Ticking on the engine.

[McFlufferson]

There's a ticking in my engine which goes faster as I rev up. But only if the bike is moving. It sounds something like I'd expect if there were something trapped in the fan, but it ticks whether the fan is actively running or not. Unless it could be something in the fan and the fan is moving with the wind passing through the front of the bike? I am so useless with anything mechanical. The best I can manage is an oil change and charge the battery. I'm a little concerned as it only started after I gave it its first blast on the motorway. (Edit. Obviously not -its- first. But its first with me on it.. )

It's a honda vf500 f2 if that makes any difference. It's also in need of carb tuning - could that have anything to do with it?
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Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[The Artist]

You can narrow it down by doing simple tests.

e.g. does it do it in every gear?
does it do it when moving but the clutch is pulled in?
Under braking?

If it only does it when moving then it is most likely the drive chain, so the chain, sprockets, wheels. At worst the output shaft in the gearbox.

[McFlufferson]

Hm. Thanks. I shall have to check and listen out for the differences tomorrow.

Does at worst mean it could explode in my face and grant me a very personal encounter with tarmac?
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Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[The Artist]

Most of the time, the louder the noise gets, the worse the problem. But I had a tappety valve once and then it went pop and my engine destroyed itself from the inside out. Luckily I was only doing 30mph and managed to pull the clutch in before I came off.

[McFlufferson]

*nod* The volume of the ticking hasn't increased, but I think the the amount has.

Thanks for the info. I'll take it out tomorrow and concentrate on it. See if I can figure out some specifics. The performance of the bike definitely hasn't dropped. It's still going strong.
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Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[Blau Zedong]

It's a VF500. The noise is probably a camchain about to saw it's way out of the engine.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[McFlufferson]

Unfortunately VF500s suffered that worry through guilt by association. The cam problems were actually all on the 750 models.

The only real reliability issues that the 500s suffered was that you had to keep a solid eye on the oil and make sure you did a full change at least every 5000 miles.

(I did a lot of reading on the bike when I got it to see what I could expect.)
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Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[McFlufferson]

Ok. So. Just took it for a ride.

20 minutes maybe up gentle roads and slow-ish traffic and it started ticking. I was in third and couldn't really change because of the flow. Though I tried pulling the clutch and letting it roll a few times and sure enough the ticking dropped off.

So then I went up to the main dual carriage way in town and as I entered, revved, and knocked it up to second, it seemed to knock itself back in to neutral. But I kind of suspect it was just me not lifting hard enough because this is the first time it's notably done that.

But, in to second and it picked up nicely so I gave it the plate of beans. Up to 80 and back down to 50 in time for the cameras. Then the ticking really started. I rode it further at 50-60 with the stops for lights and eventually the ticking got louder.
It seemed loudest in the first first five gears, but a little in 6th, and the ticking either didn't drop off or was taking a really long time to drop off when I pulled the clutch in. Eventually by the time I was riding back home, it was even ticking at the lights with the clutch in. Though I didn't listen to see if it was ticking in neutral (kind of a pain to get in to neutral at lights so I gave that up).. hold on.. No. No ticking in netural. But man, does it ever need that carb tune. Anyone know how to do this yourself? I can't afford to garage it right now..
____________________
Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[The Artist]

When you pull the clutch in and it stops, I assume you are letting the engine go back to idle. This makes me think it is the engine more than anything else. Especially if it does it at a standstill.

Camchain/top end most likely.

[McFlufferson]

Yeah right back to idle.

If it's camchain or top end that's pretty serious, yeah?
____________________
Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[The Artist]

[McFlufferson]

Hm. Yeah. Well I guess when I can get the money together I'll have to take it in to the garage to get it looked at. Least if he can just look and tell me what's wrong so I know what not to do (like ride it..).

Thanks a lot of the info. Appreciated.
____________________
Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[Vincent]

Didn't the 500s have problems with top end oil feeds?

I reckon these bikes are going to be quite collectable in the not so distant future - might be worth looking after A mate of mine has just sold his as he's too old to ride it now. He's had it since new
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Space Is Deep

[McFlufferson]

o.o since new, eh. That's dedication.

Yeah. It's well worth looking after, if only to keep. It's a wonderful bike. Unfortunately lack of funds makes it a little difficult. But I keep a check on things and I don't rag it too hard. Hoping that will help some.
____________________
Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[Vincent]

There is a modification for the oil feed problem if I remember right, not sure where you'd find more details though, maybe one of the Yank forums. Do you have an oil pressure warning light/guage of any description apart from the Standard one? Could be a worthwhile, (and small), investment.
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Space Is Deep

[McFlufferson]

Hm. Yeah. Thanks. I'll look in to it when I've got the time. I haven't got anything but the standard oil light.
____________________
Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[temeluchus]

the oil feed problems are related to the 700/750 models. The vf750 was an utter turd of a motorcycle. They effed around with different banjo bolts for the top ends to stop them eating the cams. The gearboxes still exploded in any case.

the 500s dont have any particular issues as far as I know.

may just be valve clearances time. Whats the mileage?
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[McFlufferson]

Coming up to 35k. But I've only had the bike since beginning of August and I don't know the service history.
____________________
Think that you'll stay loyal to a loving bike? So did I. Only rich men can afford to stay loyal. The poorer of us will whore ourselves out to any two wheeled monstrosity that will take us.

[temeluchus]