Topic: '72 CB500K1 ticking noise from front end(?)

[tjsc]

So I'm dealing with a ticking/rattling noise that seems to be coming from my leftside (when sitting) top front end. The noise only occurs occasionally while idling or at low RPM. Once I get up to speed the noise is gone. How serious of an issue is this?? My daily commute is around 16mi and I've been out about 3 times since I noticed the noise... praying I'm not doing any further damage or about to blow a piston...

To give you some background info, I recently replaced the oil pump sensor as I had a MAJOR engine oil leak. Prior to replacing the pump sensor, I was out on a 20+ mile ride and the leak was so bad I probably came close to riding on a bone dry engine. With the new pump sensor + full oil change, I've had 0 leaks and she's been running amazing. Like I mentioned, it's only been recent that the rattle/ticking noise has shown up. I can best describe the sound as bits of metal rattling around in my engine - which makes me think when out on that ride with little to no engine oil, my piston was rubbing up against the cylinder - no lube - serious friction. However, when I did my oil change I didn't see too much metal residue in the old oil. HELP. I'll try to post a vid of the sound soon, but the noise is pretty sporadic so it's hard to catch when it happens.

QUICK UPDATE - after today's ride I had a serious amount of white smoke billowing out of my breather tube and the engine seemed a little hotter than normal. Any correlation w/ the rattling/ticking noise? I put 3.2 qts (per the manual) of new oil in at my last oil change, so I'm thinking it's just excess engine oil?

[DaveBarbier]

Piston rings do touch the cylinder walls. They don't run on a film of oil. The job of the oil rings is to scrape the side walls or else you'd burn a lot of oil .

My first thought of ticking was an exhaust leak at the headers. This can sound very mechanical. You can use a length of tube as a stethoscope and use it to listen near the flowers of the headers for a loud ticking. Might need new crush gaskets.

Could also check valve clearance. But if you're describing "bits of metal rattling around" if wait for other more experienced members to chime in.

[calj737]

I'd suspect a valve adjuster nut has come loose and has allowed the #1 or #2 valve to be out of adjustment, and perhaps the nut is flipping around in there.

At low speeds, the oil pressure is reduced, and the nut will be more audible. Higher speeds, wind noise, engine noise, etc will make small engine noises imperceptible, though they are STILL present.

Best you remove some tappet covers and commence some verification of whats happening in there.