there's no question it is a tick. It is also a regular non chaotic sort of noise, by that I mean that you hear the tick every say half second not all at once clattering and random but a steady tick tick tick tick, as if one cylinder (or lifter) is doing something weird. But... If I take off the valve cover will I be able to determine whether it is a chain or a lifter? I'll do a search but what do people look at when they look at the chain for signs of age and stretching? and the same for the lifters.

Thanks for the help,
CDT

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2002suzukiGSF600S
1985 190e 2.3