The Ford Barn

Cecil-Indiana · 07-06-2014, 09:39 PM

Started about 800miles on a rebuild. Opened it up last week and reset all valves and triple checked them but the noise is still there. So far put MMO in tank & carbs, pulled plug wires, used stethoscope and cannot find origin of noise. It only clicks during idle. Any suggestions? Could it be a weak or broke valve spring?

oldford2 · 07-07-2014, 05:23 AM

I just finished a rebuild and had a clicking noise. Talked to Walt Dupont and he said a piston in backwards may cause a piston slap. Pulled the heads and sure enough. One piston in backwards. Easy to do if you are old and don't pay attention on assembly. John

Cecil-Indiana · 07-07-2014, 05:50 AM

Old ford, the noise is a much more tinny sound than piston lap. Thanks for the thought though.

JM 35 Sedan · 07-07-2014, 05:59 AM

I also had a clicking/ticking noise after a rebuild on a '35 21 stud engine that I could not pin down. Drove the car like that for about 1k-2k miles and the fiber timing gear failed. Replaced that gear with an aluminum version and no more ticking/clicking in the last 22k miles. The fiber timing gear was a reproduction part with an off shore origin.

Planojc · 07-07-2014, 07:28 AM

Had a tick on a 59ab and found the sound coming from the fuel pump stand area. The fuel pump push rod had some slop and would tick. Placed a small piece of leather in the cup and tick went away.

Cecil-Indiana · 07-07-2014, 07:45 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Planojc

Had a tick on a 59ab and found the sound coming from the fuel pump stand area. The fuel pump push rod had some slop and would tick. Placed a small piece of leather in the cup and tick went away.

Thanks for the reply but am running an electric fuel pump and have that hole blocked.

Cecil-Indiana · 07-07-2014, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

I also had a clicking/ticking noise after a rebuild on a '35 21 stud engine that I could not pin down. Drove the car like that for about 1k-2k miles and the fiber timing gear failed. Replaced that gear with an aluminum version and no more ticking/clicking in the last 22k miles. The fiber timing gear was a reproduction part with an off shore origin.

Thanks, I'll put the stethoscope on it in the next 15 min. Have not focused on that area.

Cecil-Indiana · 07-07-2014, 10:05 AM

Put stethoscope on timing gear cover and do not detect any louder noise. Beginning to wonder if I should get a young guy with good hearing to go over it for me.

Cecil-Indiana · 07-08-2014, 03:36 PM

Today I checked the compression and all cylinders were between 95 & 100. Then I ran the engine to get it warm and added a bottle of STP to the oil. Then I took it for a 3 mile ride and no change. earlier when I tore the engine down because of this noise I set all valves at .012. I saw on another post where he set the intakes at .009 and the exhaust at .012 and fixed his problem. What do you guys think?

Lawrie · 07-08-2014, 03:57 PM

I had a small clicking type noise in the 33 yesterday after a drive over to my mates place,it came from the front of the engine,took the belt off ,noise gone,it was a loose crank pulley,the nut was tight ,BUT the pulley was the same length as the front of the crank and therefor the crank nut and washer pulled up on the crank,I machined a .040 recess in the washer and that fixed it.and yes the slinger was in place.
Lawrie

Lawson Cox · 07-08-2014, 05:06 PM

I had a clicking, tinny like sound that I almost never found. The pipe that goes from the bottom of the fuel pump stand, that the push rod goes through, that had dropped loose and was bouncing on the cam. Replaced it to where it should be after expanding it slightly, and the sound disappeared, never to return.

Mart · 07-08-2014, 05:13 PM

Lots of tricky little "it happened to me" type answers, coming up in this thread. All good points to remember.

Mart.

Don · 07-08-2014, 05:20 PM

Had a wrist pin that had a ticky sound at idle ,can't remember what the machines shop did but noise went away when put back together .

Bassman/NZ · 07-08-2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mart

Lots of tricky little "it happened to me" type answers, coming up in this thread. All good points to remember.

Mart.

This thread should be a "sticky".

hardtimes · 07-08-2014, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil-Indiana

Thanks for the reply but am running an electric fuel pump and have that hole blocked.

Hey Cecil,
I've read here in the past that ...if no longer using the stock fuel pump, still leave the pushrod in place to block excess oil flow that flows from galley thru small hole around pushrod. I've always wondered about that and about that 'loose' push rod bouncing on the cam lobe. What wear problem, besides ticking noise that that would make ?
Did you leave push rod in there ?

AnthonyG · 07-08-2014, 06:22 PM

Hardtimes, I thought the same but in post #6 he says "Thanks for the reply but am running an electric fuel pump and have that hole blocked." to the same question.

cmbrucew · 07-08-2014, 06:40 PM

Here is my intermittent ticking noise on a 54 Mercury.
Broken head bolt. Would pop up and tick on the valve cover, then slide back down in the head.
Bruce

GEOFFNZ · 07-08-2014, 08:08 PM

If an engine has split guides it has been known for one half of the guide to be above the guide retainer and it will sometimes go up and down intermitantly with the valve making a clicky noise.Cheers Geoff.

Cecil-Indiana · 09-01-2014, 01:03 PM

Update: pulled intake, heads and timing gear and all 16 valve assemblies. No problem found. Does seem to be a lot of clearance between the end of the cam and the cover. Should there be a spring in the cover to keep some tension on the end of the cam? Now I'm wondering if I've gotten a chip in my oil pump gear. Any other suggestions?

swedishsteel · 09-01-2014, 01:17 PM

Try checking the exhaust gaskets between the block and header/manifold. I have a '36 21 stud with Red's Headers and the front gasket on the passenger side has a slight leak that sounds like a valve tick. I've run the header over the big belt sander to the flanges are all on one plain and new gasket and tighter than I really want to tighten but it still leaks. It's slight enough to not be noticeable except to someone who is listening for it. Good luck. Rod

07-06-2014, 09:39 PM	#1
Cecil-Indiana Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Muncie, IN Posts: 72	Clicking noise in engine during idle Started about 800miles on a rebuild. Opened it up last week and reset all valves and triple checked them but the noise is still there. So far put MMO in tank & carbs, pulled plug wires, used stethoscope and cannot find origin of noise. It only clicks during idle. Any suggestions? Could it be a weak or broke valve spring?

07-07-2014, 05:23 AM	#2
oldford2 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: pittsfield, MA Posts: 2,086	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle I just finished a rebuild and had a clicking noise. Talked to Walt Dupont and he said a piston in backwards may cause a piston slap. Pulled the heads and sure enough. One piston in backwards. Easy to do if you are old and don't pay attention on assembly. John Last edited by oldford2; 07-07-2014 at 05:34 AM.

07-07-2014, 05:50 AM	#3
Cecil-Indiana Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Muncie, IN Posts: 72	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Old ford, the noise is a much more tinny sound than piston lap. Thanks for the thought though.

07-07-2014, 05:59 AM	#4
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,862	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle I also had a clicking/ticking noise after a rebuild on a '35 21 stud engine that I could not pin down. Drove the car like that for about 1k-2k miles and the fiber timing gear failed. Replaced that gear with an aluminum version and no more ticking/clicking in the last 22k miles. The fiber timing gear was a reproduction part with an off shore origin. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

07-07-2014, 07:28 AM	#5
Planojc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 891	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Had a tick on a 59ab and found the sound coming from the fuel pump stand area. The fuel pump push rod had some slop and would tick. Placed a small piece of leather in the cup and tick went away.

07-07-2014, 10:05 AM	#8
Cecil-Indiana Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Muncie, IN Posts: 72	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Put stethoscope on timing gear cover and do not detect any louder noise. Beginning to wonder if I should get a young guy with good hearing to go over it for me.

07-08-2014, 03:36 PM	#9
Cecil-Indiana Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Muncie, IN Posts: 72	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Today I checked the compression and all cylinders were between 95 & 100. Then I ran the engine to get it warm and added a bottle of STP to the oil. Then I took it for a 3 mile ride and no change. earlier when I tore the engine down because of this noise I set all valves at .012. I saw on another post where he set the intakes at .009 and the exhaust at .012 and fixed his problem. What do you guys think?

07-08-2014, 03:57 PM	#10
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,241	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle I had a small clicking type noise in the 33 yesterday after a drive over to my mates place,it came from the front of the engine,took the belt off ,noise gone,it was a loose crank pulley,the nut was tight ,BUT the pulley was the same length as the front of the crank and therefor the crank nut and washer pulled up on the crank,I machined a .040 recess in the washer and that fixed it.and yes the slinger was in place. Lawrie

07-08-2014, 05:06 PM	#11
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle I had a clicking, tinny like sound that I almost never found. The pipe that goes from the bottom of the fuel pump stand, that the push rod goes through, that had dropped loose and was bouncing on the cam. Replaced it to where it should be after expanding it slightly, and the sound disappeared, never to return. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

07-08-2014, 05:13 PM	#12
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,800	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Lots of tricky little "it happened to me" type answers, coming up in this thread. All good points to remember. Mart.

07-08-2014, 05:20 PM	#13
Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,159	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Had a wrist pin that had a ticky sound at idle ,can't remember what the machines shop did but noise went away when put back together . __________________ DON P

07-08-2014, 06:22 PM	#16
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,182	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Hardtimes, I thought the same but in post #6 he says "Thanks for the reply but am running an electric fuel pump and have that hole blocked." to the same question. __________________ Nomad

07-08-2014, 06:40 PM	#17
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,068	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Here is my intermittent ticking noise on a 54 Mercury. Broken head bolt. Would pop up and tick on the valve cover, then slide back down in the head. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

07-08-2014, 08:08 PM	#18
GEOFFNZ Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oxford New Zealand Posts: 177	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle If an engine has split guides it has been known for one half of the guide to be above the guide retainer and it will sometimes go up and down intermitantly with the valve making a clicky noise.Cheers Geoff.

09-01-2014, 01:03 PM	#19
Cecil-Indiana Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Muncie, IN Posts: 72	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Update: pulled intake, heads and timing gear and all 16 valve assemblies. No problem found. Does seem to be a lot of clearance between the end of the cam and the cover. Should there be a spring in the cover to keep some tension on the end of the cam? Now I'm wondering if I've gotten a chip in my oil pump gear. Any other suggestions?

09-01-2014, 01:17 PM	#20
swedishsteel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 344	Re: Clicking noise in engine during idle Try checking the exhaust gaskets between the block and header/manifold. I have a '36 21 stud with Red's Headers and the front gasket on the passenger side has a slight leak that sounds like a valve tick. I've run the header over the big belt sander to the flanges are all on one plain and new gasket and tighter than I really want to tighten but it still leaks. It's slight enough to not be noticeable except to someone who is listening for it. Good luck. Rod