top end rattle - valve clearances?

[scottyboy2203]

Hi all, so my fazer has had a noisy, clackety cam chain for aaages but out of the blue decided to quiten up on the way back from Assen BSB. Thing is, now I notice a relatively loud tapping noise coming from the head which rises and falls with engine revs in a similar way that the cam chain rattle would. Now I know that when valve clearance wear they become tighter and therefore less noisy, but can it cause the bucket/shim/cam lobe to make a rattle?? It is definately NOT cam chain and does quieten down significantly when warmed...any ideas foccers?

[marksfazer]

How many miles have you done and when was the valve clearances last checked?

[scottyboy2203]

no idea, its a replacement motor i put in. Estimated at around 35-40K miles on it but don't know history. Will have them checked at next service but do you get any tapping noises with valve clearance problems?

[His Dudeness]

if the clearance increases then they get noisy but that's more common with tappets than shims i think. but it is possible. how are you sure that its not cam chain noise? could also be an exhaust leak but that make more of a puftt noise than a tap

[scottyboy2203]

not the cam chain as it was that quieting down that allowed me to hear the new tapping. exhaust nuts were torqued down only a week ago so thats sealed nice.

[His Dudeness]

another possibility is you're not getting enough oil to the top of the engine. i think i saw someone on here that had that problem. if you want to check the clearances yourself its an easy job. just follow the service manual

[marksfazer]

I had the common cam chain rattle from cold, but i adjusted it the other week and its quieten down. No top end rattles on mine.
As His Dudeness said, check the clearances first and go from there.

[markbubble]

as already said check your valve clearances but you could also do a carb ballance as one of my old bikes sounded like bag of spanners till i ballanced the carbs then it quitened it right down,maybe a service ie plugs filters oil etc might also elp if not been done for a while

[marksfazer]

but you could also do a carb ballance

This as well^^^^^^^^

[scottyboy2203]

thats guys, useful advice as always! Any ideas how you'd check if oil getting to the top is an issue? other than taking the cam cover off whilst engine is running....