i've got a ticking noise from my '06 ds pretty worried

[2006ds650xrider]

Hello all i was riding the ds last weekend and noticed a ticking noise. Now i know what noises my bike makes and this is new. I took it out again this weekend and it was getting louder so i put her away early and broke out my 03 articat 400 4x4 for the rest of the weekend.

the bike is stock with a k&n and a 15t sproket
It sounds like valves but im not sure, they have never been adjusted. im guessing the bike has 2000miles. i also dont remember when the valves are supposed to be adjusted.
i dont know what could cause this?

i think im also having a problem with the fuel system. i have ran out of fuel twice recently and looked in the gas tank and there is still plenty of gas. i had to click it over to reserve and it started fine. am i just not realizing that im riding that much or is it a problem?

thanks
brent

[KaylasDaddy]

its never a bad idea to check your valves for clearance regularly. usually the valves wear tight but i'm not a mechanic & this is what i was told. as for the fuel part.. pull the petcock out of the tank & check the screen & make sure there is nothing in the tank or the valve.

[NickDS650]

The reserve on the DS is set very high, i keep mine on reserve all the time because you could still have what looks like half a tank lol, and i think your supposed to adjust your valves every year if you ride alot

[McKay5858]

Pretty sure its once a year on the valves, as for the ticking i'd check your cam chain tensioner. It only takes a second to pull out. Big 22mm bolt on the back left side of the engine.

[DragonDJ11]

Originally Posted by McKay5858

Pretty sure its once a year on the valves, as for the ticking i'd check your cam chain tensioner. It only takes a second to pull out. Big 22mm bolt on the back left side of the engine.

That would be my guess. You pull that part out, and you should be able to squeez it shut and it open right back. If it is stuck open or closed, that is the problem. If not, it could be the valves, and a good chance they are clipping lightly on the piston. Even if it is the tensioner, it would be good to check the valves anyway. Better safe and all that

As for fuel, they are right. You can still see plenty of fuel and be out on the on. I have gone almost the same distance on reserve as I have with it on. The nice thing about that is, if you turn around when you have to switch to reserve, you can always get back to camp

[MRDS650]

I would also bet on the tensioner. I have had a few fail over the years. I know keep a spare one in the tool box at home !!

[2006ds650xrider]

hey thanks for the help you guys im going to tear into it this weekend. do any of you know what the clearance on the valves are and are the intake and exhaust different.
i was not aware the motor was an interferance engine, are there any atv engines that aren't interferance?
it sounds like the cam chain tensioner would be a fairly easy fix though.

as for the fuel from what ive read i have to take the tank out to get to the valves so i will go ahead and check that out to.

[Forcefed]

I`ve never had a tensioner go bad - 9 years and counting. Yes, when removed, they can appear to be "stuck" at full length - but they aren`t.
It is just a spring and a check ball.
Use a small sharp tool to depress the checkball while squeezing the tensioner & your back in business.
It will fill itself with oil once the engine fires.

[2006ds650xrider]

well i went down to my dealer and they charge 85 bucks an hour and the mechanic said it would be about 2 hours plus parts and i dont have that kind of cash right now.
so does anyone know where i can get a good shop manual for my 06 ds for cheap.

[2006ds650xrider]

ok so i finally had some spare time to remove the tensioner, and as force fed said it appeard to be stuck at full length but after i drained the oil it worked fine. so my question is when it fill back up with oil will it be "stuck" again.