84' 110 cam chain noise?

[Trikeboss]

...I should have picked Trikenewb as my name...I have a tic sound comming out of my 110 Im thinking it may be a loose chain? Can someone explain how to fix a loose cam chain or could it be valves out of adj? I know there is an explanation in the manual for the valves but im a newb so a newb explanation would be very helpful!! I need to get rid of this tic!!!

[tri again]

There are manuals in the 'world class help' section.

Not sure if the 110 chain is adjustable or not.
I hid a matched set of 110's up in the barn and don't remember.

The valves certainly are.

Get some feeler gauges that fit, take off the caps
make sure you are at TDC and check the adjustment.

You may find that one is way looser than the other.

[Trikeboss]

According to the manual (that I printed off the chain is adjustable...Im going to try that first today then the valves...The valve adj seems a bit more tricky than the cam chain...

I love my 110

[STLTrike]

If its an actual tick it could/probably is the valves. If its more of a slap noise its probably the cam chain. Whenever I think its the valves on my 200x, it seems to always be the cam chain.

[Trikeboss]

Its for sure a tic. The tic goes up when the rpms go up...but at idle its hardly noticeable...

I just dont really understand the concept of the valve adjustment yet...therefore im not really sure on how to do it...


"Get some feeler gauges that fit, take off the caps
make sure you are at TDC and check the adjustment."

Can someone explain this to me a bit more sine it will be my first valve adjustment? I think ill be good to go with a little more detail...What are the feeler gauges and TDC?

[oscarmayer]

check the valves then and start from there. also take the CDI cover off and make sure the spriongs on the inner rotor assembly are not busted. that woudl cause this issue as well.

[Headsup]

Yep ticking is the valve..

[tri again]

Its for sure a tic. The tic goes up when the rpms go up...but at idle its hardly noticeable...

I just dont really understand the concept of the valve adjustment yet...therefore im not really sure on how to do it...


"Get some feeler gauges that fit, take off the caps
make sure you are at TDC and check the adjustment."

Can someone explain this to me a bit more sine it will be my first valve adjustment? I think ill be good to go with a little more detail...What are the feeler gauges and TDC?

Sorry, you did say newb.

Feeler gauges are like little sticks of gum that come in various thickmesses say from .002" to .020" as in thousandths of an inch.
A matchbook cover is like 7 thousandths or .007".

Any parts store has them cheap but you may want ones that are bent so they can fit in there...
which is between the rocker arm that presses on the intake and exhaust valves to open them.

You want a bit of clearance between those moving parts so the valves don't get held open and fry/burn/warp.

The 110 may be .003" like the thickness of 2 pieces of paper so yes, be careful, get help or leave them alone until you can do it right. and I'm not sure about those numbers either. Valve trains of this design usually get looser rather than tighter so les of a worry, altho it SHOULD be done.
Did you manage to get the manual from the 'world class help' section?

I wonder if youtube has any valve adjustment videos that aren't a joke?
Anyway, the manual is a fun read.

TDC refers to the piston being at top dead center which is when the piston is at the top of it's stroke and both valves should be closed, meaning you should have some clearance between the rocker arms and valve stems...hence your valve adjustment opportunity.

Or if you can see the lobes on the camshaft, they should both be pointing up and away rom the valves, giving you the best chance at correct clearance.

You can also put a plastic drinking straw in the sparkplug hole and rotate the engine very slowly until you are sure the piston is at the top of it stroke.

[Trikeboss]

Thanks for the info Joe...Will I be ok to ride it untill I can have It fixed? This seems to be one of those things that I should watch someone do first...So when I do it on my own I can relax and have fun doing it knowing im not going to F' anything up..

[Mr_RPM]

yes the cam chain is adjustable, and very easy to do.

yeah, i agree. have someone teach you how to do the Valves.
But if the ticking is actually the valves and not something else, riding it for a while longer shouldn't hurt. But when my valves are out of adjustment on my 110 its not much of a tick. just a quiet clattering sound if anything. nothing loud enough to make me go to a forum asking about it, which makes me think it could be something else.

so dont wait to long to get it checked out.

[Trikeboss]

After looking into it some more...Its not really a tic...its more of a clatter/chatter clunking/slapping sound when its cold right at start up as I rev it up it seems not be as bad...So im thinking its the cam chain..can someone please walk a newb through it since the manual pics are bad and its kind of vague...I can not locate the adjustment nut/set screw...

THANKS!!!

[Mr_RPM]

on the bottom of the arse end of your engine, there are 3 bolts. one that points strait down, thats the oil drain bolt. one that comes out on an angle, and then right by that on the side of the case (kiddy corner to the angled bolt on the bottem) is another bolt.

you first loosen the bolt coming from the side. then after loosening, tighten it up and see if its adjusted. what your doing by loosening that side bolt is allowing springs to push up on a push rod that hits a tensioner. the springs will tack up the slack and then you tighten the side bolt to hold the pushrod is the new tightened position.

If the chain still seems loose then, you will need to loosen the side bolt again, but then you need to take the bottom bolt thats on an angle out. you will then discover a adjuster screw that uses a flat head screw driver to turn. spin the adjuster right (direction pushing it farther in the case). this will push up on the springs harder so that the springs can push even farther on the pushrod that puts tension on your cam chain. then re-tighten that side bolt to hold the pushrod in the new position and then try again to see if the chain is any better.

if not then your pushrod/springs might be jammed up, you will need to take the side over off and see whats up, or your cam chain is very loose and the tensioner could not take all of its slack, in which case its time for a new cam chain.

[Trikeboss]

Ok well the clatter/chatter clunking/slapping sound I hear is only at start up when the engine is cold and the rpms are low...I tured up the idle a bit and fixed most of that noise but I still have the clicking/tapping sound that goes up with the rpms and also makes the noise on decel....

[Mr_RPM]

make a video

[Trikeboss]

I was thinking that...Ill take a running video by friday and post it......