Help loud ticking noise.

[gmer140]

Just put 1600 miles on new voyager. Started up today and heard loud tick coming from front bottom of engine. Checked oil, was on low so added a bit but tick still there. Seems to run fine, no alarm lights on. Any ideas? Loud at idle, even louder through the gears.

[vangaans]

It could be a sticking lifter. Has the bike been sitting for a week or two before starting?

Some of the Vulcan 1700's are affected by this condition, unfortunately my Vaquero is one of them. If the bike is affected the dealer is instructed by Kawasaki to put 15km's (10 miles roughly) on the bike before delivery in Australia.
If my bike has been sitting for a week or two it ticks on start up but goes away after 10 -15 minutes of riding. If I ride it weekly it doesn't tick/stick on start up. If it is a sticking lifter it's nothing to be concerned about, this is backed up by other experiences on this forum.

[Snake Ranch]

Originally Posted by gmer140

Just put 1600 miles on new voyager. Started up today and heard loud tick coming from front bottom of engine. Checked oil, was on low so added a bit but tick still there. Seems to run fine, no alarm lights on. Any ideas? Loud at idle, even louder through the gears.

A hydraulic lifter could have collapsed.

My engine started this on a cold startup when it was cold outside.

Mine was a tic tic tic. Then I let it set one time while I was working on it. It went from a tic noise to a hammer noise.

I don't believe many of these skoots would be sold if they did this when in the dealer's showroom. So if they wouldn't want it in the showroom why would it be ok after you purchase the skoot?

When I first enquired about this problem the dealer tech said "don't ride it".

Then when it was becoming a real problem, I was told it is ok, a lot of them do this.

I have seen what happens when something continues to hammer on another part. I was not going to accept this kind of problem as "OK".

One of the reasons I bought this skoot was because of the HLA's.

If it's hammering it's not working as designed.

The tech that I spoke to put new HLA's in the engine and drilled some small oil passages bigger.

SO they are aware there is a problem. My case was handled under warranty. The engine had to be pulled and about 3 days labor. So this is not an inexpensive repair.

If you let your skoot sit for two or three weeks and it does this yes meby ok, and the next day it don't.

But mine was doing this every day.

Just keep and eye on it, make notes when it does this, and note the air temps when this happens. I shot a video and had to send it to the factory and the dealer to get them motivated.

Hope this helps.

[gmer140]

I have riding about every other day. Been careful under break in perod to vary rpm and speeds, never rode over 80. 2 days b4 problem rode 2 up 150 miles ran perfect. Will contact dealer this am 4 advise. Thx, Gary

[Kawalski Rider]

My 2002 Nomad will do the same thing. Granted, its a 15 year old scooter with 45k miles on it... But, the basic mechanics are almost the same. After the engine warms up, and the lifters get fully pumped up with hot oil, the ticking sound will subside. But, after I let it sit idle for 7 to 10 days, she complains about coming back to work.

Ive heard good things about Seafoam. They say, it can be used in the crankcase to flush an engine's oil system. I've never used it that way, only as a fuel additive to help keep the injector system clean. You might look into that as a possible way to potentially loosen up the lifters. If that is where the noise is coming from.

Good luck ...

Cheers .. David

[Snake Ranch]

Originally Posted by gmer140

Just put 1600 miles on new voyager. Started up today and heard loud tick coming from front bottom of engine. Checked oil, was on low so added a bit but tick still there. Seems to run fine, no alarm lights on. Any ideas? Loud at idle, even louder through the gears.

Is this skoot brand new off the showroom floor or just new to you but used? Total milage is 1600? And under warranty?

If it's brand new, make sure you did the first oil change like the book calls for.

Warranty issues may arise if you have not changed the oil.

My 2011 was due at 600 miles. If you are going for warranty make sure you use a factory filter. The factory rep or dealer may squawk if there is an aftermarket filter being used.

[gmer140]

Brand new bike, 16 model. I hadnt planned on changing oil until season end. I do see manual says every year or 1k miles which ever comes 1st. Luckily I let bike idle 4 about 1/2 hour while i mowed lawn. When i listened it sounds normal again. Lifter must not have gotten lube 4 some reason? Thx 4 replies, might try seafoam. Anyone using it?

[mbarr10]

IMHO Additives are a off warranty attempt at a fix. Since your new to the bike have you seen the vid from Revzilla on checking your oil in a 1700? Since it went away check the oil again. Hopefully your done and it never happens again. Safe Riding

[Russell001]

I think that some problems with the engine.

[Snake Ranch]

Originally Posted by gmer140

Brand new bike, 16 model. I hadnt planned on changing oil until season end. I do see manual says every year or 1k miles which ever comes 1st. Luckily I let bike idle 4 about 1/2 hour while i mowed lawn. When i listened it sounds normal again. Lifter must not have gotten lube 4 some reason? Thx 4 replies, might try seafoam. Anyone using it?

So you think for some reason lifter must not have been getting oil?
Check your paperwork, or call the dealer, there is a 600 mile inspection which includes the oil and filter being changed at the same time.

That engine is not cheap, the first oil change is a cleanout of any assembly contaminants when the engine was built.

Seafoam is not going to clean it out. Cut your filter open, you will be surprised how much junk you will find in there, if that is a standard filter..

[BobBear]

My 2015 Vaquero was doing this the day I picked it up from the dealer and does it quite loudly. The noise gets quieter and goes away after a ride. if it sits for a week or two without riding, the noise is back. I'm not going to fight with Kawasaki or the dealer over it. The dealer said it was "normal". I owned a 98 Nomad 1500 purchased new and the lifters in it did not do this.

What is not normal is to sell motorcycles to people that have an inherent design flaw or quality control issue. Most likely that lifter is not getting correct oil flow due to engine design or the lifter supplier is at fault . There are too many bikes that do this for it to be an anomaly. I'm not going to worry over it but it does make me wonder what else is hiding in there.

[vangaans]

Mine is also a 2015 Vaquero BobBear. My theory is that the oil is draining out of the lifter over time while the bike's parked on the side stand. I'm going to try parking the bike propped upright after my next ride and see if that makes a difference.

[redjay]

I don't think parking the bike upright is going to make a difference but no harm in trying. It is the clearances in the hydraulic lifter or contaminants that causes it to bleed down.
It only takes a small machining discrepancy to make a huge difference hence they do not all bleed down.

http://www.sbintl.com/tech_library/a...fters_work.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_tappet

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Hyd....html#whatisit

[gmer140]

Thx, that is some great info on lifters. I would b interested if being upright helps, maybe having aftermarket kickstand so it doesnt lean so much? Guess i wont do seafoam on a brand new bike, and hopefully it was a 1 time only occurrence! Bought the good time warranty 4 6 year total warranty tho.

[paradiddle]

I had the same and bike was still in warranty - so I brought back. they say its normal if bike sits. when they get new bikes they make a racket on first start up. I'm back to normal now but if it sits I think the lifters bleed down