Cam Ticking

[tehwickerman]

My cam is making a slight ticking sound while running, I've heard a couple other M20s running and it makes a similar sound.
Is this something major or should I replace the cam?

[NC325iC]

probably just valve tick

adjust your valves, do you have a Bentley Manual?

[erik325i]

The ticking noise is coming from the valves. They could be in need of adjustment. A little ticking is normal though.

Erik

[norcalE30]

mine did this when i bought it, but i adjusted the rockers and it quieted down a lot. but it still does it a little, any ideas?

[jlevie]

A ticking sound from that area is usually the valves, but it can also be from the injectors. A bit of work with an automotive stethoscope will pinpoint the source.

[MazterDizazter]

Not to hijack, but has anyone paid to have the valves adjusted, and know about how many hours it might take?

[Rhys]

20 minutes if you know what your doing, I am sure a tech could do it faster!

[MazterDizazter]

Oh wow. What tools do I need to do that, besides the Bentley manual of course? I was under the impression it was a little more in-depth than that.

[Knockenwelle]

I ran my valves at the end of a trackday last Saturday before driving 240 miles home. Took all of 18 minutes in fading light.

[kronus]

Oh wow. What tools do I need to do that, besides the Bentley manual of course? I was under the impression it was a little more in-depth than that.

You need the proper tools and the proper knowledge. Seeing as you seem unfamiliar with the M20's internals, I would recommend you take it to a professional. Timing stuff is not a newbie job even if it does take 20 minutes to do - doing it wrong can cause problems from crappy running to exploding.


I've paid someone to do my valves before, because I don't trust myself with timing stuff yet. On the upside, because it is a pretty fast job, it's pretty cheap to do at a place that doesn't have flat rates for valve adjustments.

[norcalE30]

its actually really easy. i did it in front of my house in like 20 mins... even chiltons covers it


really hasnt much to do with timing, just gotta make sure its on the base circle of the cam when you adjust it

[DCColegrove]

Correctly adjusted the valves will "tick" a bit...

The question is are they ticking just right and are they ticking evenly...

After the first 50 or so M20 valve adjustments you do you will see what I mean.

The book pays an hour the engine needs to be chilly cold to do them right.

(it really does take an experienced touch to get them right)

[Adrian_Visser]

yah if you've never used feeler gauges before there is a bit of feel to how much drag on the feeler gauge is correct if you have a micrometer you can set it to the gap you want then slide that size feeler gauge through the gap with some oil on it just to get the feel of what drag is right. it really isn't that hard to do this yourself though, just take your time and check eveything twice.

[xcmorgan50]

I have the same noise and I've asked many people and most of them say it's the injectors and it's normal...Haven't done a valve adjustment in awhile

[nando]

stock M20 injectors are quite loud, but the valves do still make noise. if it sounds like a "clack clack clack" and not a "tick tick tick" then your valves probably do need adjusted though.