Would like some thoughts on a tick

[Badot]

Hey guys, I got my 04 EX250 about a year ago with ~10k miles. I first noticed this noise around 11k after adjusting the valves (needed lots of loosening) and figured it was fairly normal operating noise for a bike with free floating rockers. Anyways, 18k miles by now and it's still nagging at me so I'd like some second opinions.

Oil screen has come up clean and it doesn't seem to be losing its magic sparkles into the oil. Oil filter has been replaced. Tightening up the valve clearances some reduced but didn't eliminate the noise. Loudest on left hand side of engine. Noise seems to come in and out depending on load and speed -- audible at idle, gets a little louder as the engine runs up (loudest under slight load), but quiets past ~5-6k RPM. On cold starts the noise gets a bit louder over time until it gets oil pressure (no more than 3 seconds)

Everything seems perfectly fine otherwise; I'd just appreciate some thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9yu9C1c33A

[csmith12]

Since it's quick, easy and free... try taking off your cam chain tensioner and clean it. If the sound goes away, at least you know.

[Motofool]

Welcome, Mike !!!

These are noisy engines in general, but 7k later nothing has fallen apart in your case; therefore I see no reason to try a repair.

Perhaps the valve's adjutment was neglected at some point within the first 11K miles and one or more valve/seats were burned and do not seal perfectly now.
Fixing that possible problem would cost you some money and stopped time.

As suggested above, you could do no damage by removing, cleaning and lubricating the CCT, or replacing it with a manual tensioner.

[Badot]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Since it's quick, easy and free... try taking off your cam chain tensioner and clean it. If the sound goes away, at least you know.

I'm not sure I trust myself to tell where a noise is coming from anymore. I would have sworn up and down that the noise was coming from the left side of the engine.

I pulled the CCT, took it apart, wiped it down, put some gear grease on and dropped it back in (that retainer screw needed penetrating oil and an impact driver to loosen!) and lo and behold, the noise is vastly improved at idle. Still there, but barely perceptible and well within normal range now in my opinion. Mostly just stereotypical noisy cams now. The noise when riding persists though... but:

Now that the bike idles quieter I discovered a new faint ticking at idle coming from what seems like the right hand side of the bike, crankcase area. I assume this is a minor exhaust leak since I can feel a little air shooting out from the joint between the right pipe and muffler. Maybe that's where the noise on the road is coming from!

Either way I feel like I'm on the right track, many thanks guys! I'll update this when I get a chance to play with the exhaust, hopefully tomorrow.

[adouglas]

For ticks, I usually carefully remove them with tweezers and then fry the little suckers.