So my '99 Dr350se is at it again... Giving me more headaches and costing me more money. But that's just the way it is... Recently it's developed a reasonably loud ticking noise coming from somewhere aroun the top of the head (says my ears...). It gets louder the higher I rev the engine, and a bit faster too. I know the cam sprocket and can chain are up there where it's coming from so is it something to do with that? Is my cam chain loose? What do I do to diagnose/fix this? I've never worked on a cam/cam chain, let alone even touched one. But i'm confident I can learn.

my 99 was making cam chain noise as well.
pulled off the clutch cover & the primary drive nut was loose.

plugeye, on 24 May 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

Oh... I honestly don't know what the primary drive but is hahahahaha. But I'm assuming it shouldn't be loose. Is it as simple as draining the oil (or maybe laying the bike on the left side and not draining my fresh oil?), taking off the clutch cover and checking the nut?

plugeye, on 24 May 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

Great advice man! Thanks. I don't know yet if the noise is gone but my nut was half off and I touched it and it spun, literally THAT loose. I'll fix that now.

Any other ideas guys? How to I adjust the cam chain?

do you have a manual? download here: http://www.thisoldtr...anual_dr350.pdf
you will need:
possibly a new clutch cover gasket
2 new 8mm crush washers for oil banjo fitting
4 new sealing washers for clutch cable bracket screws

the cam chain adjuster is automatic.

plugeye, on 10 June 2012 - 05:30 AM, said:

Yeah I do have the manual thanks. What do I need the washers and seals for? If the adjuster is automatic why am I removing the clutch cover?

Jhawins, on 10 June 2012 - 07:55 AM, said:

how else would know the primary drive nut was loose? its accessed through the clutch cover, you'll need to clean the threads & loctite it

plugeye, on 10 June 2012 - 09:25 AM, said:

Yeah I know, I didn't bother with new seals, I will later but nothing is leaking now. I already checked and fixed the primary drive. Any other ideas for my weird noise? Valves maybe?

yeah, set the valve clearance at least

plugeye, on 11 June 2012 - 05:24 PM, said:

Well I finally got around to the valves, I had no clearance at all on the INs, EXs were spot on. Hopefully I see a good increase in power tomorrow.

Problem is the ticking noise is still there. Does anyone have any other ideas?? Does the cam chain stretch and need replaced like the drive chain?? Can I check it easily? I need help.

Could I have a bent/distorted valve? Or something along the line of valves still? I only adjusted the clearance I didn't take everything apart..