Cummins Marine Diesel Repower Specialists Forums Cummins Marine Engines Rattling or Ticking Noise 6CTA (450 Diamond)

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  • #79483

    Steve
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Shenanigans
    Engines: 6CTA-8.3M (Diamond 450)
    Location: Baltimore, MD
    Country: USA

    My starboard engine has been running well. Actually, both have. No complaints with power, performance, or anything. However, when in the engine room today I began hearing a rattle or “ticking” sound. I looked around the engine itself and I didn’t see anything external that is loose that could be causing the rattle sound. So, naturally, I’m imagining the worst … valves. Can anyone offer a rough diagnosis from a video?

    https://youtu.be/a0EK_MbH708

    Thanks,
    Steve

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • #79840

    Steve
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Shenanigans
    Engines: 6CTA-8.3M (Diamond 450)
    Location: Baltimore, MD
    Country: USA

    “anal” about valve adjustments, getting them every 100 hours or so

    Well that’s a new one! Did he change his oil after every run? – just kidding but you get my drift….

    Rob, it’s no joke. We’ve all heard about the previous owner that maintained his boat “with an open checkbook”. Well, mine did. Not always necessary, but he did. I’m the grateful recipient! As it turns out, this was a total non-issue. The engine is running great. The rattling I heard was not the valves at all but a loose lower bolt on the oil filter bracket. It was intermittent and didn’t rattle all the time and sometimes disappeared with increased RPM. And it wasn’t so loose that you’d feel it if you touched the filter. But that’s what it was. I feel I could have found this, so I’m a little humbled by this. And annoyed – I think I would have found this in another month when I changed my oil! Oh well, I got to chat with the tech about my tachs (he verified they were spot on – which means I need a slight re-propping) and we discussed changing the oil pressure sensor on the port engine (ugh) and winterization. But no problems with the valves or the innards of the engine. Whew!

    #79698

    Rob Schepis
    Forum Moderator
    Vessel Name: Tenacious
    Engines: 6BTA 5.9 330's - "Seaboard Style"
    Location: Long Island, NY
    Country: USA

    “anal” about valve adjustments, getting them every 100 hours or so

    Well that’s a new one! Did he change his oil after every run? – just kidding but you get my drift….

    #79683

    Steve
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Shenanigans
    Engines: 6CTA-8.3M (Diamond 450)
    Location: Baltimore, MD
    Country: USA

    Could I ask you to Please close the thread On any findings, as I and others are interested, I hope my ticking is normal and haven’t been letting this ride for such a long time.

    Paul,

    I absolutely will update here. I have a tech coming Friday to look at it. And these techs know the boat well. They know the prev owner well, too. So well, in fact, that they remembered the PO as being “anal” about valve adjustments, getting them every 100 hours or so. So I’m hopeful it’s nothing significant. Like Tony said, it may just he how these engines sound! But yes, I’ll definitely update here …

    Steve

    #79676

    Paul Hampton
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Phantom 1
    Engines: Cummins 6CTA-M3
    Location: UK
    Country: England

    Fuel pump

    Steve,
    I have similar ticking noise, I’ve had it since day one of getting to boat In 2009 on 50hrs, I now have 2520Hrs of faultless Recreational running. This was achieved I’m sure with the advice given from Tony, Paul Foulston in the early days via BD

    I have done valve lash several times throughout, but always thought it was a normal noise coming from the fuel pump.

    Could I ask you to Please close the thread On any findings, as I and others are interested, I hope my ticking is normal and haven’t been letting this ride for such a long time.

    Best of luck
    Regards
    Paul

    #79549

    Steve
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Shenanigans
    Engines: 6CTA-8.3M (Diamond 450)
    Location: Baltimore, MD
    Country: USA

    Thanks, guys. I’ll take a look around the engine room. I didn’t notice any soot down there recently but I’ll look more carefully. The boat was surveyed in March (when I bought it) and the exhausts were all in good shape then. But it can’t hurt to check.

    As to the questions by Phil:

    Howw many hours on the engine? 1400

    What’s the service history? Pretty solid. Had the 1000 hour service done, valves adjusted aft least once. A few injectors replaced along the way.

    Did you do any service recently? No.

    Have you removed the air cleaner in inspected the intake of the turbo for Damage? Not yet.

    Any dust from around the bell housing, transmission bottom? Not that I noticed

    Any signs of a leak under the raw water pump showing bearings starting to go? No. Rather dry bilge.

    Ever taken off the fan belt and spun everything to see if they are smooth and or do they wobble? No

    Any signs of leakage from the coolant circulating pump? Nope

    Ever changed the belt tensioner? I haven’t. I’d have to check the service records (I have them, I’m only the second owner) to see if that’s been done.

    Does the ticking go away or change when in gear? Unsure

    You can go around with a big screwdriver and use it like a stethoscope to try and narrow down the ticking location. Good idea.

    When was the last time the aftercooler was serviced and how was it serviced? 2017. It’s due to be done again this off season. I believe it was taken off and cleaned, by Cummins certified techs.

    #79531

    Tony Athens
    Moderator
    Vessel Name: Local Banks
    Engines: QSB 6.7 550 HP
    Location: Oxnard, CA
    Country: USA

    That would simple to diagnose– Exhaust soot sticks to cold surfaces– HEAT-X END CAPS, and also gets sucked in through the back of the alternator..

    Tony

    #79500

    JJM
    Participant
    Engines: Cummins 480 CE
    Location: CT
    Country: United States

    Hard to tell from the video but to me sounds like might be a exhaust manifold leak based on the frequency of the “tapping”

    #79487

    Tony Athens
    Moderator
    Vessel Name: Local Banks
    Engines: QSB 6.7 550 HP
    Location: Oxnard, CA
    Country: USA

    450 Ticking Noise

    Steve,

    To be honest, I do not hear anything odd, but who knows as you are there and I am here..All of these engines with the inline pumps are very “ticky” if that’s a word for it..

    I’d run thru the valves just to be sure and go from there..

    Tony

    #79486

    Philip
    Participant
    Vessel Name: 2007 35’ Cabo ‘FUGA’
    Engines: Cummins QSC8.3-540’s
    Location: Long Beach, CA

    Pretty hard to figure anything out from the video by my ears.

    How many hours on the engine?

    What’s the service history?

    Did you do any service recently?

    Have you removed the air cleaner in inspected the intake of the turbo for Damage?

    Any dust from around the bell housing, transmission bottom?

    Any signs of a leak under the raw water pump showing bearings starting to go?

    Ever taken off the fan belt and spun everything to see if they are smooth and or do they wobble?

    Any signs of leakage from the coolant circulating pump?

    Ever changed the belt tensioner?

    Does the ticking go away or change when in gear?

    You can go around with a big screwdriver and use it like a stethoscope to try and narrow down the ticking location.

    When was the last time the aftercooler was serviced and how was it serviced?

    Phil

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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