Engine tick-tick

[chrt396]

For the past year, I have noticed this ticking in the front part of the engine on my Road King, especially when it gets hot. At first I thought it was an exhaust leak,,so I tightened up the bolts and....that wasn't it. The lifters were the problem but when I did my 95" upgrade..I didn't upgrade on the lifters..which was one of my cheap moments in life.
I have used the SeaFoam products in my vehicles for quite some time and it has always seemed to perform well, but I was afraid to try it in my bike. I was at a friends small engine repair shop the other day and saw a can of SeaFoam on his work bench and asked him what he thought of the stuff. He said he used it in everything that runs with a gas motor. He also uses it in his bike!! He's a guru in my eyes so I decided to give it a chance. I put 1/4 can in my tank and topped it off. It says that a 20oz can will treat a tank up to 20 gallons. I took a ride to my Fiances' house about 40 miles away and the ticking was virtually non-existant. The stuff actually worked. The engine is smooth and a heck of a lot quieter. I was on a ride today and got stuck in traffic where a 3-lane highway was merging into one lane and the traffic was backed up for 3 miles and the bike started getting hot...BUT...no ticking! That is the first time the bike has been quiet while getting hot since I can remember. The stuff is great and is available in most parts stores.

[IMG][/IMG]

[claydbal]

not gonna doubt what you say, although i dont understand how it cured the tick by mixing with gas?

it is good stuff, use it on my tractor, and once a year i run a can through the vacum port on my car.

a word of caution----dont know how it may affect the o2 sensors on the new bikes, so be careful.

[PR3VS56]

Sounds like Marvel Mystery Oil.

[route66paul]

You are just getting some added lubrication from the light oil in the gasoline, similar to a 2 stroke. We found this out when all we had was some premix 2 stroke in a gas can when my friend's truck ran out of gas on the way to go ride our dirtbikes. We put in a couple of gallons to get us to a gas station, it quieted up the top end on that old Ford inline 6.
That is the older engine fix with the MMO. If you have an engine that has been sitting a long while, Marvel Mystry Oil will free up stuck valves, sometimes help the rings and when used in the motor oil, it will help clean out hydraulic lifters. It is great stuff, but not nessesary in a fresh motor.

[george douglas]

Sounds like your ticking sound was actually a combustion noise and you in affect increased the octane some to make a smoother fire. Had you tried any octane boosters in this bike previously? I have helped many engines over the years that were on the ragged edge as far as combustion goes with the Amsoil PI injector cleaner. Any good fuel additive will help if that was the problem.