Hi Rob, Yeah that's a good idea, problem is I don;t have any hard handle screw drivers, all rubber ends that don't transmit any sound. Stethoscope don;t have.

I just rocked the crank back and forth and I can hear a bit of play so I'm guessing it's the input shaft? is that what it's called? I'm removing the gearbox now and I'll start the engine to see if the sound still exists, I'm confident all the bolts were torqued up nicely so I'm praying it isn't something that has come loose.

But I'm also thinking that you may be right, might be a little paranoia there and I could be hearing things.

I,m a bit old and deaf but i can,t hear anything other than normal mechanical noises,try getting a long screw driver(or stethoscope)put it to your ear and move the blade(touching)along the head and rocker gear with the engine running,but watch the moving parts and try and isolate the epecentre of the noise you hear.

That's it!! I'm pulling it ALL apart!

Haha. I'll take the gearbox off and have a look, if that's no good I'll pull the motor out and have a look at how it's all going anyway.

Here is the video, please note the sounds is actually louder than it is, I think the frequency range of the mic on my camera is pretty limited so it seems to pick it up quite well, I sorta used it to locate the note because I can't hear much in there.

Comp test was fine by the way, all cylinders have good compression.

Do you agree that the sound is louder when I move the camera toward the rear?

http://www.youtube.com/v/RWiFbuKuDjM?

Would the grade of oil make that much difference?

Umm I think it's Shell 20W-50..... is that wrong?

what engine oil are you running?

Bah!

Replaced the rocker assembly and the noise is still there. The valve train is somewhat quiter though and one of the arms was very tight, very, very tight.

I'm thinking it is something to do with the clutch assembly or gearbox, the sounds noticeable throughout the early rev range and then it disappears in the higher revs, when dropping the revs steadily you can hear it (the sound) coming and going, a further drop in the revs will see the sound come back.

I am thinking it is the clutch or flywheel or the gearbox input shaft or something around that area. The sound coming and going at different revs makes me think it is something rotational.

I am just about to upload some videos. Tell me what you think...... please don't tell me a loose conrod or main cap! (by the way there are no noticeable vibrations).

Cracked or broken guide can make this type of noise,i,ve had 2 break on different heads in recent times.

i just sold a set of rockers and towers to a guy that said his motor had i ticking noise after he got the head rebuilt ,turned out when he put the head back on one of the rockers didnt get any oil and caused it to wear down the bush in the rocker

it was realy sloppy on the rocker shaft and that made the ticking noise

That's dodgy!

I don't care how "interested" you are in a car, you don't pull the cover off to have a look if it ain't yours.

Best you sleep in that one with a F'off big whacking stick in hand!