Engine noises and analog machine sequences

Hi guys, long time lurker here.

Curious if any of you seasoned veterans have ever come across a way to record mechanical/engine/motor noises? I work around old diesel engines, and on top of the low rumble they have small repetitive ticking noises that loop due to whatever small mechanical devices are moving inside. It’s truly analog noise haha. Anyway, sometimes the beats are amazing; in everything from refrigerators to diesel engines, and I’m trying to think of a way to capture these sequenced ticks without overwhelming the microphone with the sheer amplitude and bass frequencies of the motors they are part of. Hopefully this makes sense. Cheers