Loud Engine Noise

[mickskelly]

Hi Lads.
New user.

I've got a friend with an africa twin. It's got about 13k miles or so and is about 2-3 years old.

It's making a horrible racket. I've got very little details about it, and I don't really know the history of the bike.

Does anyone know what could be gone on the engine. Took the clutch out it's not that. The oil pump chain and gear feels a little loose, not terribly though.

It's apparently sounds like a whirring/grinding noise. I know it's not a lot to go on but has anyone else experience with a problem like this. Any suggestions welcomed.

Thanks
Mick

[mickskelly]

Ohh yeah..

The noise is definately coming from the engine by the way.

[YEN_POWELL]

I'd check carb balance, and tickover speed are correct first. Then make sure all four sparkplugs are screwed in. One loose makes a very hard to find noise which I remember frightening my wallet when it happened to me.

In my case it was the front deeply buried one, which had worked it's way out of the thread due to my fear of overtightening and stripping a thread I can't see.

[mickskelly]

Thanks. I'll give that a shot.

[robelst]

No clues without hearing the sound, only thing I can add is that when I changed the clutch, the oil-pump-drive-chain and the gearchange shaft seemed a bit "loose" to me as well so maybe this is "normal" and has nothing to do with your engine noise problem. Hopefully is just some cover of fairing part that is vibrating, can you pinpoint the location of the noise?
BTW: "grinding noise" sound like bearing or chain?

[mickskelly]

Robelst.

I'm sorry, I'm at a bit of a loss aswell, I haven't even heard the noise myself. It was described to me by my friends last night who thought it was a bad bearing. I asked them if they used a screwdriver to listen to where the noise was coming from in the engine. They laughed.

They said the noise was so loud that you'd die if you tried that. They said it sounded like a bearing but was as loud as if the bike had been dragging a 6 foot chain along when it was being driven. (I did a thorough check and didn't find a 6 foot chain dragging :idea: )

At least I know the oil pump chain tension is normal. My friend said the noise developed in it quite quickly. So hopefully it is just something like a loose plug.

[africatijn]

Hi,
I had quite some noise when some of the fairing was loose.... but don't think this is the same prob, by hearing what you describe.

Sounds like you have to do a deduction here, try everything that is not causing the noise.

Try things with/without clutch?, noise in every gear?, starter motor does not disengage?, dyno working properly?, remove all fairing? that sort of stuff should pinpoint the exact location of where the noise is coming from.

Doesn't sound too good though...

Cheers, goodluck..
Tijn

[africatijn]

Hi again,

Does the noise increase with revs etc.?

T.

[robelst]

Sounds as if the rider has forgotten to take the U-lock off

Secudairy chain would be my next guess, they can make a horrible sound. Or, when that chain has been driven too tight for too long it could be wheel bearing or worse, the gearbox-mainshaft bearing

[mickskelly]

it could be wheel bearing or worse, the gearbox-mainshaft bearing

Gearbox bearing. that's my feeling.
Glad it's not my bike.

africatijn. I don't know whether it got louder with higher rpm. I asked them that and whether the sound disappeared when the clutch was engaged. They weren't sure . Just tore out the clutch without checking the symptoms properly . They were sure it was clutch for some reason but it wasn't.

Sorry I've so little details about this. I know how annoying it can be trying to help someone who doesn't know anything about the problem. All I know was that it was making a really loud noise. I was hoping that this would be a known problem that you guys have come across already. I'll let you know how the troubleshooting goes.

Thanks for the help
Mick