Valves ticking- underadjusted?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Valves ticking- underadjusted?
Hi all,
Getting some valvetrain noise in my new engine I just built. Just tightened the headers so I know it's not that. Sounds great when I start it cold, I get the noise on both sides after it's warm. It's a Comp hydraulic roller cam. I adjusted them 1/2 turn past zero lash like the Comp instructions say, but the old instructions from the Crane roller lifters that are in there say 1/2 to 1 turn past zero lash.
It's not very loud, can only hear it over the engine bay.
Should I just give them all another 1/2 turn and see if the noise goes away? Comp instructions say insufficient preload will cause noise as opposed to over tight. Thanks.
Getting some valvetrain noise in my new engine I just built. Just tightened the headers so I know it's not that. Sounds great when I start it cold, I get the noise on both sides after it's warm. It's a Comp hydraulic roller cam. I adjusted them 1/2 turn past zero lash like the Comp instructions say, but the old instructions from the Crane roller lifters that are in there say 1/2 to 1 turn past zero lash.
It's not very loud, can only hear it over the engine bay.
Should I just give them all another 1/2 turn and see if the noise goes away? Comp instructions say insufficient preload will cause noise as opposed to over tight. Thanks.
Last edited by kunkle; Mar 24, 2009 at 02:12 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
1. I wouldn't agree that the roller cams always having a tick is necessarily an explanation for what you're describing.
2. Would not go around and tighten 1/2 more on each adjuster w/o veriftying that they are adjusted properly in the first place.
3. I would highly recommend contacting Comp Cams and discussing the proper adjustment procedure for your cam and make sure you have it well understood before proceeding. 1 full turn sounds excessive to me. I would then go around and verify that each one is adjusted properly. It will take some time but will be worth it. You want to make sure you're valves are operating right for performance and also so doesn't result in damage or premature wear and tear.
4. Make sure you torqued the rocker studs to proper torque and they are not loosening up on you which will get real ugly fast if not tended to.
2. Would not go around and tighten 1/2 more on each adjuster w/o veriftying that they are adjusted properly in the first place.
3. I would highly recommend contacting Comp Cams and discussing the proper adjustment procedure for your cam and make sure you have it well understood before proceeding. 1 full turn sounds excessive to me. I would then go around and verify that each one is adjusted properly. It will take some time but will be worth it. You want to make sure you're valves are operating right for performance and also so doesn't result in damage or premature wear and tear.
4. Make sure you torqued the rocker studs to proper torque and they are not loosening up on you which will get real ugly fast if not tended to.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
One other thought - you may want to double check it's not headers first (assuming your confident the valves were adjusted properly). You said you tightened the header bolts but were they loose and could they have possibly blown through a gasket which can happen quickly once they become loose. Sometimes it's very hard to tell. I like to take a moist rag and wear a leather glove and move it around the tubes to see if muffles a leak/ticking sound.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Hi all,
Getting some valvetrain noise in my new engine I just built. Just tightened the headers so I know it's not that. Sounds great when I start it cold, I get the noise on both sides after it's warm. It's a Comp hydraulic roller cam. I adjusted them 1/2 turn past zero lash like the Comp instructions say, but the old instructions from the Crane roller lifters that are in there say 1/2 to 1 turn past zero lash.
It's not very loud, can only hear it over the engine bay.
Should I just give them all another 1/2 turn and see if the noise goes away? Comp instructions say insufficient preload will cause noise as opposed to over tight. Thanks.
Getting some valvetrain noise in my new engine I just built. Just tightened the headers so I know it's not that. Sounds great when I start it cold, I get the noise on both sides after it's warm. It's a Comp hydraulic roller cam. I adjusted them 1/2 turn past zero lash like the Comp instructions say, but the old instructions from the Crane roller lifters that are in there say 1/2 to 1 turn past zero lash.
It's not very loud, can only hear it over the engine bay.
Should I just give them all another 1/2 turn and see if the noise goes away? Comp instructions say insufficient preload will cause noise as opposed to over tight. Thanks.
