Bad Engine Noise

[orlandofast1]

 Well, I bought my first Ducati which was somewhat of a project. When I bought it it was making what I thought was valve noise from lack of adjustment. After adjusting the valves the noise is still there. It is evident it is coming from the horizontal exhaust valve area more towards the exhaust than the rocker area. The sound is metal on metal and is more pronounced at idle. Any ideas?

[ducpainter]

Valve hitting the piston?

[Duck-Stew]

Year and engine size as well as number of miles would help determine what's wrong.

[orlandofast1]

99 750 with 14k miles.

[Duck-Stew]

When checking the valves, did you put the spring clips back in?  I've heard of a bike making similar noises when one was left out...   

(not to call into question your mechanical abilities...)

Did you try to wiggle the valves around when you were in there?  '99 750's shouldn't have bad valve guides, but they shouldn't have flaking rockers either and I've seen those on a 2V...

[orlandofast1]

Yes spring clips were reinstalled between washers. Didnt notice any valve wiggle. I think I might try spinning the valve in the guide while looking in the exhaust to see if I notice anything odd. Thanks. How difficult is it to pull just the head?

[Duck-Stew]

Totally easy on a 750.

Remove the oil cooler & lines.
Remove the exhaust header.
Remove intake manifold (can cheat here by loosening the carbs and the rubber boot clamp and then taking the nuts loose and removing just the intake manifold)
Remove the timing belt.
Remove the 4 head nuts.
Use a large flat object and put it between the head and the cylinder barrel and slightly twist to just remove the head.  This will save valuable time and $ if you don't break the seal between the barrel and engine case.
Head comes right off.

Might want to use a short section of pipe or a huge stack of washers and put a couple of the head nuts back on the studs.  This will keep the barrel mated to the engine case should you need to rotate the engine over w/o the horizontal head on it.

[orlandofast1]

Got the head off. Nothing jumping out. Cylinder looks good. No marks on piston. Will pull the valves later.

[OT]

Ummm...noise all the time or just when the clutch is engaged?

[orlandofast1]

Noise is constant regardless of clutch actuation. Going out to the garage to pull the valves.

[orlandofast1]

Well I reassembled everything and still have the noise. Now I am thinking I have a rod knock. Thinking about shopping for a replacement engine. Any ideas

[junior varsity]

There's an ST2 engine on eBay right now for just over a grand.

[ducpainter]

There's an ST2 engine on eBay right now for just over a grand.

STs are all water cooled

[junior varsity]

well it would be fun to see one frankensteined into a monster.

[ducpainter]

well it would be fun to see one frankensteined into a monster.

If the guy has the ability to add some tabs to the frame it would be an upgrade from the 750.