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Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle

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Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#1
  This topic is about my 1978 MG MGB
Darrelljb Darrell Baldwin
Cambridge, England, UK   GBR
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1978 MG MGB
Hi,

I'm getting an intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle. I've set the tappets and all seemed ok. The noise comes and goes. I cant hear it at higher revs due to general engine noise.

Any ideas what it might be please and should i be concerned?

Thx

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#2
mg rob uk Avatar
mg rob uk ROB D
OKEHAMPTON, DEVON, UK   GBR
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1972 MG MGB
Look in the dark ,maybe a spark jumping/shorting. ive had it happen on the coil on different cars ,sometimes dirt causes it, but once a spark starts tracking on the bakelite its hard to stop,

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#3
bencii Silver Member Ben Colpitts
Eden Prairie, MN, USA   USA
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1966 MG MGB
1973 MG MGB
You can also use a spray bottle and spray plug wires. If the wires are going bad you'll see blue sparks. Is there an engine fire miss with the tick. Some times a stethoscope can help locate the source. Remove belt and see if noise goes away.


Ben
1966 MGB Tourer
1973 MGB Tourer

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#4
ghnl Avatar
ghnl Eric Russell
Mebane, NC, USA   USA
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1961 MG MGA "Calvin"
Sometimes an exhaust leak will make a ticking sound. Use a length of heater hose as a stethoscope to narrow down the source. It won't amplify the sound but with one end aimed at potential sources and your ear at the other end, when you get close the sound will be more evident.

Also, worn rockers can make it difficult to set clearances. If the rocker tip is worn your feeler gauge might be bridging the wear.

See: https://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/ch200.htm


Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1961 MGA #61, 1̶9̶8̶1̶ ̶A̶l̶f̶a̶ ̶R̶o̶m̶e̶o̶ ̶G̶T̶V̶6̶, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#5
Mitchman2 Avatar
Mitchman2 Mitchell Andrus
Mills River, NC, USA   USA
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I had an intermittent ticking sound when I put the
second MGA on the road.
It was a small wrench on the frame bouncing joyously on the lower pulley.

Immense relief followed that discovery.


The Flat Earth Society has members from all corners of the globe.


'53 XK120SE OTS
'58 MGA roadster
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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#6
NOHOME P P
O, ON, Canada   CAN
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1967 MG MGB GT "Maggie (GT From Hell)"
An often overlooked source of noise can be a worn rocker shaft. Easy enough to move a rocker over against the locating spring and check for wear under the shaft ( the shaft only wears on the bottom)

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#7
MGBGM1977 Avatar
MGBGM1977 Anthony Piper
Heaven in the woods, FL, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB
1977 MG MGB V6 Conversion
He said it was a wrench.

In reply to # 5043170 by NOHOME An often overlooked source of noise can be a worn rocker shaft. Easy enough to move a rocker over against the locating spring and check for wear under the shaft ( the shaft only wears on the bottom)

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#8
bencii Silver Member Ben Colpitts
Eden Prairie, MN, USA   USA
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1966 MG MGB
1973 MG MGB
That was not the OP, just someone else telling us about a similar experience.

In reply to # 5043229 by MGBGM1977 He said it was a wrench.

In reply to # 5043170 by NOHOME An often overlooked source of noise can be a worn rocker shaft. Easy enough to move a rocker over against the locating spring and check for wear under the shaft ( the shaft only wears on the bottom)


Ben
1966 MGB Tourer
1973 MGB Tourer

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#9
ghnl Avatar
ghnl Eric Russell
Mebane, NC, USA   USA
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1961 MG MGA "Calvin"
https://youtube.com/shorts/LONT1oboJrs?si=X4LiQ6rowqF_02hP


Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1961 MGA #61, 1̶9̶8̶1̶ ̶A̶l̶f̶a̶ ̶R̶o̶m̶e̶o̶ ̶G̶T̶V̶6̶, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

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Re: Intermittent ticking noise from engine at idle
#10
MGBGM1977 Avatar
MGBGM1977 Anthony Piper
Heaven in the woods, FL, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB
1977 MG MGB V6 Conversion
Woops, I missed that. I am OLD and BLONDE after all.

In reply to # 5043255 by bencii That was not the OP, just someone else telling us about a similar experience.

In reply to # 5043229 by MGBGM1977 He said it was a wrench.

In reply to # 5043170 by NOHOME An often overlooked source of noise can be a worn rocker shaft. Easy enough to move a rocker over against the locating spring and check for wear under the shaft ( the shaft only wears on the bottom)

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