Engine knock

[firstwing85]

hey guys, can you give me an idea of what causes what sounds like a valve knock every once in a while,
it doesn't do it often but every once in a while it will clatter and it only lasts for a few seconds and then quits,

thanks in advance.

[Poorboy]

hey guys, can you give me an idea of what causes what sounds like a valve knock every once in a while,
it doesn't do it often but every once in a while it will clatter and it only lasts for a few seconds and then quits,

thanks in advance.

I think what you are hearing is the valve lash adjusters. A little bit of trash or dirty oil restricts the oil flow to the lash adjusters & causes one or more to collapse. Mine will do this if I go a little over on mileage between oil changes.

Poorboy

[bs175dths]

One part to a quiet engine is clean oil.
If the bike has a lot of miles, or has sat for a period of time, there may be some dirt or sludge in the engine requiring changing the oil in shorter intervals to help clean this all out.

[firstwing85]

hey guys, can you give me an idea of what causes what sounds like a valve knock every once in a while,
it doesn't do it often but every once in a while it will clatter and it only lasts for a few seconds and then quits,

thanks in advance.

I think what you are hearing is the valve lash adjusters. A little bit of trash or dirty oil restricts the oil flow to the lash adjusters & causes one or more to collapse. Mine will do this if I go a little over on mileage between oil changes.

Poorboy

Thanks for the reply
I changed the oil about 6 weeks ago, maybe I'll try some sea foam and see if that cleans out whatever is in there.

[Poorboy]

hey guys, can you give me an idea of what causes what sounds like a valve knock every once in a while,
it doesn't do it often but every once in a while it will clatter and it only lasts for a few seconds and then quits,

thanks in advance.

I think what you are hearing is the valve lash adjusters. A little bit of trash or dirty oil restricts the oil flow to the lash adjusters & causes one or more to collapse. Mine will do this if I go a little over on mileage between oil changes.

Poorboy

Thanks for the reply
I changed the oil about 6 weeks ago, maybe I'll try some sea foam and see if that cleans out whatever is in there.

With the oil that fresh I think it is probable a bit of trash is in the lash adjuster reservoir. To get it out of there you may have to take the valve cover off & clean it out.

Poorboy

[firstwing85]

hey guys, can you give me an idea of what causes what sounds like a valve knock every once in a while,
it doesn't do it often but every once in a while it will clatter and it only lasts for a few seconds and then quits,

thanks in advance.

I think what you are hearing is the valve lash adjusters. A little bit of trash or dirty oil restricts the oil flow to the lash adjusters & causes one or more to collapse. Mine will do this if I go a little over on mileage between oil changes.

Poorboy

Thanks for the reply
I changed the oil about 6 weeks ago, maybe I'll try some sea foam and see if that cleans out whatever is in there.

With the oil that fresh I think it is probable a bit of trash is in the lash adjuster reservoir. To get it out of there you may have to take the valve cover off & clean it out.

Poorboy

I'll try that and keep you up to date.

[bs175dths]

Although Seafoam is recommended for this type of situation, as Don mentioned, with oil this fresh, adding Seafoam is not a good idea.
I think it is recommended to use Seafoam in the oil for approximately 100 or so miles prior to the next scheduled oil change.
In this way, the stuff the Seafoam has loosened isn’t circulating throughout the engine any longer than it needs to.

Good Luck!

[Frank]

What fuel are you running? Run a tank of higher test and get it out and run it to red line a few times

[firstwing85]

Hey Frank, I run nothing but premium fuel, I don't want any of the ethanol in my tank..
I'm taking the valve covers off and cleaning everything out.