Is it coming from the headers?

More than likely just the oil warming up and circulating the machines beautiful body

 

I know it's coming from the head/top end area, and it almost seems to be more pronounced behind the head, than in front where the headers are.
I'm almost positive that it's either something in the valve-train, or the injectors.

 

I do know that a lot of these bikes do this prior to warming up. I know of some who have subsequently changed the cam chain tensioner which did not resolve the ticking.

It's oil circulating or the tappets or both.

Don't worry, it is normal with 954s

 

Don't worry, it is normal with 954s

That's what I wanted to hear. I figured it was normal in some sense, else if it were a malfunction of some sort, it would show somewhere else as well, and the fact that it runs like a scalded dog otherwise.

 

Yes don't worry about it, I've had 5 954's over the years, and they have all had a ticking/tapping noise when cold, as long as it goes away once warm, its nothing to worry about, also the 954's have very thin engine cases, which makes the noise seem louder than it is.

 

That's why I love this engine...:thumb:

 

Yeah normal. Ive read in a few places that its because in the cold weather/overnight, some of the parts shrink a little (i think its valve shims or o-rings or something) and it gets back to normal when the engine is warmed up.

I used to park my bike behind my house in the shade, i always heard a tick but now i park in front the house when its in direct sunlight for the greater part of day and it stopped happening.

 

Do this happens in case of oil cooled engines? It never happened with me but sometimes it reflects knocking problem but I take over it with normal warm up.
_________________
at affordable price.

 

Do this happens in case of oil cooled engines? It never happened with me but sometimes it reflects knocking problem but I take over it with normal warm up.
_________________
at affordable price.

Definitely not a knocking issue with me. I use non-ethanol 93 octane fuel (and most of the time I add Seafoam to a tank as well).

nyknick, that explanation makes quite a bit of sense. I know these engines have fairly tight tolerances and any sort of metal contraction due to cooler weather might indeed cause that clacking, until the metal warms up.

 

20w-50 is a very thick oil for this bike, it's like marmelade in cold weather!!!
You should use 10w-40 as recommended by Honda, especially in winter.

 

It is a very thick oil but that '54's coolant temp will get over 100 deg/c when sitting at a stop light (even in this weather) and is normally around 85 deg when riding (regardless of speed). Thicker oil cools (absorbs heat) better, and isn't too different from the thinner viscosity oil when the engines get that warm.
I did lose a few mpg when I switched to 20/50 but I feel that the extra protection it provides, is worth it.

 

sometimes higher weights mask oil leaks... even though you can use it, you should switch back every once in a while

 

Well this bike doesn't have any leaks. I got it in August and ran the Rotella T that the seller said was in it, until the week before last when I changed it. I put about 2500 miles on it from August until then so I would've seen any leaking when I changed the oil.

I didn't put the higher viscosity in it to mask any oil leaks. I just wanted the maximum protection. Particularly in light of how hot they run and (as steve mentions) how thin their cases are.
I rode it in to work today (30 miles) in 36 degree weather and the coolant temp still stayed right at 83 deg/C even at 85mph. That thing is still a 'heater' even in this weather.

hung/xop/mad, I really dont' think you have anything to worry about. I was just curious as to why the valvetrain clacks for that long when it only takes a few seconds for the oil to circulate. But as well, I also think it is the injectors ticking, as they are doing max duty during a cold start, as the mixture tends to be rich until it warms up.

 

im so gald you posted this cause my 03 does it to and i was worried.

 

Just bought a salvaged '54, and it does the same thing. Glad to read its a normal condition on this bike. Just got to ride it for the first time at the track, and it ran fantastic! 2 hours of saddle time, and I'm in love with this bike!

 

Im hearing a noise too. Wondering if its normal to hear sounds from the clutch engaged while in neutral. It gets softer as the bike warms up, but persists? Thanks.

 

If the noise stops when you pull the clutch lever in (loading up the clutch) then it's probably just the damper springs and nothing to worry about.

 

A heavier weight oil will take longer to get pumped round the oilways at startup, given the engine wear mostly occurs at startup, you are fooling yourself and shortening the life of your engine.

 

Spaz, I know how oil works. I know it will take slightly longer, but unless that oil light (don't know why these bikes don't have an OP gauge) is vastly inaccurate (as it goes off within two seconds of engine starting), oil is getting to that engine fairly quick. I'd bet my next paycheck it's circling through that engine long before all that ticking stops.
And allow me to reiterate that even before I switched to the thicker oil, it was still 'ticking' at startup.
And also let me reiterate that this is full synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is designed for excellent protection in cold weather.
I also let the bike idle until at least that ticking/clacking stops before I get on it and put it in gear and take off.

 

I understand that you had the ticking before, however there WILL be more cold start engine wear with a heavier oil fact. Synthetic oil can be a bitch with clutches too, just saying like.

 

The heavier oil might be a fact to some extent, however...
Is Synthetic Oil Better?

It flows easier in cold weather, therefore no loss of prime when the oil is cold. Also, it is highly resistant to viscosity breakdown (the ability of the oil to flow easily in all temps) from heat, friction, chemical contaminants.

Easier Engine Cold Start

Good Synthetic Motor Oils remain fluid in the coldest operating conditions. Maintaining their fluidity and protecting ability in temperatures as frigid as -60°F, this not only permits easy engine cranking for quick starts, but flows to critical engine components in a quarter of the time that conventional oils take. Considering that up to 60 percent of all engine wear occurs during cold starts, this immediate lubrication is essential to long-term engine life.

Spaz, I do vehemently appreciate the advice (as that's what we're here for), but this ain't my first engine oil rodeo. LOL
Plus I did a shitload of research as well.

 

Where in the UK is Spaz from?

 

Originally Yarkshoire, now dwelling in Carrot cruncher land.

 

Haha very good.

I thought you were from the north end of the country

 

Great post I bought my 03 in July with 15k miles, and since the weather has changed mine has done the same thing and I was wondering why. Thanks for posting and answering the question.

 

mine certainly does this, somedays it does seem a lot louder than others.
I've been told it's par for the course for the 954 and have never worried about it.