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Triumph TR6 - Ticking sound

I decided it was warm enough to get the tr out from under covers...

after the usual fluid checks etc, i fired it up and noticed a new sound that wasnt there during the winter(i would start her up about every 3 weeks and let her idle for a while). Its a loud tick tick sound coming from what sounds like under the valve cover..i suspect something very evil. To determine the source of the ticking i pulled the plug lead from #1 and the sound went away.

The car did have an overheating problem late last year that i corrected..but is it possible some damge was done? and if, what would be the suspect area

It starts and idles great and no blue smoke....

before I commit suicide (its almost TR driving weather and i can't drive her!)...any suggestions out there of what i should be looking for...stuck valve, broken valve spring, tappet?....

Im depressed

bob
Bob Craske

Bob,

Before you get too wigged out...maybe it's something simple. Is it possible that the spark plug has a crack and that it is arcing to the head and making the ticking noise? Or is the ticking too loud for that? That would be the best scenario. Maybe a valve is not seating properly causing a popping noise when firing.

Good luck

Henry
HP Henry Patterson

Henry

I will try a different plug as a test but i think the problem goes deeper since its a medium loud tick tick tick that is not as consistent as a plug firing every 360 degrees.

i will post the test results.

thanks

bob
Bob Craske

Henry

I thought about what you suggested and got my hopes up since the ticking goes away when you pull the plug lead...but alas, a new plug didnt solve it. Since the valves and everything else are still moving with the plug lead pulled, i dont see how it could be something in the valve assemblies. must have something to do with during the combustion portion...head gasket, ring?

thanks

still depressed

bob
Bob Craske

Recheck your valve settings
don
DON KELLY

Don...

what is your guess? valve spring broke?

bob
Bob Craske

Could be the exhaust manifold is loose at the front end of the engine... upon combustion it would flex out and snap back causing a TIC-TIC but without combusion there may not be enough pressure to cause the sound hense no sound when plug wire is pulled. Check out the bolts and footbal washers in that vacinity. If no difference, inspect for exhaust gas leakage in the same vacinity from a deteriorated gasket.

Rob Gibbs

Could be the exhaust manifold is loose at the front end of the engine... upon combustion it would flex out and snap back causing a TIC-TIC but without combusion there may not be enough pressure to cause the sound ,hense no sound, when plug wire is pulled. Check out the bolts and footbal washers in that vacinity. If no difference, inspect for exhaust gas leakage in the same vacinity from a deteriorated gasket. My two bits worth...?

Rob

Rob Gibbs

There is an echo in here. Bob- could be just out of adjustment or a stickey one.Always good to check adjustment every spring.
don
DON KELLY

I'd look for an loosened off, or out of adjustment tappet. I had one totally back off and the pushrod pop out. Boy did that make an evil sound, I thought everything was shot. No damage though; easy fix. Once and awhile we need it to be simple.
One thing that would worry me is that if you didn't have the sound last year and all of a sudden it's there this year it could suggest oil not getting to a certain area. Maybe an oil change and flush would help.

Doug C.
Doug Campbell

Bob,

When I got my TR it was making an odd "ticking" sound and it turned out to be a "blown" exhaust manifold gasket. Maybe by pulling the plug, you're relieving the pressure on the gasket so it doesn't "tick"?

Search the archives for all of these words "ignatius exhaust tapping" to see the thread.

Ignatius
Ignatius Rigor

Hi Bob,
My good friend Rolly the mechanic offers this info...hope it helps
Charlie

SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A LIFTER STICKING BUT IT ALSO COULD HAVE BLOWN A HEAD GASKET ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE COMBUSTION AREA. PULLING OFF #1 SPARK PLUG STOPS IT FROM FIRING ALLOWING THE PISTON TO RUN FREE. I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING OFF THE ROCKER COVER AND SEEING IF THE ROCKER IS THE NOISE FIRST
Charlie B.

There are several good thought here but no one has mentioned that it could be something on the 'other' end.

When a cylinder fires the pressure forces the piston back down creating the power stroke. If the wrist pin (more likely) or rod bearing has any play in them you will hear a fairly loud ticking. By removing combustion pressures from the cylinder the over-pressure is no longer there and the piston slap will disappear thus no more ticking.

I would tend to want to look beyond the common valve train noises as the ticking goes away when you remove the combustion factor. I would think that a valve noise would continue with or without the fire???

Of course it could be any one of fifty things, playing doctor over the phone is not real easy sometimes!

Good luck finding the source.

Don
Yellowdog

Well it turned out it wasn't anything huge...just a couple of adjusters needing attention re-lathing

now it purrs like a kitten without a fur ball!

thanks for all the help during my moments of pure unadulterated panic!

bob
Bob Craske

Bob are you referring to the ball end of the adjuster screw that fits into the push rod and the ball end needed re-lathing? I installed a new rocker shaft assembly I got from TRF and also have a ticking sound near cyl #1 or #2. I reused the same push rods in the same position. I have checked lash twice and all is in good order. Just wondering if I have a ball end on the adjuster screw not seating well in the push rod and this might be causing my ticking sound. Thanks.
MRankin, 71 TR6 CC61212L
MRankin

M

Exactly, worn out after years so a friend redid it for me...

now she's not a timex anymore

bob
Bob Craske

This thread was discussed between 31/03/2006 and 13/04/2006

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