Hi all, as the titles states there is a chirping noise coming frome around my rocker cover or side of the engine. It sounds like it squeaks on each turn (stroke) of the engine and it only comes from one side. Wound anyone have any ideas? Oh yeah, it's a type1 1915 .

Hmm... louder above or below the engine ???

If louder from above then I'd say intake manifold leak (check they're tight, boots are good etc.). If you've got twins check that the carb on that side doesn't wobble at all - sign of a loose or possibly even cracked manifold.

If louder from below it's something a bit more serious... like possibly a rocker issue.

Thanks Sides, it's really hard to pinpoint the area it's coming from. Say it was the rockers, what could it be?

Pushrod scraping the inside of the Pushrod tube? Also check the pulley tin, that makes a chirping sound if it's bent and touching the pulley.

Pushrod tube is something that was thrown around, it's interesting you said that. Cheers for your input.

haha, positive it isn't a little bird stuck down there?

Haha, I heard somewhere that a finch will give you an extra 5hp at the wheels.

Could be a loose head, turn the engine over without the ignition connected and have some one listen to that side of the engine. the noise is comming from that area.

We had a funny higher-pitched chirp from one side of a standard 1600 type 1 engine once. It turned out to be one of the WAVEY washers being broken across in the middle. This was impossible to find just by looking, as it all stays in place. There is a standard washer, then the wavey one, then a standard one (between the rocker arm and the spacer or block-thingy). If you grab each rocker arm and wobble it sideways, Left to right... if one moves, the wavey washer next to it may be broken. You may need the rocker arm to be loose to check this, ie. not pushing the valve down (just turn the engine over a bit). This assumes you have the standard-type rocker setup.

If the noise is louder at idle or engine over-run, it'll be an inlet manifold leak or loose head, most likely manifold unless it has an unusually fitted head gasket.

Yeah, rocker wise I was thinking around issues with the washers... too much side play is a clack, and I've heard too little give a squeak/squeal.

My money is on it being a manifold leak tho...

Thanks guys for the useful info, its now a process of elimination. It seems to be most prominent at idle, not so much above 2.5 grand.

The biggest question though, is would I get down to Valla and back?

If it's an inlet manifold leak, you must fix it before driving ANY distance. Running lean will cause engine damage.

Thats all I need to know, Im working the next two Saturday and Sunday's which means no days off till Valla .
Im going into the shed right now.

SUCCESS.
It was the intake manifold(Weber IDF) . It seemed quite ridged to the touch, but it was the rear nut that was
one turn off being tight.
Thanks for the advice, good peoples.

Nice work - good you got it sorted.

Do Matt and I score a prize for picking it ???