Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

Having now replaced the timing case gear cover, I decided to kick the bike over (no fuel so wasn’t going to start). I was surprised how noisy either the pushrods or tappets are. Is this normal? What is causing it? Sounds like the bottom of the pushrod falls of the cam and then clacks.

I’m hoping you can hear what I am talking about in the attached video (ignore the picture, just listen).

Cannot tell much from a recorded noise.

Mine were really rattly after checking usual clearances and lifter impact etc
Local member suggested that a pushrod was hanging up in the rockerbox arm. He suggested swapping them over.

Lo and behold one was. I opted to swap them and also to use grinding paste to take out a slight deformation

Thanks for the answer John, Ill check this out.

Have you changed the rocker arms, cam followers or push rods? If so the pushrod end may not be seating fully in the cups. I had this on my VH500 when I fitted new pushrods. There was a definite 'clack' as the ball end of the pushrod released from the cam follower cup having nipped up and then been released by the valve spring pressure. I ground the pushrod ball to the cup with grinding paste and checked the fit with engineer's blue. You need to ensure that the ball end fits right to the bottom of the cup or the pushrod will 'appear' to be too long. This fix also improved the rocker arm adjustment and the valve lifter operation.
Dennis

That’s sounds like I should investigate. Thanks for the answer Dennis.