Noisy Engine

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stryg8r

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Location
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My bikes been a little noisy since last summer. Just off idle the noise would stop and it wasn't noisy all the time. It's steadily become louder and more consistent. Thought I'd wait until after the winter valve check/adjustment and see if it quieted down.

It didn't. After reading the 'Curse of Odot' https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=116017 I decided it was time to have the local shop take a listen.

What do you guys think?



 
Take the plug out of the cam chain tesioner and tighten it up a little at idle and see if the noise goes away. If it does order up a tensioner and warm up your vocabulary cause you will need it to change the tensioner.

 
Sounds to me like a loose cam chain. It's easy enough to take the bolt out from the end of the tensioner and use a long thin screwdriver to gently add a little tension. If that quiets it down then you have your answer.

Oops, looks like Rad and FJRay both type faster than me.

 
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Let me tell you how familiar that sound is.....

Now, multiply by 100 and start pricing new valves and a head.

Seriously, put a little tension on the chain, but REMEMBER TO TURN THE SCREW COUNTER CLOCKWISE!!!

Some might recommend doing it with the engine running. I wouldn't. Just remove the cap screw on the CCT, get a long, narrow-bladed screw driver, stick it in the hole where the cap bolt was removed, carefully "feel" for the adjustment slot. It's not a screw...it's a wide, deep slot in the plunger body, so it's easy to "feel" and locate. Then, using ONLY your thumb and forefinger, turn the screwdriver COUNTER CLOCKWISE until you feel some resistance. STOP!!! GO NO FURTHER!!! DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN!! All you want to do is extend the CCT plunger enough to snug up the chain.

Start the bike and listen. Is it quieter? If it is, go ride and enjoy AFTER you've ordered a new camchain tensioner.

Now this is important....is it still noisy? If it is, shut the motor off NOW, give the adjustment screw a touch more COUNTER CLOCKWISE twist...just a little.

Start the bike back up....is it STILL noisy? Shut it down immediately, PUSH the bike back into the garage, give your wife/brother/sister/mother/priest your keys and tell them to NOT give them back to you until you've replaced your CCT. You do not want to discover how easily the hyvo can jump the crank sprocket.

I'm dead serious. Your CCT is already at the end of its useful life when the noise starts and requires a manual adjustment. There's not enough tension left in the extension spring to do the job. You can quiet it down some by adding tension with a CCW twist of the plunger, BUT, if there's not enough tension to keep it quiet, then there's not enough tension to keep the plunger from possibly backing out and ruining your day.

Trust me...you DO NOT want to go where I've gone with a poorly-, or non-functioning cam chain tensioner.

(I'm VERY paranoid about this, so forgive me)

IGNORE THIS NOISE AT RISK OF YOUR POCKETBOOK, RIDING SEASON AND SANITY!

Okay, the rest of you guys...honestly...am I being too paranoid?

 
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Okay, the rest of you guys...honestly...am I being too paranoid?
Considering the sound on the recording...no, you're not too paranoid. It's unlikely the CCT will just give up the ghost enough to cause PID (permanent irreparable damage) in the time it takes him to order and replace the CCT. But considering just how bad it will be if it DOES give up the ghost, I see no reason not to push it into the garage and get a new tensioner on order.

 
OK, ok, I'm ready to face it

My routine to go riding is to half gear up with shirt, riding pants, boots, program GPS, bluetooth pair to cell phone and helmet headset, load needs in trunk and side bags, set MP3 and plug in

Open garage door and crank up bike, back bike into driveway and let idle away

Gear up with riding jacket, doo rag, helmet, glasses, gloves, turn off garage light, pull down garage door, mount up

In the 3-5 minutes I let the Feej warm up, usually the fan comes on; shortly after the fan comes on, I hear a "light" sound of marbles rolling around the can at idle - bike has 85k miles now 2004 Gen I

This is noticed only in the last 5k miles or so since last oil change at 80k, I believe

That is the ONLY time I hear this sound all day, but it's consistently noticed pretty much every morning I take it ridin'

Sounds like (Ion and Howie are welcome to jump on this) I need to do something about it

Valves were checked at 55k I believe. I do my own periodic maintenance and "simple" stuff including farkles, but not engine work or stuff that require more than hand tools.

Also, I don't know if I can trust the two local Yammy dealerships which are Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris dealerships and have yet to use either of them for bike purchases or shop work.

I'd have a shop do the valve adjustment and replacement of cam chain and tensioner and with 80k miles, it's probably a real good idea. Comments, advice, shit stirrin', etc are welcome

maybe should get on this before SFO where I'll put 1800 miles on her

contemplating eating PBJ sandwhiches for a month to fund bike maintenance

Mike in Nawlins

 
Okay, the rest of you guys...honestly...am I being too paranoid?
Perspective I guess, I would say not paranoid enough. Why even start the thing, just order up the new tensioner. It's cheap and it's not that hard to put in. If that chain skips a tooth when you are trying to diagnose it, well you know.

 
Let me tell you how familiar that sound is.....

IGNORE THIS NOISE AT RISK OF YOUR POCKETBOOK, RIDING SEASON AND SANITY!

Okay, the rest of you guys...honestly...am I being too paranoid?
Paranoid? Considering what you've experienced I'd say hell no. I do all my own maintenance, but your post got me thinking I wanted this documented just in case I had a similar failure. After I adjusted my valves this winter the CCT didn't extend like it usually does and required some persuasion. That along with the noise and your post put the fear of CCCTF in me!

I took it to the shop last Monday and they agreed it's probably the CCT. One was ordered and arrived today. I take the bike back to the shop on Tuesday to get it replaced....all covered by YES.

 
Let me tell you how familiar that sound is.....

IGNORE THIS NOISE AT RISK OF YOUR POCKETBOOK, RIDING SEASON AND SANITY!

Okay, the rest of you guys...honestly...am I being too paranoid?
Paranoid? Considering what you've experienced I'd say hell no. I do all my own maintenance, but your post got me thinking I wanted this documented just in case I had a similar failure. After I adjusted my valves this winter the CCT didn't extend like it usually does and required some persuasion. That along with the noise and your post put the fear of CCCTF in me!

I took it to the shop last Monday and they agreed it's probably the CCT. One was ordered and arrived today. I take the bike back to the shop on Tuesday to get it replaced....all covered by YES.
Cheap insurance. Then again, what's the worst that could happen? :glare:
 
Some of the more recently designed bikes I've read about use oil pressure in addition to a spring ratcheting system to adjust the cam chain tension.

 
After I adjusted my valves this winter the CCT didn't extend like it usually does and required some persuasion.
With what I've learned in the past few weeks, that ^^^^ is the Kiss of Death, if you ask me.

Frankly, unless it quieted down some with a quick twist of the plunger, I wouldn't even drive it to the dealer. I'd trailer it.

 
Sounds like (Ion and Howie are welcome to jump on this) I need to do something about it.
I concur. Remember the Fram campaign from the 70s? "You can pay me now....or you can pay me later."

I'd have a shop do the valve adjustment and replacement of cam chain and tensioner and with 80k miles, it's probably a real good idea. Comments, advice, shit stirrin', etc are welcome.
80K??? Yep...I'd R&R the chain & tensioner, since you're hearing the rattle. No argument here.

contemplating eating PBJ sandwhiches for a month to fund bike maintenance
Beats the alternative of eating Ramen noodles for a year to fund bike REPAIR. :angry:

 
Don't listen to Howie, he's paranoid.. Just run til something breaks :blink: Thats what I'm gonna do..........

:jester:

 
Don't listen to Howie, he's paranoid.. Just run til something breaks :blink: Thats what I'm gonna do..........
:jester:
'scuse me, Mister Nut.....would you mind trying this on for size?

187px-Hangmans_Noose.jpg


 
Don't listen to Howie, he's paranoid.. Just run til something breaks :blink: Thats what I'm gonna do..........
:jester:
'scuse me, Mister Nut.....would you mind trying this on for size?

187px-Hangmans_Noose.jpg

Send it back gurly boy.. To small to fit over my nutsack..

Dweeb..

:jester:
The one in the missus' lockbox???

2234507979_7ef27396c5.jpg


Never you mind what she carries in her "lunch box", ya perv..

:jester:

Can't you two get along. My goodness . . . . . . . . . go stand it the corner. NOW!!

:angrysmiley:

 

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