Ticking noise from top part of engine

[Kingkong_imp]

Here we go.
https://youtu.be/NX57fpqvjPo

This should work. Thank you very much everyone i appreciate your help.
I put coil 1 on the 4th , the ticking is still there in the video.

Also there is that weird sound (like a zap) while the pump is turning on (injectors maybe?) , i haven't heard that sound in any videos of CBs. it's at 11 seconds, 1:50 ...

Thanks again.

[Lord Popgun]

Max, what is your thoughts on this? I watched/listened to the video a bunch of times last night and just can't tell. On my iPad it sounds like spark arcing. On my MacBook it sounds mechanical. I did look of discharge between wires, etc but didn't see anything.

The pump turning on noise is sure interesting.

Kong, do you have a spark tester lead, something like this: http://www.cdielectronics.com/product/511-9764/ You plug one end into the spark plug cap and the other end clips to ground, OR, remove the clip and plug onto the spark plug. If not you should do what MAX suggests and plug in a spark plug to the plug lead and hold the plug to ground and check for spark and that noise. Personally I would not run the bike with no load on the coil(s). High voltage will look for a ground and can arc in the coil pack or out of it. Seen that on outboards a few times at my friend's shop. He uses the CDI leads I showed. I have some too.

Have you by any chance run the bike in the dark and looked for arcing?

[Kingkong_imp]

Lord popgun, from the diagram that Max sent and what i saw on the CB, it looks like sparkplug cap 1 and 4 come from the same solenoid and 2 and 3 come from a second. are these solenoids different? Stupid question but is sparkplug cap 3 different than 4 besides in shape? If i took out number 3 and put it in 4 would i be messing up something?

[Lord Popgun]

Kong, they are not solenoids, they are coils, or ignition coils. A solenoid is a device similar to, but not the same as, a relay. Google for more info if interested.

If you put plug wire 3 on spark plug 4 you will have the cylinder firing out of time. You know, not on the compression stroke. I would not do that. You could swap the coils and wires accordingly and see if the noise moves.

On our bikes, the system uses what is known as waste spark. In other words, when the number 1 cylinder fires on the compression stroke, the 4 fires on the exhaust stroke at the same time. That one is the waste. And vice versa. Same with cylinders 2 and 3. That's why we only have 2 coils instead of 4. One coil for 1 and 4 and one coil for 2 and 3.

There are others here that know a lot more about this than me. Hopefully PD or Sportsterdoc will chip in.

[Kingkong_imp]

thanks lord popgun. I really appreciate the correction, got it coils not solenoids. I am still learning all the technical words. Happy to know that there is a support group here.
I will wait to see if anyone has other ideas.
I've called two mechanics to see if they can take care of the issue but not a chance of finding a time slot before 2 weeks at least.

That being said, how many injectors are there on this bike? can the ticking be from an injector?

[Lord Popgun]

There is one injector per cylinder. So we have 4. The injectors do click but I don't think that is your noise. Why? Well because when you had the spark plug lead off I didn't hear the noise and yet the injectors were still working.

[Kingkong_imp]

understood! thanks

[Kingkong_imp]

Kingkong, it’s still showing as private. Perhaps get the new link from YouTube and repost it?

It’s now public
Thank you for your help

[zirconxi_imp]

The flapping sound, sound like its from cylinder cover, from these component (circled in red).
Maybe you can use a stethoscope to confirm the location.

Here we go.
https://youtu.be/NX57fpqvjPo

This should work. Thank you very much everyone i appreciate your help.
I put coil 1 on the 4th , the ticking is still there in the video.

Also there is that weird sound (like a zap) while the pump is turning on (injectors maybe?) , i haven't heard that sound in any videos of CBs. it's at 11 seconds, 1:50 ...

Thanks again.

Not sure about how to troubleshoot these "Reed valve comp." But I believe you can plug the hole (there's a rubber hose connected to these) to see if the sound change. If I remember correctly, its a waste gas management system. So shouldn't affect engine function.

[Guth_imp]

Electrical troubleshooting has never been one of my strongpoints. That said, just out of curiosity I would be inclined to swap plugs (not the leads) between cylinders 1 and 4 just to see whether or not this makes a difference. Have you inspected the #4 plug by chance?