I just bought an 01 Scrambler 500 4x4. There is a ticking noise coming from the right side of the motor. I can't tell if it is coming from the top end or near the pull start. I have owned a few bikes with automatic cam chain tensioners and were prone to failure. Do the 500 motors have any issues like that? Could it be a valve out of adjusment? The noise does seem to get a little louder as the motor revs. Could it be that the noise is just the nature of this motor.

 

since you dont know the history of the bike i would check the valves just to make sure. along with change all the fluids/filters. who knows when they were last changed even if the seller said "i just had a bike serviced." if the valves check out ok i would check the starter bendix hanging on the flywheel a little bit.

 

The starter does take a second to shut off after motor is running. That could be the problem. Could the noise be coming from the recoil starter?

 

the starter bendix is in the recoil housing so maybe if that was the problem. i dont know if the motor has lifters or a timing chain. depending on what side of the motor they are on it could be coming from the valve train too

 

The 500s make noise.Ride until it breaks(betting it wont)

 

yeah,like ftw says they are noisy,mine is all straight,valves adj.auto cam adj.good.noisy as hell on right side,for hundreds of miles and.......not a bit worse.

 

Sounds like it is coming from the recoil starter area. Bet its nothing.

 

Not trying to alarm you,BUT if valve clearance ok,cam chain feels tight and still making noise even when at higher speeds can be that lower cam sprocket slotted nut has backed off and rubbing against stator plate and ticking noise could be from sprocket beginning to wear on woodruff key and nut rubbing stator plate. Have had a couple that have had same noise your describing. If you are worried,have to pull flywheel,stator and you will see immediately if nut has backed off! Left handed threads on nut (left to tighten) and no loctite from factory! Should not back off ,but they can! If this is the case,just loctite threads and tighten back.

 

I have a 99 Scrambler 500 HO and it makes the same noise that you are talking about. Everyone that i have talked to all say that is just the way they sound and not to worry about it.

 

I rode quite a bit yesterday with no problems. The noise is still there, but the Scrambler ran great. I am 99% sure it is coming from the recoil starter area, not the engine. I believe it is nothing to be concerned with.