Alternator chatter or is it the engine?
 

I have a very chattery engine. I just recently checked the valves and only had to adjust #5 exhaust. I thought the chattering was from the valves but now Im wondering if its from somewhere else. Is it possible for the Alternator to be making a chattering sound? It clears up as the engine warms up and goes away completely when the RPMs hit 3000 even if engine hasn't reached operating temp. If i were to remove the belt and start the engine, how bad would I screw things up? I just want to run the engine for about 10 seconds or so, without the alternator spinning.

Thanks,

Start the motor and run it for a few (under 20) seconds and you should not have any problems.

Get someone else to start it so you can stand in the back and listen, but time is money and do not let it run long...

Joe

True. Also, you can take a long screwdriver, a wooden dowel or just a stick and listen to various part of the engine by placing the end of the stick against the engine part, and placing the other end of the stick firmly against your ear.

As a suggestion, I recommend placing it against parts of the engine that are not moving.;)

thanks, ill give it a go tonight.

Superman...you gave me a really bad visual. I'm thinking i could have a friend of mine start the engine while i have my ear to a screw driver stuck up in the cooling fan...:D

Kemo. You know, just take off the fan belt and start it. You have plenty of time to get back there and listen without doing any damage. Of course, you wouldn't want to let it run for more than 30 seconds just to hear for yourself.

That's what I did. You'll probably find it's not the alternator as I did.

Chattering there, alternator not spinning--mine's coming from the injectors. I just have no idea WHY. It's a clicking from the injectors. It ain't valves, but it comes and goes. It's basically completely random. Sometimes I get clicking, other times not as much. Might be valves and probably is, but I can't adjust them any better than I already have.