RD04 Rattle

[c13tay]

Well had the rocker covers off at the weekend.

Hard to tell with the limited space available but cam chains seem ok, infact they look like new (as does everything in there surprisingly)

Tried the old screwdriver on the ear lark and although I think its coming from the front cylinder, not 100% sure. Also very hard to deterimine whether its top or bottom end

Ive now called in a 4 different bike shops, none of whom seem to know what it is. Always greeted with "oo we dont get many of those in here" which doesnt inspire me really. I guess I was hoping for the impossible - someone to go "oh yest its the ....... "

Suppose I could do with finding somewhere that knows a bit about the @ or any of the other bikes the lump was fitted in - really dont want to have to book it into somewhere for the old "well we will have to strip it and see what we find" cos as we all know they always turn into big bills !!!!

Anyone know of such a place in the NW or anyone on here in the NW, who wouldnt mind having a listen and throwing their 10P worth in ????

thanks

Chris

[BobA]

Chris

I think your cheapest option would be to buy Earplugs!

I reckon you're thinking along the right lines, with valve & timing gear.

Have you checked all the valve clearances? Could be a sticky valve or valve spring.

Also, have you had an oil change recently, and perhaps used a different grade of oil? OR NEED an oil change?

Sounds silly, but have you checked all 4 spark plugs are nipped up properly? Could be compression escaping through a plug hole, that will get better/worse as the engine heats up.

Or a loose/blown copper O ring, where the header pipe meets the cylinder.


Always start with the cheapest bit first, visual inspection, adjustment etc.



Good Luck



Bob

[c13tay]

Chris

I think your cheapest option would be to buy Earplugs!

I reckon you're thinking along the right lines, with valve & timing gear.

Have you checked all the valve clearances? Could be a sticky valve or valve spring.

Also, have you had an oil change recently, and perhaps used a different grade of oil? OR NEED an oil change?

Sounds silly, but have you checked all 4 spark plugs are nipped up properly? Could be compression escaping through a plug hole, that will get better/worse as the engine heats up.

Or a loose/blown copper O ring, where the header pipe meets the cylinder.


Always start with the cheapest bit first, visual inspection, adjustment etc.



Good Luck



Bob

Thanks Bob

Have changed oil and filter - no difference

Changed all 4 plugs - no difference

will do valve clearances as a matter of course and to rule it out, but was told that if it was a tappet it would be noisy on tickover ????

was also told that if it was cam chain it would be noisy on tickover ???

as stated previously - quiet as a mouse on tickover.

If I hold the throttle at about 3.5K revs the noise becomes evident.

Did this the other night and there were 3 of us crawling round the bike and we still couldnt pin point where it is coming from.

If you stick ear near front cylinder it sounds like it coming from there but then you move to rear cylinder and it sounds like its coming from there !!!

very hard to describe noises I know - might try to do a sound recording to post

Keep the ideas coming - I will try anything (within my ability) before I give it to a shop to do a blind investigation !!!


Chris

[BobA]

Another OLD trick.

Get a length of pipe (hose pipe) hold it up to one ear, block the other, and use it like a stethoscope, holding near areas you think noise might be coming from.

By blocking out ambient noise, and concentrating what is focused down the tube, (i.e where the noise is loudest) it might be a bit easier to find.

Never tried it, but read it once.



Bob

[c13tay]

Thanks again Bob

Ill give it a whirl - nothing to loose

Whats really annoying about this it that the bike is running brilliantly (or seems to be !!!))

I keep thinking, stuff it and just ride it but at the back of my mind im thinking, to get a noise like this, something metal must be hitting something metal and thats not good !! dont want to do any further damage.

Ill get the valve clearances done soon as I can and see what happens.

Someone in my local bike shop, a customer not the mechanic (who was useless and just said, "never worked on one of them before") suggested a broken valve spring ?? dont know how common that is or what symptoms would be ?? but would think it would affect running ??


Suppose that should be easy to spot


Why is everything so hard to get to on the @ ????


Chris

[BobA]

Nothing wrong with a bit of "Mechanical Sympathy". I come from a family that say "oh the chainsaw was making this horrible noise, and two hours later exploded. Can you fix it??"

Chances are, it'll be something REALLY stupid.

Out of interest, I know you think you've narrowed it down to the engine, but does the noise always manifest itself at the same RPM, in the same conditions, e.g hot/cold/wet/dry etc???

Try the same process AFTER drowning the bike with a hose. If the noise changes or disappears, it will be something externally vibrating or similar.



Bob

[c13tay]

Bob

Yes always does it no matter what the temperature of the bike.

I can now reproduce the noise at will and can almost ride all the way to work without it making the noise, by careful playing with the throttle.

Have run it without sump guard to eliminate that.

When riding the noise sounds as if its coming from the clocks / forks or somewhere in that region !!!

Really would love to find that it is just something vibrating !!!

will try the soak test tonight


Thanks again for youre input Bob


Chris

Usually a no no but am going to try a cold call on my local Honda dealers tomorrow. Just ride in and say to the mech "what you think that is ??""

cant hurt

[YEN_POWELL]

Have you checked every single engine mounting bolt? I hate hard to trace noises, you will eventually go insane and start hearing the noise when you're trying to get to sleep at night. Sudden thought, maybe you've just got tinnnitus....

[c13tay]

Am halfway through checking every single bolt I can get to !!!!!

done one side of the bike and will continue this evening.

youre right Yen, this is starting to drive me nuts !!!!!

Just rung up a local independent bike shop, explained the problem and asked if I could pop down and let them listen.

Told me not to bother - they were very busy and didnt want to work on an @ cos everything was so hard to get at - wasnt worth their effort !!!!

well thats nice !!

Chris

[c13tay]

Think Ill have to arrange a northwest @ get together, which happens to call at my house for free beer, tea, coffee and biscuits

oh and of course the "guess what the rarttle is" competition


Chris