Engine is back together again after new cylinder studs installed. Everything bolted up nicely. Tomorrow I will finish the job and take if for a spin and see what the final outcome is.

 

Good luck.

 

It's done. Fired it up for a few minutes and seems to be running fine. I didn't have time to take it for a spin but at least I got it this far.

 

Cleaned up and ready for it's maiden voyage...

 

Well. It ran great for about 30 minutes and then the ticking again. Again not consistent. Comes and goes, but this time I was actually able to get a good listen to it and the bike didn't have any issues running. I got a video of it as well. It's coming from the rear cylinder up at the head on the valve side. Not sure what is going on. The randomness of it is what gets me. Everything looked fine when I just had it apart. At least now I know where to focus my attention.

Also, if I cruise at a steady speed it goes away.

I feel like it may be a sticky exhaust valve on the rear head. It only seems to start clicking after it warms up. And does sound like it's coming from where the exhaust valve sits.

 

Thanks for the video.

I'd look into the possibility of rocker shaft movement causing that sound first.

 

Is that a compression release next to the spark plug? Any chance that might make noise?

John

 

All that was checked and the rockers and shafts are new. About 2500 miles ago. The sound is loudest at the head and not so much from the rocker cover.

 

It's still possible because of the bores in the stand are still the same. If it was rocker shaft movement and being that loud you should quite easily be able rotate the shaft with your fingers

found this video to illustrate

 

Hmm. Interesting. I will have to look at that. It is just strange that I rebuilt the motor everything was fine and then I rebuilt my front end so the bike sat for a month or so then on the first ride after it sat it suddenly starts this tapping issue. Out of curiosity I put in a half a quart of marvels mystery oil to the crankcase and an ounce in the gas with the thought may be a sticky valve. Went for a ride and like clockwork 30 minutes into the ride the ticking starts but quietly at first. Looking at the oil temp this just above 200 degrees. Then it gets progressively louder as it gets to full temp just under 250 degrees. After adding the mystery oil it did not get anywhere near as loud as yesterday and was much more sporadic. Could be just a coincidence. I just noticed sludge in the oil in the bottom end when I had it apart. I was thinking maybe there was sludge from breaking in the new motor and after sitting for a month or so it kind of caked up the valve or something causing it to stick when it heats up.