need help finding out what this is

[dream3wheeler]

my 85 250es is making a clanking sound and if your standing over the trike it sounds like its coming from where the header pipe goes in (in that general area) it clicks from the time you start it till about 10-15 minutes of riding. any clue what it is?

[harryredtrike]

is it a click or a clank?

[dream3wheeler]

idk the difference lol, all i know is that its just kind of a rattleing noise

[harryredtrike]

probably valves need to be adjusted

[dream3wheeler]

ill have to have someone look at it, is it really harmful to the motor or not?

[harryredtrike]

depends how bad there off if thats what it is.i really have no clue what the prob is.could be several things,bearings,piston slap,rod knocking,valves chattering,rockers clanking,and a partridge in a pear tree

[3wheelmecca]

lololol........you so funny harry.
My XR did that and it need a valve adjustment, too much lash.

[dream3wheeler]

yea ill have someone check it out. thanks guys

[bobotech]

Any type of abnormal noise isn't good for the engine however it doesn't mean it won't last a long time in that shape. But adjusting valves really isn't that hard of a job (unless you are doing an '80s V4 Honda Magna engine!).

Clicking is more of a higher pitched quick sounding tapping noise, fast pitched.

Clanking is more of a hollow sounding lower pitched noise, almost a gong sound.

Examples:
Clicking could come from loose valvetrain parts such as valves that make that fast pitched rattling sound (maintenance time).

Clanking could be a bearing gone bad in the bottom of your engine (rebuild time).

[dream3wheeler]

yea its faster and it not really high pitch or anything, maybe it is but. how would i fix it myself?

[harryredtrike]

can you make a video of the trike running?put it on youtube or something

[dream3wheeler]

i dont have a camera or anything. just a crappy tracfone to take pics. but if i start it up after it hasnt been rode for awhile if you stand next to it, it soounds like clicking thats coming from the top part of motor and the if i remember right the sound kind of the same as what the exhause sounds like when its idleing thats how fast it is anyways. when i traded my YT175 for it the guy said it makes a clicking sound that goes away after 5-15 minutes of riding it.