Anji,
Good to hear from you again. Almost a guarantee that you would win Best Picture 2011 with the bike in front of the Taj Mahal, or one of the other exotic locations (from the viewpoint of the American midwest) to which you tour. Yes, it is a fantistic looking bike, but what exactly did you not like about the pre-resoration version?
Regarding the valve noise, it occurs to me that if it were simply oil starvation, the noise would occur right at startup, having already been starved at the previous shutdown. It would be interesting and important to pinpoint the origin of the noise. Have you tried a noise probe between the engine and your ear? I use a long 3/8" ratchet extension with the male end closing my ear by pressing against the tab of cartilage that you would press if you were closing them with your fingers. The other end is then touched to vaious points on the engine. The ability to discern noise localization this way is amazing versus just pointing your nose in the general direction.
Richard L.
Hi Richard
Thanks for the compliment. The reason the Flash was in this condition pre rest is that my son thrashed the bike for 4 years, then set it on fire & left it out in the Mumbai monsoons for 15 years !!!! So, although we liked seeing her standing around looking sad, we decided to do something & ended up with her looking kike this !!
I have tried using a screw driver as a stethoscope & pinpointed the sound at the rocker box.Shes very silent for the first 5 mts & then the noise starts. May strip down the rocker box again to check the rocker gap on spindle as both the spindle & rockers are old.
Anji