TICK TICK

[Guest]

Hi all, my engine has started making a VERY loud ticking noise, I've been all over it with a stethescope and I'm damned if I can find it. I don't know whether the headers have gaskets, but ifthey have, and one has blown could that be the source ? She also has a lumpy idle so I suspected a valve or follower, but for the life of me I can't find where it's coming from. Help. Martin.

[Giles]

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Martin Stevenson wrote:

I don't know whether the headers have gaskets, but ifthey have, and one has blown could that be the source ?

in my experience this can make a ticking type of noise, usually changes a bit with the throttle opening as well, especially under load:?

[StagnJag]

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Mine was making a ticking noise. When the engine was rebuilt Fav Classics found a cam bucket with a big crack in it :shock:

[Stagdad]

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Check the clock Martin ,oh i forgot stag clocks dont work

Cheers Steve

[GDPR]

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Isolate the cylinder giving you the lumpy idle by pulling HT leads - if you have a blowing manifold on 1 cylinder then pulling the lead will stop it firing and change the noise.

As to loud mechanical ticking, cracked follower or loose valve guide jump to mind. .......

Not been your month has it? Blame it on the shunt up the arse and get them to pay

Russ

[mjheathcote]

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I had a ticking noise for ages which I thought was cam bucket trouble.
Then one day I noticed a bolt missing from one of the tubular headers...replaced bolt and ticking gone!

[jleyton]

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I'm sure I'm being really thick here, but I don't know what a 'header' is :shock:

I thought maybe it was a cylinder head but then realised someone as experienced as Martin wouldn't be saying " don't know whether the headers have gaskets"thenI thought of header tanks but didn't think they could tick.

I now see that they're tubular, but I'm still none the wiser !

Can someone help me out of my mysery please

[GDPR]

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Silly term from across the pond Julian - difficult to say "tubular manifold" after a six pack of Bud and chewing tobaccy and chasing your cousin with your pants down through the bayou......

[jleyton]

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Ah ha! Thanks Russ.

Well, now I can say that I remember having a manifold gasket blown on an BMC A series engine that ticked like a good 'un

[Guest]

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Sorry, I have some friends with American cars and got used to referring to exhaust manifolds as headers where V8s are concerned. :shock: Martin.

[jleyton]

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Martin Stevenson wrote:

Sorry, I have some friends with American cars and got used to referring to exhaust manifolds as headers where V8s are concerned. :shock: Martin.

Not a problem - just my ignorance

[peterrc]

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Hi Martin,
In the past I have had a similar problem on a Wolsley 1500. It was a worn distributor drive shaft. Should be easy to diagnose as the 'ticking' is when the rotor arm is hitting the contact points in the distributor. You should see signs of wear. This would also account for the lumpy running.
Peter

[Guest]

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Thanks Peter, but it really is VERY loud, too loud to be the dizzy. Cheers, Martin.

[milothedog]

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Hi Martin, if you think it still might be exhaust manifold gaskets let it get hot then spray some WD 40 on them, as it burns off the smoke will show the blow, if there is one. It will also saves your hands if trying to feel for leaks with your pinkies!

Ian.

[Andrew S]

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Hi Martin, very sorry to hear your news but never give up.

Is there any way that you could use a digital camera and upload the video clip and then post it to Youtube and we could all hear what you are experiencing?

This was my engine and it turned out to be two loose valve guides. The other noise isnot a bee by the way, its the inlet vacuum tube for air box making a noise as the camera passes it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAYl3o8lTeE

Andrew