Hitchcocks Forum

Hello everyone can some one help please; 1991 Indian Bullet 350. When cold there is no noise but after 1-2 miles one of the tappets is VERY loud (marble in a tin can)Have checked them COLD and both are spot on, not checked after run yet. Any ideas and suggestions would be very much appreciated.The noise is in the rocker covers.
Kind regards
ROBERT

Are you sure it's one of the tappets?
Sounds very much like it might be pinking to me, especially coming on when warm, pre ignition is more likely to occur with a hot engine, rectification requires timing, (points and advance/retard adjustment)

Enfield tappets are supposed to be set nil loose when cold as the gap increases as the engine heats so it depends on what you call spot on. Some suggest setting them hot but for two reasons I don't like this: 1. it hurts as the engine is hot and 2. it means for the period of warm up the tappets are set too tight. I think a gentle rattle is preferable to burn valves but if you set them so that they will spin freely but have no noticeable vertical movement they should be pretty quiet. If not the problem lies elsewhere.

Robert, After one or two miles, the engine is hardly warm, so unlikely push rod adjustment. Regarding remark about confusing with pinking, you would only hear this when the engine is under heavy load, but do you also hear it with the engine ticking over? Maybe you should tke the rocker boxes of and see if one of the rocker blocks is loose or badly worn. Cheers TrevorCH

You say its tappet noise and definitely in the rocker cover? To be accurate, the tappets are just above the cams however I think we know what you mean. Could it be a loose valve seat or piston slap. Did it happen suddenly, after filling with supermarket petrol of on a long hot run. Have you actually taken the rockers off and inspected them. Many things it could be quite honestly, more information required.

As the American T shirt says for Enfield fans, "loud valves saves lives"
To be honest, mine are noisy after a short period of riding, for many years now have just decided it's part and parcel of the bike. I have on occasions noted the noise changing, and at that point, have found wear in the bearing blocks, so replaced then. Bike then bake to normal rattles.
The MotorCycle on it's review of the New Reditch produced 500cc machine noted that " the bike had some valve noise", so as long as you know everything else is ok, IMHO, it's normal noise.
Having said all that, you need to know that all the components are ok, wear etc etc. But you will still have some valve noise at in the end.

REgards, Jon

ps, My Bullet, 2001 Classic 500 has done 43000 miles, and wears a Avon nose fairing and leg shields, now that does reflect some noise at the rider! lol

Many many thanks to all who replied. I have also a 1955 350 (Redditch)which runs at an acceptable noise level tappets that is, the short silencer sounds louder ! I will have to remove the covers on the Indian and have a look, as the noise is very loud, but runs ok, no loss of power etc. Definitely not "pinking", I think new parts will have to be ordered from our Host.Not sure as yet what to order.
Thank you again for all of the advice
Kind Regards
ROBERT

It's not likely to be tappet noise. Maybe a fuel tank mounting bolt is loose, or the head steady?

Jon64, behind the big ex AA Avon nose fairing on our 1952 Golden Flash it sounded like a fistful of spanners in a concrete mixer. The soundboard effect of the fairing was magnified when we nailed the Box on the side!!!!.......... now it sounds like a whole tool box chucked in the mixer..... Been like that for years...........Always amazes me when someone says what a sweet sounding engine, if only they heard it from the saddle!