my 86 has an interesting pinging rattling noise that comes from what sounds like the front of the motor. I am wondering if there is an easy way to check to see if its the timing chain with out having to pull off the rocker cover or the front of the motor

thanks

 

You can't really inspect the timing chain with out physically seeing it with that being said taking off the valve cover isn't too difficult. If its a 22r its even easier. Just take off the air filter housing, take off the accelerator cable from the carb by pushing the throttle wide open and pull the cable and guide it out of the hole, then take off the bracket for the accelerator cable, after that you can get to the 4 bolts. All of the bolts your taking off should be 12 mm. Once the cover is off check if the chain is loose, and/or if the chain guide has broken off and check if it has been rubbing on the timing cover. If it is then you can search for a thread on how to replace the guides their are a lot of threads on here concerning that.