By Anonymous (216.99.192.224) on Sunday, October 14, 2001 - 07:51 pm:

I've just pulled out my college day 1200 out of storage lately, and after many years of driving late model cars, I thought the engine seems to tick real loud, sort of sound like valves needs to be adjusted. I've checked and re-checked the valves and they are in spec. I am wondering if this is normal for all the 1200 engines.

My car has one of those smog pumps. I am wondering if the ticking noise is coming from the smog pump?

By the way, anyone know if this car is exempt under CA emission testing yet?

By Justin (24.69.255.202) on Sunday, October 14, 2001 - 07:59 pm:

It could be a knock in the bottom end...What year is your car??

Justin

By HondaKid (208.160.214.66) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 07:53 am:

The vavle guides will fall out check for loose ones.
Mine did!!!!

By HondaKid (208.160.214.66) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 07:54 am:

VALVE

By Todd (63.50.56.253) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 06:50 pm:

Check the cam pully bolt. Sometimes it works loose and the washer rattles.

By Anonymous (216.99.197.63) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 08:11 pm:

All,

I checked the cam, valves, and they all seemed fine. The tappet noise seems to subside after the engine warmed up. It just seems to be loud compare to a CVCC. I set the valve lash at 0.005 (factory spec is 0.004-0.006). The engine isn't 'knocking', but it just sounds like a real noisy sewing machine.

BTW, the year is 1978 and the car is totally stock.

By Jon (24.67.209.73) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 12:26 am:

Once when I had a ticking noise in my 1200 I pulled the Rockerarm assembly off and discovered that most of the oil pump drive gear on the cam had been worn away and that was making the ticking noise.

By Charles (152.91.9.43) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 03:40 pm:

Check timing belt tension, rocker pedestal tension, cam lobe wear, cam pulley bolt tension.

By electricks (203.62.158.132) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 07:21 pm:

ex.manifold cracks?

By errol (64.12.106.28) on Thursday, October 18, 2001 - 06:13 am:

Even the distributor? or a 'arcing' plug wire (but that wouldn't go away) Put some nail polish on the cam gear and some on the crank gear, and with it running, see if the rythem of the noise goes with the mark at the same time. I'd check under that oil pump drive gear cover like jon said

By Anonymous (128.243.220.25) on Thursday, October 18, 2001 - 08:29 am:

I Have the exact same problem!!!
I also have an engine in pieces after it siezed due to a sheared oil pump drive gear on the camshaft! (and due to my own stupidity...red oil light....probably just the pressure sensor I've been having problems with....not!!!!)
That engine is from a 78 civic too (EB3 engine, although all 3 engines have the same problem with oil pump drive gear going according to my mate at a Honda dealership)
The worrying thing is that the car I'm driving now has the same loud ticking (76 Eb2)!!
I'm goint to pull off the oil p drive gear cover before I drive home tonight just in case!

Blimey that's a long message...
Sorry for the anonymity, I'm currently anonymous 'cos Richard hasn't got back to me with a password yet.
The names John, and I have 2 78's and a 76, and as far as I know I'm the only mk1 Civic Nut in the U.K.!!

So, Anonymous, I reckon the above advice from Jon is sound...check the oil pump drive gear just in case..

By Justin (209.148.236.84) on Thursday, October 18, 2001 - 09:26 am:

Yo....you no longer need a password...Just enter your name in the "Username" and skip the password and then enter your Email address if you like...

Ps: the 78 i just picked up has a bottom end knock(only some of the time??)so i'm going with a 85 accord motor.

Justin

By BritCivic (128.243.220.45) on Friday, October 19, 2001 - 02:04 am:

Checked My drive gear it's fine, maybe I'll reset the tappets and look at the big ends....