85 VF500 still ticking AFTER valve adjustment?

Hi all. I am a definite newbie here, and have read quite a few of the forums and have found a lot of help here. Now I'm hoping that I can get a little more. I recently changed the oil/filter in my 1985 VF500 (I've owned it for about 8 months). The next day driving to work it starts up this ticking that it in sync with the rpms (as they rise and fall, so does the ticking). I had my mechanic do a valve adjustment and every one of them was out of spec (no idea when it had been done last) and it runs well from a stop, and at cruise. But the tick is still there, maybe a little quieter than before the adjustment. My guy said that he couldn't find anything else mechanically wrong with it, short of taking out the whole head. We used a mechanic stethoscope and pretty much narrowed down the noise to the red circle on the front right head on the picture attached. Any and all help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

That's actually pretty common with the 500's and I don't think it's anything to worry about. They have a weird noise that happens at low rpms that sounds like a tick. I think it's something in the cam chain or tensioners. Whatever it is, I can't say that I've ever traced any failure back to that noise. Just be sure to check the condition of the valve stems. If any of the valve clearances were way off then that would be an indication that you are getting ready to drop a valve - something the 500's have a big problem with. If not you should be good to go.

 

Is there anything I can do to help quiet it down any? I know I've heard of all sorts of miracle additives, but not sure if anything actually works. It just seems weird to me that it would go from no noise, to ticking pretty much all of a sudden, and right after an oil change, and not on any of the previous couple thousand miles that I put on it this summer.

Thanks for your help!

And to anyone else reading this, Jamie's "VF500F Tank Valve Modification" on his website works like a miracle!

 

No miracle additives. I redid my valves for the millionth time a few weeks ago on the 500 and I finally got the clearances perfect. The bike rides and drives just great. However, the valves are noisier than ever, and thats just the way it is on these bikes. People describe a well tuned 500 to sound just like a sewing machine, does yours?

 

Was that the first oil change you've done since you've owned the bike? If not did you change oil weights or brand of oil? Have you double checked the oil level to make sure there is enough oil in bike? You do know that you are supposed to put in more oil than normal when you change the filter too right?

Rollin

 

We'll see where this one goes...........??

Since noise seems to be related to very recent oil change, it's possible that something was damaged when you restarted with ZERO oil pressure ( because you probably didn't pre-fill oil filter can, which is the proppa proceedure).

:behindsofa:

 

VF500Jeff, all you need to know about squirrelman is that he has it in for all 500 owners. While you should pre fill the oil can, not doing so won't cause immediate significant damage to the valves on your 500. The reason being that the 500's have horrible oil pressure to the heads at idle as it is. Not filling the filter, in regards to the heads at least, is like shooting a dead horse.

 

You misunderstand if you think i have anything against the owners or any good-running 500s; it's the wanky, poorly or not at all maintained high mile bike that shows up for sale cheap and newbies' expectations of a reliable ride from that.

After much frustration, wasted expense, damaged fasteners, and countless hours of lost riding, most are sold as parts.

 

As mentioned, the noise is common and doesn't hurt anything. Don't mess around with attempts to quiet it down, that will only cause you problems.

What oil did you change from/to? Make sure to use Honda GN4 in 10w40 for colder weather and 20w50 in the summer months. Car oil is mucho bad.

 

While you might not be able to put the truth on an Ignore List, you can put S-man there. My suggestion to VF500Jeff is to do just that!

 

C'mon, when he's not bashing 1st gens he actually has some decent input. I do find it humorous that he owns two VTR250's, which are essentially half of a 500.

Jeff, a slight tapping or 'sewing machine' noise is common from these motors. Mine does the same thing.

-Jake

 

......................................

VTR 250 ??


TOO BAD you brought that up !!!!!!!

Damn!!

I was just about to start a NEW thread relating to the SUDDEN DEATH of a close relative.

YES, on Sunday night i was headed back to town from my shop working all day on various bike projects and doing routine maintenance, the newest addition to my family, the 40k mile 1990 VTR 250 bought in April--afer promising NEVER to buy another bike, but i'd been looking for this model for 10years-- BLEW UP !!!!!!!!!!! at about 80 mph at full throttle while climbing toward redline.

At first it sounded like a spark misfire and engine lost power but kept running and no oil light, but 15 seconds later a light knocking sound but i kept riding out of freeway danger zone to a side street and shut off just as the oil light was starting to flicker.

Temp gauge was high but saw no water overflow or antifreeze smell, nothing dripping, so coasted down hill about 1/2 mile to convience store and left the bitch there overnight with the manager's permission, before long walk home was able to restart motor and heard a smooth, quiet idle but a nasty KNOCK-KNOCK as revs incread, then picked it up with my friend's truck on Monday afternoon and returned to shop.

Only 500 miles since i bought it in April, 40k on bike.

Will i lose my faith ?? It's an existential crisis : Lord Honda let me down !!

 

Thanks for all of the input guys, I really appreciate it!

As for the sound, it sounds s hell of a lot better after the valve adjustment. Much more of a powerful and "synced" sound. I could understand the sewing machine reference, and like everyone has been saying, its not a huge noise, just like a click that matches the rpms.

As for the oil, yes it was the first oil change that I have done on it. I used Castrol 10-40W 4 stroke motorcycle oil. I have no idea what was in there before.

I just find it weird that it went from no noise, to the ticking all of a sudden. Was the old oil/sludge or something kinda quieting it down ie. filling the clearances a little better?

Anyways, sounds like I should just get used to the noise, and get out and enjoy the fantastic riding weather here in Golden, Colorado! Thanks again all!