1983 yamaha xt 550 ticking from top end only during idle

**blackprobe** · #1 13 Sep 2009

hello my bike has started to make a ticking sound from the top end i checked and re set valve clearances to spec with no change i can only hear it during idle but it could be there in higher revs too just cant hear it over exhaust this is a really nice bike and i dont want to wreck it does anyone have any ideas on what to check or had this problem before the bike runs great just ticks and its anoying as hell thank you

**Pigford** · #2 13 Sep 2009

If its not valve clearances.... could be cam chain slack - have to check where the noise is coming from. How many miles on engine?
Does it do it more/less/same when cold/hot?
May be cam shaft seat wear - or tappet wear.
These sort of things can be hard to diagnose accurately, especially on a forum.
Is oil fresh - has performance suffered? Just keep an eye (ear) on it - but try not to become obsessed with it.

**G600** · #3 13 Sep 2009

My 1982 XT 550 made a ticking sound at idle for several years, before I sold it. I never found out why, but the bike ran fine and never broke down.

**blackprobe** · #4 13 Sep 2009

Yes there is fresh oilin it new airfilter and valves adjusted to spec if the cam chain was woren would that cause ticking im starting to get obsessed with the noise its the same tick when warm and cold makes no difference its definetly coming from the top end

**Jens Eskildsen** · #5 13 Sep 2009

If you rev it up, a worn cam chain will straighten out, and the noise will go away.

Perhaps you could check the automatic adjuster, and see how long it goes in, if it goes in a "long" way, that just might be your're problem.

**blackprobe** · #6 14 Sep 2009

ok i think the noise goes away on reving up but the noise from exhaust is loud so im not sure how far should the adjuster go in before there is tension on it how to tell if my cam chain is the cause thanks guys

**Bobmech** · #7 14 Sep 2009

The valve stem ends could be worn by the tappets, creating a circular groove in the end of the valves as they rotate(I've seen it on an XT500).
Adjusting the valve clearances with a feeler blade gives excessive clearance due to the groove(noisy).
You could diagnose this by reducing the valve clearance & see if the noise goes away.
Bob

**blackprobe** · #8 14 Sep 2009

ok sounds good by tightening valves how tight should they be to see if noise goes away thank you als just check tensioner and spring goes in the cylinder more then half way before there is tension on it could the chain have strectched

**YamaHead** · #9 14 Sep 2009

Definitely sounds like it could be a worn cam-chain.

**Sinan** · #10 14 Sep 2009

Cam chain noise must be clearly higher at the chain side of the engine.You can hear it ıf you try to listen it from both sides.Maybe a doctor stethoscop can help.

**blackprobe** · #11 14 Sep 2009

noise is definetly more noticible on cam chain side

**Gawain** · #12 15 Sep 2009

You did check decompressor cable slack before adjusting valves?
If its the cam chain, remove the big nut on the tensioner, THEN remove the smaller allen keys. Compare how many 'slots' are exposed vs how many are still to come. You could also try moving the adjuster one 'slot' forward, if that helps its almost certainly the cam chain.

**blackprobe** · #13 15 Sep 2009

ok what exactly do u mean i thought this bike had and automatic tensioner i will look and see thanks

**blackprobe** · #14 15 Sep 2009

ok took the big nut off tensioner first pulled it and spring out then took 2 smaller allen keys of pulled out the adjuster it is on its very last notch looks like its been this way for a while as u can see the mark around the metal as were its sat i cant pull it out one more notch because its already there so im taking it as my chain has strechted to its limits making engine noise so now its time to replace does anyone know how many notches it should be out thank you

**Gawain** · #15 15 Sep 2009

Definately new camchain time! Usual advice is replace when 2/3 notches are exposed.