RD04 Rattle - the video !!

[YEN_POWELL]

Im off to Japan on Saturday for a week and think a week away from the bloody thing will do me good.

Take the engine out, take it with you and when you get there demand an explanation!!

That (to me) sounds like a tight tappet (had the same noise when I didn't adjust one properly), but it went quiet a few times when you shut the throttle, which wouldn't happen. It's a proper mystery??

[c13tay]

Well im going to take the video on my phone and go down to the Wano district of Tokyo where all the motorcycle shops are - see what they think !!

[BobA]

Errrrrr can I come?

Obviously any work on an engine is a pain in the butt, but the reason any work on the small end is preferable to the bottom/big ends is that you only have to slip the head and barrel off (well not QUITE that simple) rather than splitting crankcases etc.

It would bug the hell out of me (like it is you) and although it's making a bit of a racket it'll probably last ages I bet knowing Honda! Regardless, fixing it is the best option, it just may take a while to actually prove what it is, possibly involving replacing (at expense) parts only to find it didn't actually cure it!

As far as your earlier question about selling it, here's what I think.

RD04's are getting quite cult'ish and desirable. I have people speaking to me about Africa Twins now, just like they used to talk about Yamaha FS1E's.

To break it, you would get some money, but then end up with all the bits nobody wants, so you'd be taking a risk of getting your money back.

To sell it, as is, you'd obviously need to be honest so it doesn't bounce back at you, and then I guarantee you'd miss it, and the buyer would probably be or end up on this forum and end up fixing it!

I suppose what I'm hinting at is, persevere, and see it through if you can. You've got a great legendary bike there, and if it was running perfectly you'd be a happy man wouldn't you!!???



Bob

[c13tay]

BobA

I know what youre saying makes sense !!

My worry is that in sorting this, I may end up spending a large percentage of what it stands me at.

Im now having a constant debate with myself -

Do I sell it at a loss, to someone who is capable of doing the work or who has funds to get it right ??

Do I break it and get back what I can ?

Do I keep it and have what work done when I can ?

For someone with the spanner skills (or the cash) this would be a great opportunity for a project but for me keeping it to have it done as and when I can afford to pay someone isnt a very attractive option. I bought an africa twin to ride it, not keep it in bits in the back of the garage.

With manual in hand, Im sure I could manage to take it apart (not sure ive got the confidence to put it back together !!) but this would obviously take time

If id did sell then it goes without saying, id be honest and open, a copy of these threads would be a good resumee, but it would obviously depend on how much I was going to loose !!

oh and the other option would be to say stuff it and just keep riding it !! As ive said before, thats the annoying thing, it running spot on ! , it sailed through its MOT and it has lots of new parts

[Zenarchy]

Sorry to hear you're still having problems with it. I'm hoping that you don't break it really as it'd be a shame to see it taken to bits when you've put so much work into it (and that'll be one less again on the road ofcourse).

I'd be tempted to just continue riding it myself and see how it goes, but I know it would bug me too, and I'd be worried about having an accident if the engine failed, so don't take that as advice (like you I don't really have the mechanics skills either so not really sure but that might be a bit reckless).

What about getting another engine for it (if you can get some sort of guarantee with it that it's OK perhaps?), then selling this one. I would have thought someone would buy this one to have a go at fixing even with the noise if the engine is running well as you say. Or if you can stretch to it, getting another cheap engine to run in the bike while you fix this one (then maybe you can sell one of them back to make your money back). Or perhaps an engine with some known problem (stipped output shaft or something like that) that you can get cheaply for donor parts. You could look at it as an opportunity to learn more about the engine and increase your mechanical skills which might come in handy in the future. Plus you'd probably be saving quite a lot as it always seems to be labour that's the most expensive thing.

I feel for you mate, because my finances are looking pretty miserable at the moment as well and I dread anything happening to mine or I'd be in the same situation. I also spent a lot of time tidying mine up, so I can imagine how you're feeling right now

I hope you hang in there and manage to get it sorted soon one way or the other.

[c13tay]

Thanks Zenarchy

Its really frustrating when I open the garage and see it sat there - I know its not the best cosmetic condition in the world but it is a cracking looking bike "lots of character" as they say !!! and I just want to ride it.

Had lots of plans for it too but will have to shelve those for the moment - no point spending money on cosmetics / improvements at the moment.

To be honest, dont think I am going to ride it, as you say id hate for it to go pop whilst in a high speed corner or something.

As I said, Ive got a week away from it now so will see how I feel when I get back.

[Zenarchy]

Hope you enjoy your week away. When you come back after a break from thinking about it, hopefully you'll feel a bit better about things. On the bright side, once you've got rid of this annoying little ticking sound then you'll have a great bike, with a great engine in it that should see you good for years if you persevere, and if you keep it long enough maybe actually start to go up in value at some point like the RD03's are now, so it could ultimately turn out to be well worth the effort in more ways than one.

Maybe it'd be an idea to have it to a mechanic to check the tappets and take the head off to check the small end to see if they can diagnose the problem for sure when you get back if you haven't already done that (think you'd had people listen to the engine but not actually take the top off?), just incase you've misadjusted a tappet or something like that (no offence but I know how it is myself when doing things the first time and it's sometimes hard to be completely sure you've done things exactly right). If the engine doesn't need to come out or be split to do that perhaps it might not be quite so expensive for the labour for them to check, then at least you'd know for sure.

Anyway, better get back to work.. Good luck and have a good trip (Japan looks like an exciting place!).

[c13tay]

Yes Japan is an amazing place - just a shame its work with very little free time !!!

If someone offered me pound notes today, id probably take it but may feel different when I get back.

It is a real dilema - do I spend whats left of the Bike fund cash on investigation work and hopefully repair or do I get rid and keep the money to fund its replacement.

Knowing my luck at the moment, Id sell mine at a loss, buy a repalcement with a worse fault, then find out the bloke I sold mine to fixed it for £50 !!!

Chris

[jabba]

Reckon thats the tappets.

[jochembele]

One week away from the problemchild will do just fine
When you´re back, you have tons of jet-lag hours to sleep on it..
Looking forward to read more about the.... the... the beast..
Safe trip dude.