Just bought a seemingly in good shape 1987 lt230e. Runs and rides very solid but I have noticed the engine seems to have a knocking type noise somewhere in it that’s difficult to locate. I believe it is the top end.
It will very lightly smoke out of the exhaust but other than that it idles and runs without flaws as far as I can tell.
i bought the atv and changed the oil and filter to the weight recommended on the fill cap, then after noticing the noise I drained and put in slightly heavier weight oil.
I am not certain it hasn’t always had the noise as I just bought it and I don’t know for sure if it was there before the oil change.

Wondering if it sounds familiar to any experts on these or engines in general and what might the problem if any may be?

 

I can't play .mov files, but the symptoms you describe are those of an engine which has seized on the piston, then freed off when the engine cooled down. They can rattle on for years like this, or the piston skirt may break up.

 

thank you, is there any way you know of I can send the file through a message on the site to you or change the format so you can listen? I appreciate the advice just wondering as I am just a week into owning it and setting it all up as I want it .

 

I don't know how you would get a .mov file to play on my laptop. Usually, tapping is either the piston or a valve. As it is smoking a bit you will need to take the cylinder off sometime anyway, so you will find out what is wrong when you strip it. For the time being, I would check and adjust the valve clearances in case that is the source of the noise.