Poll: Exhaust Leak or Valve? Or???

[Bicykiller]

Hello all, trying to diagnose a sound.

Watch video below for the sound. I can't tell if it's exhaust leak or a valve. I checked all my valves on the 123 side and they seem within spec. Gaskets from the heat exchanger to the muffler are all new. There is a lot of exhaust coming from the heat exchanger, I can feel it with my hand near the rear wheel. The head studs are all tight, no missing bolts or anything strange, but the heat exchanger has some play in it when I push it upward with my hand.
Let me know your thoughts before I pop of the valve covers again!

https://vimeo.com/401981646/031b1b90c2

[proporsche]

sounds like a broken Valve spring to me...
Ivan

[Bicykiller]

Originally Posted by proporsche

sounds like a broken Valve spring to me...
Ivan

Gah! I replaced a #6 broken valve spring about a year ago.... any other signs that it may be a valve spring?

[proporsche]

well? how many miles on the engine it self? Next. does it make sounds like this. cold..if yes it is your valve spring....
ivan

[Bicykiller]

Originally Posted by proporsche

well? how many miles on the engine it self? Next. does it make sounds like this. cold..if yes it is your valve spring....
ivan

95k, yes when cold, more pronounced when warm

[Bicykiller]

I visually checked the springs but it’s really hard to tell unless it’s really askew.. and tricks to finding which spring it could be?

[fred cook]

The cylinder that has the broken spring is likely not getting or holding a proper charge, thus making less power. Try pulling one plug wire at a time and see if there is one cylinder that changes the idle the least. Pulling a plug wire on a strong cylinder will/should affect the idle noticeably. Or, do a compression check to see if one cylinder is making less pressure than the others. Good luck.

[Eagledriver]

Easy to find the broken spring. Try to push the valve open by hand. Use a block of wood. If you can open it, the spring is broken. You should also be able to see it.

-Andy

[Eagledriver]

Originally Posted by fred cook

The cylinder that has the broken spring is likely not getting or holding a proper charge, thus making less power. Try pulling one plug wire at a time and see if there is one cylinder that changes the idle the least. Pulling a plug wire on a strong cylinder will/should affect the idle noticeably. Or, do a compression check to see if one cylinder is making less pressure than the others. Good luck.

This is not correct. The engine will run normally until about 6000 RPM. Above that it will make a funny raspy sound.

-Andy

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by Bicykiller

I visually checked the springs but it’s really hard to tell unless it’s really askew.. and tricks to finding which spring it could be?

Use P7E & P7I valve spring tools to remove and install the valve springs. You can also do a leakdown test without the springs installed. Stop guessing.



Tony

[proporsche]

do not run the engine..is my answer.....it is the left side so remove the valve covers ..1st the top -without draining the oil- and if you push on each valve spring by hand ..usually the large spring goes 1st...if you do not find any soft spring then just drain the engine case and remove the the left side of exhaust valve cover then do the same ..it help to set each cylinder to the mark so they will be closed...As Tony said use those tools....
Ivan

[Bicykiller]

Amazing responses and tips! I have the P7I from when I did the #6 intake. When I found that one, both inner and outer springs were broken so it was really easy to push down by hand even. I’ll use some wood and pray it’s an intake spring
I still have nightmares about getting those keepers in!

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by Bicykiller

Amazing responses and tips! I have the P7I from when I did the #6 intake. When I found that one, both inner and outer springs were broken so it was really easy to push down by hand even. I’ll use some wood and pray it’s an intake spring
I still have nightmares about getting those keepers in!

Use a magnetic pick-up tool when you depressed the valve springs and keep the valve keepers in place. You need P7E for the exhaust valves. And apply some grease on the keepers to install.

Tony

[proporsche]

for the keepers halfmoon spacers,i always used a little Bosch grease on my finger and i pushed it in by hand

Ivan

[Knight77911]

My 3.2 L sounds exactly like this. Guess I know what I've got to do next.

[Bicykiller]

Originally Posted by proporsche

for the keepers halfmoon spacers,i always used a little Bosch grease on my finger and i pushed it in by hand

I dropped one into the engine on first attempt. Cussed so loud my wife came out to see if I was ok. After I collected my thoughts, I found it real easily by removing the bottom valve cover. There it was! Just hanging out! Opened a beer right then to celebrate!

[proporsche]

bicy..funny guy;-)))good thinking....

[Bicykiller]

Well Ivan, check the video link below! I think I’ve determined #2 intake is broken. #1 was immovable, #2 has some resistance so I’m guessing the outer only is broken... removing everything now, will report back.

https://vimeo.com/402782124/77ad281756

[Walt Fricke]

Here is a simple tool (courtesy of Wil Ferch)you can make to test springs. You don't need to have fingers of steel for this, and the difference between good springs and one with one of the coils broken is very obvious.

[proporsche]

Yup, that looks like a culprit....

Walt ...nice werkzeug;-)

Ivan