Rattle knocking from front of motor - timing

NOLA VFR · 05-08-2009, 07:45 PM

Hello:

I did not find anything on point searching so here is my issue/question:

I pulled my bike into the garage after a short ride. Engine warmed up. I took my helmet off to put the bike away. Then I heard a rattle - seemed to be in some type of rhythm - knock, knock, knock - pause - knock, knock, knock. etc. I used the old rod “stethoscope” check putting an aluminum rod against the motor at different spots to try to isolate the sound. It seems to be from the front of the motor – right side. I’ve never been into one of these motors but it looks like the timing cover. Has anyone else had this experience on know what this might be?

park800 · 05-08-2009, 07:59 PM

I have the identical bike but can't say I have ever heard that sound you are refering to. How many miles does yours have on it?

NOLA VFR · 05-08-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by park800

I have the identical bike but can't say I have ever heard that sound you are refering to. How many miles does yours have on it?

I just turned 5000 miles. Today was the first time I've noticed the noise. Its relatively faint but noticable. You have to get down in the front right side to really hear it. Pressing the aluminum rod on my ear is how I really picked up the sound and figured out where it appears to be coming from.

NOLA VFR · 05-09-2009, 06:35 AM

With only one reply to my question, I guess I'm bringing the bike to the dealer to have it checked. If there are an more thoughts please let me know.

NOLA VFR · 05-09-2009, 08:28 AM

Well, i brought the bike to the dealer. It made the niose for one mechanic and then not for the second. They said that if something was wrong that it would be constant noise. I'm fmiliar with the valve rattle. This was different. Any ideas. I'd love to hear replies that it is normal....

Lgn001 · 05-09-2009, 02:28 PM

Does it go away if you pull in the clutch lever, either in neutral or in gear?

NOLA VFR · 05-09-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lgn001

Does it go away if you pull in the clutch lever, either in neutral or in gear?

No, it continued with the clutch pulled in. I did not try it in gear. I'll give it a shot when I get home. It seemed to go away though before the second mechanic listened to it this morning. I'm pretty sure it comming from the front cam cover. I checked all around the motor with an aluminum rod against my ear. The cam cover seemed to be it.

darionscard · 10-28-2009, 03:55 PM

Please do post if you find out what this is. Mine's started to make a noise I'd initially expect to be a rod knock except that it doesn't always do it and it's not something that happens under load. I've tried the old 'hold the brake and give gas' method to verify it and it won't do it there. Also it seems to go away if the bike is moved from side to side. I've had days where it won't do it at all then days where it does it just from my 10 min ride to/from work.

jmt256 · 10-28-2009, 04:38 PM

Sounds like you may have a bad cam chain tensioner. A similar noise on my old Kawasaki turned out to be just that. I'm no mechanical engineer but I believe the sound is caused by an under tensioned chain slapping against the valve cover the same way a loose drive chain can against slap the underside of the swing arm when you are running at light throttle/coasting. Do a search on the forum for cam chain tensioner replacement. Your mileage is much less than most people who encounter the problem (usually around 30,000) but then again, Honda V4 cam chain tensioners have been problematic for almost 30 years.

Hope this helps

dogman · 10-28-2009, 05:49 PM

What oil are you running?
I would try running a 10w40 semi synthetic, eg Mobil or Motul before I started to panic.
I doubt it would be anything serious at your mileage.

crustyrider · 10-28-2009, 05:51 PM

not in the 86s no chain gear driven cams...... did they go back to chaind driven cams? if so what year?

NorcalBoy · 10-28-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crustyrider

not in the 86s no chain gear driven cams...... did they go back to chaind driven cams? if so what year?

Crusty...If you want to start a war, you don't do it by throwing firecrackers, you, of all people, should know this doctrine.

*End Threadjack*

TOE CUTTER · 10-28-2009, 07:30 PM

It may be worth pulling the clutch cover for an inpection. Had a noise as described and for what ever reason one on the bolts in the starter clutch had come unscrewed and was hitting the clutch cover.May be as simple as that.

NOLA VFR · 10-29-2009, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the input. I actually started this thread months ago and the noise continues - no better, no worse.

I'm bringing the bike to the shop next Tuesday - under warranty. I'll let ya'll know what they say.

VIFFER RIDER · 11-10-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lgn001

Does it go away if you pull in the clutch lever, either in neutral or in gear?

Ya mine makes some rattling / vibrations when i let the clutch out in neutral and goes away when i pull the clutch in. I always thought this was odd but i was told its normal on the VFR.

NOLA VFR · 11-12-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIFFER RIDER

Ya mine makes some rattling / vibrations when i let the clutch out in neutral and goes away when i pull the clutch in. I always thought this was odd but i was told its normal on the VFR.

THe sound does not change - clutch in or out. I dropped it off at the shop this morning. THe mechanic actually heard the noise before I left. I post the outcome.

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05-08-2009, 07:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
NOLA VFR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Last Online: 11-19-2009 08:29 PM Location: New Orleans My Ride: 2008 Interceptor View my Photo Gallery Posts: 112 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Rattle knocking from front of motor - timing Hello: I did not find anything on point searching so here is my issue/question: I pulled my bike into the garage after a short ride. Engine warmed up. I took my helmet off to put the bike away. Then I heard a rattle - seemed to be in some type of rhythm - knock, knock, knock - pause - knock, knock, knock. etc. I used the old rod “stethoscope” check putting an aluminum rod against the motor at different spots to try to isolate the sound. It seems to be from the front of the motor – right side. I’ve never been into one of these motors but it looks like the timing cover. Has anyone else had this experience on know what this might be? __________________ 2008 Interceptor 6.1 Power Commander 02 Eliminators Opened stock mufflers Garmin Zumo 550 J&M dual rider CB/intercom Corbin "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." Thomas Jefferson "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." Benjamin Franklin

05-09-2009, 06:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
NOLA VFR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Last Online: 11-19-2009 08:29 PM Location: New Orleans My Ride: 2008 Interceptor View my Photo Gallery Posts: 112 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	With only one reply to my question, I guess I'm bringing the bike to the dealer to have it checked. If there are an more thoughts please let me know. __________________ 2008 Interceptor 6.1 Power Commander 02 Eliminators Opened stock mufflers Garmin Zumo 550 J&M dual rider CB/intercom Corbin "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." Thomas Jefferson "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." Benjamin Franklin

05-09-2009, 08:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
NOLA VFR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Last Online: 11-19-2009 08:29 PM Location: New Orleans My Ride: 2008 Interceptor View my Photo Gallery Posts: 112 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Well, i brought the bike to the dealer. It made the niose for one mechanic and then not for the second. They said that if something was wrong that it would be constant noise. I'm fmiliar with the valve rattle. This was different. Any ideas. I'd love to hear replies that it is normal.... __________________ 2008 Interceptor 6.1 Power Commander 02 Eliminators Opened stock mufflers Garmin Zumo 550 J&M dual rider CB/intercom Corbin "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." Thomas Jefferson "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." Benjamin Franklin

10-28-2009, 05:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
dogman Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Last Online: Today 02:24 AM Location: Adelaide Australia My Ride: 2007 VFR tricolour Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	What oil are you running? I would try running a 10w40 semi synthetic, eg Mobil or Motul before I started to panic. I doubt it would be anything serious at your mileage. __________________ RWB anniversary edition, Leo Vince exhaust, PC3, pair disabled, flapper deactivated, snorkel removed, gutted cat.etc etc

05-08-2009, 07:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
park800 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Last Online: Yesterday 08:40 PM Location: NORTH GA My Ride: 2008 VFR View my Photo Gallery Posts: 115 Thanks: 5 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	I have the identical bike but can't say I have ever heard that sound you are refering to. How many miles does yours have on it?

05-09-2009, 02:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lgn001 Uber Guru Join Date: Nov 2007 Last Online: Yesterday 08:37 PM Location: Russian River by Ocean, CA My Ride: 1983 CB1100F 2000 SV650 2007 VFR View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,306 Thanks: 52 Thanked 82 Times in 67 Posts	Does it go away if you pull in the clutch lever, either in neutral or in gear?

10-28-2009, 03:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
darionscard Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Last Online: 10-28-2009 03:59 PM Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Please do post if you find out what this is. Mine's started to make a noise I'd initially expect to be a rod knock except that it doesn't always do it and it's not something that happens under load. I've tried the old 'hold the brake and give gas' method to verify it and it won't do it there. Also it seems to go away if the bike is moved from side to side. I've had days where it won't do it at all then days where it does it just from my 10 min ride to/from work.

10-28-2009, 04:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
jmt256 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Last Online: 11-18-2009 03:10 PM Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sounds like you may have a bad cam chain tensioner. A similar noise on my old Kawasaki turned out to be just that. I'm no mechanical engineer but I believe the sound is caused by an under tensioned chain slapping against the valve cover the same way a loose drive chain can against slap the underside of the swing arm when you are running at light throttle/coasting. Do a search on the forum for cam chain tensioner replacement. Your mileage is much less than most people who encounter the problem (usually around 30,000) but then again, Honda V4 cam chain tensioners have been problematic for almost 30 years. Hope this helps

10-28-2009, 05:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
crustyrider almost banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Last Online: Yesterday 11:37 PM Location: Santa Barbara CA - Find Me! My Ride: 1986 honda Interceptor 700 1985 Suzuki GS700E(RIP) View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,578 Thanks: 105 Thanked 120 Times in 99 Posts	not in the 86s no chain gear driven cams...... did they go back to chaind driven cams? if so what year? __________________ charter member: Chat Hooers Union, Local 151 http://www.tricountymotorcycles.com/ " the return of the mullet will be the rebirth of our nation" TOECUTTER "stick like shit to a blanket" K1c "I'm the guy that keeps Mr.Dead in his back pocket" Max

10-28-2009, 07:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
TOE CUTTER Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Last Online: Yesterday 09:47 PM Location: Sacramento - Find Me! My Ride: 2007 RWB 1990 RED 1986 750 DRZ 400 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 75 Thanked 120 Times in 108 Posts	Clutch cover It may be worth pulling the clutch cover for an inpection. Had a noise as described and for what ever reason one on the bolts in the starter clutch had come unscrewed and was hitting the clutch cover.May be as simple as that. __________________ Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. Ronald Reagan

10-29-2009, 01:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
NOLA VFR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Last Online: 11-19-2009 08:29 PM Location: New Orleans My Ride: 2008 Interceptor View my Photo Gallery Posts: 112 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks for the input. I actually started this thread months ago and the noise continues - no better, no worse. I'm bringing the bike to the shop next Tuesday - under warranty. I'll let ya'll know what they say. __________________ 2008 Interceptor 6.1 Power Commander 02 Eliminators Opened stock mufflers Garmin Zumo 550 J&M dual rider CB/intercom Corbin "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." Thomas Jefferson "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." Benjamin Franklin

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