My bike was in the shop for a few weeks and now that its back, I've got a new concern. The heads were sent off, new valves, high lift valve springs, S&S pushrods, HD lifters. It allready has the S&S 520 cam. I never noticed valve train noise like this before. It's not terribly bad but bad enough to notice. I've done a few searches, and have come to the conclusion that maybe the S&S pushrods are vibrating against the covers.

The reason it was in the shop was a sheered aluminum Revtech pushrod, not to knock the Revtech, we werent sure why it broke like it did. The shop thinks the previous owner stuck the 520 cam in without proper head work. I'm still not sure how its possible to tell by looking at valve springs if they were high lift or oem. Either way, I certainly spent more than I was wanting to and the engine noise has me a bit concerned. Should I check anything? Before the work was done, about all the noise I could hear was the exhaust, now I hear the engine. Is this cause for concern?

 

I have the same problem. Put 30k on my 88, did some top end work, and since then I hear every damn thing. Probably isn't the engine, just you man!

 

Heavier springs can cause audible noises from the valves shutting but you need to determine if it a tick or more of a hollow sound, a tick is going to be lifter adjustment, sometimes lifters will fully pump up when riding and quiet down, a hollow sound is deeper and possibly valves slamming shut expecially if the 520 has wide steep lobes. Let us know

 

When I changed my cam and modified the airbox I was amazed at how much louder the engine was, like someone banging on the underside of the tank. I eventually came to realise it was increased induction noise and got used to it. It demonstrates how much noise an engine can make and why Harley goes to so much effort to silence both inlet and exhaust.

So study your noise closely and check it isn't just a result of your tuning efforts.

 

Thanks for the suggetions. I want to say its a deeper sound than a tink tink tink, clearly I'm not good at sounds. One thing I am considering is going back to an OEM cam. I'd much rather have reliability than a few extra horses. When I hear any valvetrain noises, I cant imagine it being a good thing.

 

There is a possibility they are not good noises! Unfortunately sound doesn't travel very well across the internet, so it is not easy to diagnose if there is a real problem. If you are concerned, visit a dealer or local indy for a second opinion.

 

It is possible that push tube is hitting a cover, that happens but usually in high lift cams. That 520 is a emissions cam and not alot of staggering numbers when looking at it's chart and doubt if it is a cause.

 

Sorry to be Captain Obvious here but this begs the question of what did the people in the shop say about the noise??

Last time my cam and heads were off, it seemed much noisier, and now years later it is quiet, not really but I got over it. If it concerns you, ask another shop about it, try to narrow it down with a stethescope, wear hearing protection-(kidding)....

Ds

 

Unfortunately, just about anything you do to an Evo has the potentioal to change the sounds it makes. My first motor was pretty quiet. The factory remanned motor has a persistent top end noise that I have never been able to isolate. After ten years and 90,000 miles I have to assume it's just normal operating noise for this motor, as opposed to the last one.

 

I also did some motor work this winter, cam, rods, lifters among othe crap. Mine also makes a lot of noise. I'm told its the love of the cams and the valves slamming open and closed. Whatever it is, I think it's because we listen so carefully to the heartbeat and know everything about the bike that once it changes a little bit it sounds like someone swapped your engine out completely. Different doesn't always mean bad, it just means different. Hope everything turns out fine.