticking.

:wink:

Can you video or record the sound and post it? Fuel injector? Try some cleaner as that solved it for the last ticker.

 

Cleaner? As in Sea Foam? And I agree with your 9k rpm suggestion--makes a lot of things go away--the ticking sound, stress from work, the Corvette in the other lane.....

 

Yes, I think he used seafoam. His problem started after a period of storage and was evident immediately after starting but wasn't there prior to storage. Not sure if your tick sounds the same but the thread for his is here. Knocking Sound and Rough Starting - VFR Discussion

 

ound: @ Corvette in the other lane

 

Here's a guy that had a ticking sound in his 5th gen. Scroll down about 1/2 way and there's a youtube video of the sound. He was able to sort through the issues. Maybe yours is similar. Best of luck.

Knocking Sound and Rough Starting - VFR Discussion

 

Yes, that's another excellent example. :wink:

 

So far I've checked:

Starter motor--not it
Heat shield--not it
Oil was changed Saturday, still ticks
Sea foam--nada.

I'm running by a dealer tomorrow to let them listen.

It almost sounds like an injector firing (dunno,do they 'fire'?) or a spark plug. It's pretty faint, does not increase (neither volume or rate) with throttle input--may even die down with more throttle (?)--hard to tell.

Is that how a valve starts to sound when they start to get out of adjustment? I'm sure that's what the dealer will say, but they'll want my $400:crazy:

 

any tick involved with a valve, plug, or injector would change rate with throttle input as they all need to match the piston movement.

sooo...what system keeps constant independent of the motor?

 

oh yea...and if you can get one...a video would probably help.

 

I have the same thing. It's there at idle, but goes away as soon as I take off. I'll take a BB in a coke can sound over baseball sized rocks in a 55gal drum any day. LOL

Start small. Pull the vacuum line off the flapper valve on top of the air filter box. It opens/closes a flapper in the intake box to allow more/less air in. Some say it can just open/close constantly. I dont think that's it since it sounds more metallic to me.

 

Totally agree--the sound is probably no big deal at all. It's just one of those things that you hear and it drives you crazy, thinking about what it could be.

 

I have it also just when it's cold or when it's been run for a few hours, like long distance interstate. Mine's got 65K on the bike and due for the 16K valve check, definitely not the flapper.

 

I had a dealer look at it yesterday, and he actually said he wouldn't worry about it (instead of trying to talk me into a $400 valve adjust)--said it sounded like other VFRs he's worked on, that they all have their unique sounds, etc.

I'll just keep an eye, er ear on it, make sure it doesn't get any worse.

Thanks for all the replies though fellerseace:

 

Mechanic friend of mine said it sounds like I need a valve adjust. But wouldn't a valve start 'ticking' right after starting the engine? My 'ticking' sound positively only starts when the engine is quite warm.

Does that info help any of you diagnose my siteeation? Thanks again for any input.

 

Not necessarily, as the motor warms parts expand at different rates. At 20k, not knowing the previous valve check/adjustment routine, if any, you might as well let them do it. Then you know it's in spec and good for another 16K at least, if not more. Someone gave me some advice once on buying a used bike, basically go through it top to bottom, do all the maintenance and adjustments. It's a pain but then you know it's done and the bike is right, no more guessing.

 

+1 Great advice

 

My 99 is just shy of 15k miles. It does the exact same slight ticking when plenty warm from say a little blast down the highway. I'm probably going to do the valve adjustment this winter but I doubt its your valves causing the noise. I think its the clutch basket rattling a bit, think of how loud the open dry clutches are on ducatis.

 

9k? Hope thats a joke mate- keeping above 3.5 k is the target to be smooth for a v4! Does the rattling go away when you pull the clutch lever in?

 

It does it with the clutch in, clutch out, whenever. Still have the ticking sound.

I've tried Techron--ho help. I've changed the oil 2 different times, first dino, now synthetic.


Here's a new theory--someone please tell me if this has merit.

I think it might be a spark plug. I've done some internet searches discussing that theory and the sound may have a slight arcing sound to it. At 21,000 miles, I'm not sure they've ever been checked/replaced.

What does anyone have to say about that?