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V85TT tappet noise.

Bob Bourget

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
35
Location
Massachusetts
When the bike was new {purchased Dec 2020}, the motor was very quiet. Once I crossed about 1500 miles, she became quite tappy, more so on the right than the left. Did the requisite valve check, and found one loose intake on the left cylinder, one tight exhaust on the right. Not excessive at all, just needed a tweak to be in spec of the .004 I / .006 E. I'm new to Guzzi's so this light tapping might be very normal. You can hear it {especially at light throttle just coasting at around 3K} with a helmet on! Not so much when the visor is down, lol.
Question....{and I missed this}....why is it a necessity to start with the left side, then go to the right? Just curious more than anything. I have since re-checked it using this method and found no difference in the measurement.
I have about 3500 miles on it now and it has not gotten any worse {or better}. Well aware that tappy valves are happy valves, but when NEW it was much quieter. Seems strange because the norm is for valves to tighten over time, not vice-versa. Can't seem to locate a video of another sound bite for comparison sake........thoughts?
 
This is not an overhead cam engine. Guzzi's get loose not tight. At the 900 mile check the exhausts should have been 1-2 thousands loose and the intake anywhere from right on to 1 loose. Are you 100% sure you were on TDC of the intake stroke? Easy to be wrong for the inexperienced.
 
Not necessary to check the left first, but if you set the left then go to the right you don't have to turn the engine over very much. Also the tapping is normal. If it gets quiet, then worry.
 
This is not an overhead cam engine. Guzzi's get loose not tight. At the 900 mile check the exhausts should have been 1-2 thousands loose and the intake anywhere from right on to 1 loose. Are you 100% sure you were on TDC of the intake stroke? Easy to be wrong for the inexperienced.

Yup, very sure. Plastic straw, watched the intake valve close then allowed to go up to TDC.........
Question for you.......why would the method of valve actuation affect whether they tighten or loosen? I don't know of any time driven 4-stroke engine that will result in loose {r} valve-to-actuation clearance. When valves seat, tolerances tighten.
 
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Not necessary to check the left first, but if you set the left then go to the right you don't have to turn the engine over very much. Also the tapping is normal. If it gets quiet, then worry.

Ahhh, makes sense. I kinda figured it was something like that. Just curious though as to what setting they use at the factory when they are set. It MUST be tighter to allow for this "loosening" of the valvetrain for break-in.
 
You need a louder exhaust system!

Tappy valves are happy valves.

Jason
I have Todd's y-pipe and am VERY happy with the tone over stock. I just need to accept the fact that these motors make "music", and not "noise", lol. All I really need is to hear another.........! That's one of the things I like about this ride....no one else has one locally anyways. IMG 0062
 
I have Todd's y-pipe and am VERY happy with the tone over stock. I just need to accept the fact that these motors make "music", and not "noise", lol. All I really need is to hear another.........! That's one of the things I like about this ride....no one else has one locally anyways. View attachment 23009

That's a good looking adventure bike!

I have a KLR that is similarly outfitted with Givi hard bags.

Jason
 
That's a good looking adventure bike!

I have a KLR that is similarly outfitted with Givi hard bags.

Jason
I had 2 KLR 650's, a first gen 2006 and second gen 2012. Loved them both. The ONLY issue I had was the power. It would suffice but I wanted a bit more. Traded it for a mint Vstrom 650 then traded it for this one......They were all fitted accordingly as well. This goose is just a bigger KLR....:)
 
I've measured the valve clearance on a hot motor and compared it to the cold motor on many of my Guzzis. In every case, the gap gets larger, not smaller.

So why not run with reduced tappet clearance to reduce the noise? So far, I haven't been game. :worried:
 
I've measured the valve clearance on a hot motor and compared it to the cold motor on many of my Guzzis. In every case, the gap gets larger, not smaller.

So why not run with reduced tappet clearance to reduce the noise? So far, I haven't been game. :worried:

I don’t think anyone is suggesting the theory of cold vs hot measurements, but wear in over time.
As you stated, I’d love to experiment with a bit tighter tolerance but…..like you I’m not game.
 
I had 2 KLR 650's, a first gen 2006 and second gen 2012. Loved them both. The ONLY issue I had was the power. It would suffice but I wanted a bit more. Traded it for a mint Vstrom 650 then traded it for this one......They were all fitted accordingly as well. This goose is just a bigger KLR....:)

And a much more powerful KLR!

Jason
 
I don’t think anyone is suggesting the theory of cold vs hot measurements, but wear in over time.
As you stated, I’d love to experiment with a bit tighter tolerance but…..like you I’m not game.

The recommended valve lash per the MG manual for my 2010 V7Cafe is 0.004" Intake and 0.006" Exhaust. However, I set the lash at 0.006" Intake and 0.008" Exhaust. I can hear a bit of ticking at idle when first started, but it's pretty quiet after the motor warms up, especially at speed. But my Agostini exhaust system is loud enough to cover most tappet noises.

Jason
 
The manual I have agrees with your setting.

View attachment 23013
Oddly enough, my "Service Station Manual" calls for 0.004" and 0.006"; see below. ValveLash
This information contradicts the clearances in the engine manual. But setting them to the looser spec in the engine manual allows for more wear between valve seat and valve.

Jason
 
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