Forum

[Norm]

Les it is always a worry when a regular stops posting, you wonder if they have had a prang or worse, glad to hear you are ok

[Adrian]

Getting back to the weird intermittent clack, (sorry Les, welcome back!) did anyone mention the magneto A/R unit? I can't think of any particular reason why that should be the culprit, but it puts me in mind of the sound made by impulse drive on some stationary engine mags. If you have checked everything else can there be much more left? It sounds too intermittent for cam gear rattle. A.

[Leon Novello]

Fitting adjustable cam gear spindles can make things a bit quieter.

http://www.nandanmotors.com/camgear.html

[ChrisD]

Simon
I wonder if it is one of the cups at one end or other of the pushrod occasionally being 'captured' by either the cam follower or the rocker arm? Alternatively are all rocker bolts firm - I had a similar clank (in my 1996 500 Classic) when two of the rocker bolts pulled from the head. Also, what about the primary chain - clanking from the adjuster bolt on the chaincase forced me to add a piece of hose pipe to the bolthead so it had a 'soft' landing.
Cheers, ChrisD.

[Presto]

Only just noticed - WELCOME BACK LesH! You've been missed!

[papasmurf]

" I've realized that it is nothing to do with the gear box as it does it with the clutch in and in gear when the gearbox is stationary "

Clutches on many bikes not just Enfields can sound like a washing machine full of nuts and bolts, when the clutch is either in or out.(It does not mean there is a fault. It can also be intermittent.)

It may be worth checking the clutch, but there may be nothing wrong with it.

[dave p]

I had a similar problem many years ago on a Meteor.It turned out to be a loose tappet guide block.
Have you checked that? Check for play,vertical and lateral when the motor is hot.Don't burn your fingers!
Best of luck,Dave P.

[simon]

All,good thoughts chaps and all have occurred to me. As I posted in a previous thread I had assumed that I'd sorted it when I discovered the rockers had worn into a shape that got them stuck into the top of the rocker block. I replaced the rockers to no avail. The thought of loose valve seats made me have the seats replaced with modern hardened ones. The auto advance unit was the first thing I thought of but it is a very nicely overhauled one from our hosts and there was and is no sign of contact marks between it and the timing cover. The clutch has been totally renovated and replaced with cork plates and it makes no difference whether it is on or off. Above all of this is the nature of the clank. It is a random noise like a loose nut bouncing around in the crankcase. There is no rhythm to it it just goes clank........clank clank..........................................clank. I'm interested in the oil pump spindle idea of the BW because as I said the first place I looked was the timing case. The noise is also not without menace. It isn't the gentle clatter of a loose pushrods and of course unlike something loose in the valve train it is intermittent the bike will go weeks and sometimes months without doing it. If it is the pump spindle there should be witness marks on the worm or the spindle so I will report. Off to Tasmania for a couple of weeks to see the father in law so it will be a while before I get back to you all. Thanks and keep the thoughts coming.