[old]

Hi all, I have a foreman 450(1300 miles)that developed a ticking like noise like valve clatter. I pulled the valve cover and checked the valves. .006 right on the moeny. It seems as though when i pull the engine over the valves go down. It is when the valve comes up there is a click. Both valves do it just as the valve comes off the highest part of the lobe. Could this be a loose cam chain slapping sound. What is the procedure of adjustment of the cam chain? Also what would be the torque specs for the valve cover bolts. Thanks

 

[honda_can-am_tech]

9 foot-lbs torque on the cover bolts. There is no adjustment on the cam chain tensioner, its all automatic. The tensioner is under the cylinder and the chain is inside the front engine cover behind the centrifugal clutch. Haven't seen anything like your describing. If the chain was loose I wouldn't think you would hear it by turning the motor over by hand, only when the engine is running.

Possibly the valves are sticking in the guides?? Maybe the valves are bent and won't return unless the piston pushes them back up and the click you hear is the valves hitting the seats??? Just a guess at this point.

Does the machine run ok??

 

[old]

Hey, Thanks for the reply, i could use some help on this. I have worked on small engines a lot of years but this is my first 4 wheeler. Im 51 years old and im the only one that has ridden it. But i do have fun on it. Sticking valves is something to look at. I even looked at the valve springs, inner and outer. I even spun the push rods to see if they could be bent hitting somewhere.The machine runs really good, just like always. Starts very good like always. It has Power. When i notice the clicking noise is at idle, and when i shut it off. And when i start it up. If i give it any gas at all it is gone. It sure seems to be in the valve train somewhere. I have listened to it with a mechanics stethescope and sure does seem to be in the valve train on the top end. I have side clearance on the rockers, everything seems to be tight. Sticking valves is something to think about. I have turned it over with the pull rope and the tick is a lot quiter, almost hard to hear. Thanks honda_can_am_tech
I will be back for more help or follow-up.

 

[dirty4man]

I have had problems in the past with the timing chain tensioner coming apart on my bike and caused the chain to have slack and hitting the casing. Also seen a few valve seats break loose from the head and bounce around with the valves.

Just a thought, good luck and hope you find you problem

 

[big4fifty4man]

i agree with dirty4man

 

[a676man]

QUOTE ("old":27zo53s0)

Hey, Thanks for the reply, i could use some help on this. I have worked on small engines a lot of years but this is my first 4 wheeler. Im 51 years old and im the only one that has ridden it. But i do have fun on it. Sticking valves is something to look at. I even looked at the valve springs, inner and outer. I even spun the push rods to see if they could be bent hitting somewhere.The machine runs really good, just like always. Starts very good like always. It has Power. When i notice the clicking noise is at idle, and when i shut it off. And when i start it up. If i give it any gas at all it is gone. It sure seems to be in the valve train somewhere. I have listened to it with a mechanics stethescope and sure does seem to be in the valve train on the top end. I have side clearance on the rockers, everything seems to be tight. Sticking valves is something to think about. I have turned it over with the pull rope and the tick is a lot quiter, almost hard to hear. Thanks honda_can_am_tech
I will be back for more help or follow-up.

I have the same problem but mine comes and goes it sounds like it is low on oil

 

[old]

Thanks for the replies. Is there room for the head to be removed through the frame with the engine in? I just dont know what to do with this thing yet. It is the weirdest noise i have heard. Get this, It goes away when you rev it up or even pull the choke out to a fast idle it dissappears. But let it idle or shut it off and tick-tick-tick. Oil is good and clean and full. I had the exhaust off last night and looked in the port and couldnt see around the curve of the port enough to see anything like the seat. It runs good otherwise.

 

[dirty4man]

yes the head can be pulled in place. Just need to remove the tank fenders and fuel tank.

 

[old]

I put it back together and took it to a dealer. I had 2 mechanics listen to it. Both said its the valve adjustment. Said it aint going to hurt anything. I know they are set to specs. Just plain got me.

 

[99foremanes]

!

Also check the bolts on the exhaust manifold, if they are loose, it sounds just like your problem

 

[old]

Thanks for all the replies. I did check the bolts on the exhaust. It is a deffinate valve lash clatter. All the engines in my life that i have set the valve lash on and made them quiet and this one i cant for some reason. Hummmm.

 

[Yooperforeman]

When I set the valves on mine at .006 it was very noisey.I changed it to a tight .005

 

[vettepin]

did you find the problem yet???

 

[old]

No, i am going in and checking the valves again. I have been busy with other things for awhile. I will get to it. I love the foreman, i just dont like the tick at idle. Its a good machine. Im not going to be happy till i find it. Thats just me. I will repost the reults if i find anything. thanks

 

[Sunplex04]

Hey old, if you figure out youre problem, let us know. Sounds like the same problem im having. Valves are adjusted to spec, i even adjusted them a little tighter to try and eliminate the problem. Your problem may be the same as mine...

 

[old]

Hey, that is what i need is someone with the same problem. I even set mine at 0 lash for a litle while to see if it would go away. I set it back to specs. Im leaning towards a cam chain now but dont really know what to do about it. I had a guy listen to it that has a foreman and he said heck his sounds like that all the time. But what i want to know is why. It never use to be that way. It runs fine. It has power. Yesterday i rode the frozen river almost a 100 miles and it runs just fine. I dont like the tick. Sometimes it isnt there. Whats up with that?

 

[Sunplex04]

Mine didnt used to do it either. I just got the top end put back together after replacing the rings. Only with mine, the sound comes when you give it a litte gas. When idling, the sound is gone. Im positive i put everything back together right, but I suppose its possible I left something out or something... As of right now, Im too hesitant to ride it so Ill have to figure something out

 

[AllHonda]

Just for **** and giggles drain the gas out of it and fill it full of premium and run it.

 

[Sparkey]

It may be a dumb question but are you setting the valves with the engine cold? ( Like not started at all stone cold)

If not the clearance maybe the push rods, or the lifters loose in the bore, or perhaps worn lifters where they contact the cam. If you pull the front cover to check the timing chain and tensioners look at the clutch too, may be it is the source of the noise.

I have not had this problem with mine. I dunno. Keep us posted on what you find. Good Luck.

 

[Sunplex04]

Well when I was putting everything back together, i set the valves to spec with the engine cold. That was the last thing i had to do to start it up. How much of a pain is it to pull that cover off to check all of that? Ill see if i cant get some work done on it tonight. Thanks for the suggestions