Hi there all. I own a Honda Foreman 04 with 1300 miles on it,and was riding it yesterday in the snow and in the fields etc. I noticed when i slowed down that i could here a ticking noise, like it needing a valve adjustment. Im 51 years old but have fun with it. I thought maybe a valve needed adjusting and took the valve cover off. They seem ok with a feeler gauge. I get my mechanics stethescope out and listen to it while i pull it over with the rope start trying to locate the noise. It seems louder in the clyinder area. It runs fine. Has power. But has that noise that tells me something is wrong. It sounds like piston slap in my old dirt bikes when i was younger. Can anyone help me out here? Thanks

 

Bad gas is a possibility. Maybe some water in it? My truck has the same tick, it does it whenever i fill up after it rains.

 

did you try fresh gas?

 

I havent tried fresh gas yet but it should be good gas. I still have a few things off of it from checking the valves. I will try though. It has been 20 below zero here so i wont get much done for awhile. Thanks for the info.

 

How bad of a ticking noise do you have? It's pretty tough to diagnose something without hearing it, but they do make a little noise normally?

 

I guess it is something that bothers me although most wouldnt probably here it. I notice it and so did the guy i was riding with. I am going to put it back together and try the new gas thing and listen to it again. It seems to goes away when you give it gas.

 

20 below zero and ticking noise>>>>> oil flow.

 

Well apon more diagnostic it has to be a valve lash problem. I had it running in the garage and it ticks when you shut it off only, like a loose valve. When you start it up it ticks for a few seconds then goes away. I can rev it up and no ticking noise. It sounds normal then. I checked the valves with a feeler gauge and i can get a .008 gauge in there and i know the book says .006. I havent set them to .006 yet but i will. Would .002 of an inch cause that? Also i wasnt riding in 20 below weather but the day after it was 20 below, too cold to work on it. Thanks

 

Make sure the engine is cold before you set the valve's , and about the .002 difference in valve spec's could make it a little louder of a tick ; but better a little loose than tight ! ................williebee

 

I wouldn't suspect it would make a very loud tick, but it doesn't sound like you are describing a very loud tick...

What kind of oil are you running in it?