NC30 Tapping/Ticking noise - Exhaust Leak - Is it OK

Forum rules
Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
Post Reply
999Gomerz
Settled in member
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 12:27 am
Bike owned: Hondas, Ducati, Suzuki, Vespa
Location: Melbourne, Australia
NC30 Tapping/Ticking noise - Exhaust Leak - Is it OK

Post by 999Gomerz »

G'day,

I must admit that I have bought another VFR400, I rode one for the first time at a track day earlier this year and it was a bunch of fun. I bought one, rode it at a track day and now I have bought a second bike. I guess that means I am hooked.

Now, down to business.

The Second bike has a ticking noise at idle that appears to be coming from the right rear cylinder. I have checked and adjusted the valve clearances and that did not make it stop.
I pulled the plu on each rear cylinder whilst it was running and the this did not make the noise go away.
I can not see any black soot that would indicate an exhaust leak but I am sure it is cause of the sound and that it appears to be coming from the rear of the two vertical cylinders.

It is kinda loud and but only audible at idle, as soon as you rev the thing the full system makes it hard to hear anything else.

Is there a usual gasket that goes, ie the ones where the exhaust ports meet the headers or the ones where the rear headers meet the exhaust proper?

Or am I missing something.

Advice from those who know is much appreciated.

Cheers,

Adrian
User avatar
Drunkn Munky
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 6313
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 9:37 am
Bike owned: NC30 MC21 TZR FZR GSXR RG MITO
Location: Kent
Re: NC30 Tapping/Ticking noise - Exhaust Leak - Is it OK

Post by Drunkn Munky »

The rear manifold to system joint does tick sometimes, try tightening it up or if that fails new gaskets, copper ones are best rather than those ally/fiber ones
User avatar
iDemonix
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 651
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:26 pm
Bike owned: '92 NC30
Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Re: NC30 Tapping/Ticking noise - Exhaust Leak - Is it OK

Post by iDemonix »

I have this EXACT problem.

I'm glad you posted this because I was going to do valve clearances to try and cure it. I replaced my exhaust gaskets and tightened up as much as I dared (terrified of snapping a stud) but no avail. Is this normal? I've never met anyone else (in life) with an NC30 so can't compare.
A roaring V4 is the summer soundtrack.

Post Reply