rocker box noise

[1hd1egl]

Hey everybody I need some suggestions,I have a 93 electra-glide with new top end, new ev-27 cam, rocker arms.valve springs, and valves were cleaned up.My problem is ticking noise in front rocker box at around 2500 rpms. took covers off nothing seems obviously messed up.I changed the oil at 500 miles into the break-in noise still there.Im stumped unsure of next move any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[rcsoftail]

Do you have adjustable push rods? If so, increase their length a little.

[frankysfree]

DO NOT INCREASE PUSHROD LENGTH without taking it all the way down and readjusting them properly. that is a good way of bending a valve or ruining a piston otherwise...

the first thing to check is take off the rocker box and re-check it again. ive had this problem sometimes with a high lift cam in an evolution after headwork was done. and you cant always see at first glance if its hitting. look for a small spot that is shiny. the valves move very fast when it is running and just a miniscule touch will make a tapping noise when running. it can be tapping and not show anything "obviously messed up"

[1hd1egl]

thanks for responding i do not have adjustable pushrods i reused stock ones.when i go back in to rockerboxes and see a shiny spot what then is there a way to fix it without taking apart the whole head?I am tired of being a mechanic ready to be a rider you know what im sayin

[frankysfree]

if you do see a shiny spot the only thing to do is take it out and take a die grinder to the spot to take out a little bit of the material at that spot. i know the feeling man. i got t-boned by a car on may 11th of this year while riding my dyna and had my right foot severed completely. 8 surgeries later they reattached it but i wont walk or ride for a year. i am SO ready to get back on the horse. let me know if i can be of any more help or if that is not the problem

[1hd1egl]

Thanks frankys free,damn after hearin that my problem seems pretty small or not a problem at all.I see it says your from texas what part maybe when everything is fixed we can ride I am outside Dallas.I will let you know what i find will put it back on the lift this afternoon and start again.

[springer-]

Originally Posted by 1hd1egl

Hey everybody I need some suggestions,I have a 93 electra-glide with new top end, new ev-27 cam, rocker arms.valve springs, and valves were cleaned up.My problem is ticking noise in front rocker box at around 2500 rpms. took covers off nothing seems obviously messed up.I changed the oil at 500 miles into the break-in noise still there.Im stumped unsure of next move any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

You might check your rocker shaft end play. When the valve springs were done did they put in stock replacements or some other springs? If they are higher lift heavy springs (not needed in this applications), the spring retainers may be hitting the rocker cover as mentioned. Added spring pressure doesn't help with the oise either.

Originally Posted by rcsoftail

Do you have adjustable push rods? If so, increase their length a little.

I have yet to see this approach resolve any top end noise issues. The lifter works by having a cushion of oil under a plunger. The oil has pressure behind it to keep the plunger firmly pushing on the pushrod. The amount of pushrod adjustment does not change the amount of pressure the oil and plunger applies to the pushrod. Therefor increasing its length a little should have no effect on top end noise and so far to date I have never personally seen it help.

Originally Posted by frankysfree

DO NOT INCREASE PUSHROD LENGTH without taking it all the way down and readjusting them properly. that is a good way of bending a valve or ruining a piston otherwise...

If the pushrod adjustment is correct to begin with, lengthening them slightly will not cause damage. There is approximately .100" of cushion when the pushrod is adjusted properly. With that said, you could cause damage if the pushrod is adjusted until it bottoms out the plunger in the lifter. Of course anyone who is adjusting pushrods should understand that you need to let it bleed down before turning the engine over. If the pushrod is bottomed out it can not bleed down and you would not be able to rotate it with your fingers. This should be considered a sign that something is wrong.

Originally Posted by frankysfree

if you do see a shiny spot the only thing to do is take it out and take a die grinder to the spot to take out a little bit of the material at that spot. i know the feeling man. i got t-boned by a car on may 11th of this year while riding my dyna and had my right foot severed completely. 8 surgeries later they reattached it but i wont walk or ride for a year. i am SO ready to get back on the horse. let me know if i can be of any more help or if that is not the problem

Sorry to hear about your accident. I wish you a quick and full recovery.

[frankysfree]

Originally Posted by 1hd1egl

Thanks frankys free,damn after hearin that my problem seems pretty small or not a problem at all.I see it says your from texas what part maybe when everything is fixed we can ride I am outside Dallas.I will let you know what i find will put it back on the lift this afternoon and start again.

i am from ft worth. with my accident i wont ride for a year but after that im all for it. let me know what you find. there are a few other suggestions by other members here on what it could be while your in there.

[rcsoftail]

Originally Posted by springer-

I have yet to see this approach resolve any top end noise issues. The lifter works by having a cushion of oil under a plunger. The oil has pressure behind it to keep the plunger firmly pushing on the pushrod. The amount of pushrod adjustment does not change the amount of pressure the oil and plunger applies to the pushrod. Therefor increasing its length a little should have no effect on top end noise and so far to date I have never personally seen it help.

I would say theoretically you are correct. However, I have done a handful of builds over the last several years that I had to adjust the push rods .150 down into the lifter to keep them from clattering and sounding like a sewing machine. I think there are factors such as hot thin oil, aerated oil, aggressive cam ramps and stiffer spring rates that can cause the lifters to bleed down further than expected and not pump up quick enough during operation. I know of several people in Australia that bottom theirs out and then back them off half a turn due to the excessive heat thinning their oil.

[1hd1egl]

without adjustable pushrods none of this applies to my specific circumstance correct? i used all new stock pistons valve springs everything except the andrews cam.It sounds like I need to take this to someone more qualified than me.hey frankysfree any suggestion on someone i could take it to how about you ill bring it over you walk me thru it lol

[frankysfree]

Originally Posted by 1hd1egl

without adjustable pushrods none of this applies to my specific circumstance correct? i used all new stock pistons valve springs everything except the andrews cam.It sounds like I need to take this to someone more qualified than me.hey frankysfree any suggestion on someone i could take it to how about you ill bring it over you walk me thru it lol

id be happy to help you out however i can. i dont know any shops in dallas area but know a few good ones in ft worth. and yes, none of the pushrod debate applys to you since you used stock pushrods.

[baggersport]

What gear is on the cam? Is it the original Andrews? Was it measured to make sure it would run with minimum noise? Was the gear swapped out for the one from your original camshaft?...common procedure to use the original cam gear on the new cam to keep the gear noise down.





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[rcsoftail]

Originally Posted by 1hd1egl

without adjustable pushrods none of this applies to my specific circumstance correct? i used all new stock pistons valve springs everything except the andrews cam.It sounds like I need to take this to someone more qualified than me.hey frankysfree any suggestion on someone i could take it to how about you ill bring it over you walk me thru it lol

Correct, this doesn't apply to you since you have non-adjustable pushrods.

[1hd1egl]

i did switch the gear on the cam kept my stock gear.hey franksfree ft worth aint that far what are the shops.Im in construction and drive all the time,have a 97 ford truck with 300000 on it so 50 miles to ft worth can be done in my sleep.I do appreciate all the help with this,it is quickly getting out of my league,would rather pay someone who knows what they are doin,so far that has been hard to find.