What's this noise?

[Lawrence]

Hi guys, calling on your technical knowledge here... My bike has started ticking, any idea what it is?  This is from stone cold and it stays there even when hot.
http://youtu.be/_S2uQx-wbl0
Any idea?
Ta very much 
 
Please excuse the horrible red bits, the last owner decided to paint bits of it and now I have to work out how to strip it without taking all the other paint off 

[darrsi]

Worn cam chain tensioner, cam chain, or both.

They're in the worst place ever, as if they built the bike around them! 

You'll always hear ticking on start up but it should go away when the engine warms up.

[Lawrence]

I have reset the cam chain tensioner - it was sticking out about half way and moved in/out smoothly.  Heard it ratched back out when I put the spring/bolt back in.
How big a job is it to change the cam chain?  Is that at a stage where it needs to be done or is it just irritating?

[darrsi]

Cam chain tensioner pushes against the cam chain to take up the slack, as the chain gets slightly worn the tensioner pushes a tad harder to make the chain efficient.
When the tensioner gets towards the final notches, it means the chain is knackered, at a guess, the 30,000 mark?
These days you''re looking at 4hrs labour (maybe less, i can't honestly remember?)!
Get both sorted out at the same time!
Common "fault", but you should get it sorted, it can cause problems if you don't!
If the noise disappears after warm up though, you may be ok for a while?

[darrsi]

If you can hear it constantly, it needs sorting, it's just one of those things that won't go away so just deal with it now and be done with it for peace of mind!

[Lawrence]

Is there a step-by-step guide anywhere on how to replace it?  Don't really fancy paying £60+ per hour when I can do it myself...
If it doesn't quieten down this week I'll get a replacement and do it next weekend.

[darrsi]

Look at 'downloads' then 'manuals' at top of this page.


That was way beyond my skills, mine went straight to the mechanics so i knew it was sorted properly.


It's one of those things that can't be messed up otherwise you're asking for a world of pain!   

[Fazer Jake]

mines like this now and again on cold starts, goes soon as it warms up though.

[darrsi]

I think once the oil warms up it stops it rattling, but when it's on it's way out it gets noisier all the time, and then sounds like a sewing machine!

[scottyboy2203]

to replace the chain means stripping the engine down to the crank as it is an all-in-one chain and not a split link (advised). definately not a quick or cheap job!

[subby]

Its your cam chain, mine did the same thing and was replaced which cured it though ive noticed a slight tick again on mine but nowhere near what it was. You can get chains with softlinks now.. saves splitting the engine.. think D.I.D do the for about £60.

[Lawrence]

I thought it might be cam chain (hence doing the tensioner), I'll get some bits in and see ifI can sort it out next weekend.  I've done rebuilds and cambelts on cars before so realise how important it is to get it right, I'll probably go for a split chain if they're just as good as the non-split type.  Thanks for the help