Tick Tick BOOM!

[2>4]

Hey All,
I've got a (relatively) quite tick, tick, tick, that is comming from my motor and the noise speeds up with an increase in rpms.

A friend of mine with more mechanical knowledge sugggested it is probably "chain slap" due to an old tensioner (it wasn't making the ticking sound when I rode to his place tonight...but started on the way home!). The bike has 15000km on it and has never had any work/service done to the engine (execpt oil changes).

My local Suzuki dealer confirmed that it is most likely comming from the cam chain, but they said it wasn't a big deal...?

I'd really like to get rid of this noise, big deal or not, and i'm on a thin student budget.

Will cleaning the tensioner help? Does anyone have any suggestions other than forking over $90 (Canadian) for a new tensioner?

Thanks...

Reid
-96 B600 (Red...adds 10 hp   )

[Drew Vee]

I noticed a similar noise coming from my bike, seemed to be coming from the top part of the engine.
I have just 1000 miles on it.
I noticed it mostly when it was sitting idling. I first noticed it around the first 500 miles, I assumed it was just normal engine noise, or the bike settling in.

[Airmotive]

Check the posts about valve adjustments, fellas. The top of your engine should sound like a dozen little mice typing away on little typewriters.

That being said, if you can hear the ticking at highway speeds, or if one or two valves' ticking clearly stands out above all the others, it's time for a valve adjustment. Now that you mention it, if neither one of you have had any work done on your bike, you're both due for a valve clearance inspection/adjustment. It's part of routine maintenance. Drew Vee: 600 mile first service, 2>4: ummm..all the others.


Blue Skies
JJ

[aussiebandit]

Just a little hint, if it is the Cam Chain or Cam Chain tensoner, it's no big deal until it stops doing it job and comes adrift, it can be very expensive.  I'm not sure how expensive on a Bandit, but I know on some cars it can mean a major repair and overhaul job - they're not cheap (just replaced one on the Magna).

[B12Teuton]

The bike has 15000km on it and has never had any work/service done to the engine (execpt oil changes).

ADJUST YOUR VALVES!!!!
You should have done it twice already.

[Jacknife]

Hey Mick you got a magna 1100? Mint if you have. did look at one of those a few years ago but could not afford it!

[Red01]

If you're pretty sure it's cam chain slap, and it's intermittant, cleaning the tensioner is probably the solution.

[2>4]

Thanks for the feedback

i'm going to call the guy I bought the bike from last month and check to see if he ever took her in for a valve adjustment

[terrebandit]

Thanks for the feedback

i'm going to call the guy I bought the bike from last month and check to see if he ever took her in for a valve adjustment

Checking the valve clearances would be my first step.  Also, check your header bolts for tightness.  Could be something as simple as an exhaust leak.  I don't see how a cam chain tensioner can get dirty unless you've got alot of trash floating around in your motor.  In this case, I would think you would have much bigger problems....I've taken mine out before when I changed out my cams and its a simple mechanism.  I don't see how it could get fouled.  Perhaps the chain has stretched a bit and the auto tensioner is fixing to take up a bit more slack?....  I doubt that however...I still think its your valve clearances.

Dave

[smooth operator]

Thanks for the feedback

i'm going to call the guy I bought the bike from last month and check to see if he ever took her in for a valve adjustment

 Get a Haynes manual, it makes it easy to do the work yourself. You can adjust those valves and adjust the cam chain.

[aussiebandit]

Hey Mick you got a magna 1100? Mint if you have. did look at one of those a few years ago but could not afford it!

I thought that might confuse some of the readers.  In the land of Oz early Magna's only came in 2600. Later models you can get either a 3500 V6 or a 2400 inline 4, both 'east/west' engines.  Oh sorry, its a car made by Mitsubishi Australia.  Shyte, sorry guys I forgot that the manufacturers have different names for things.

[jfudo]

Make sure your spark plugs are tight, and anything else that may need to be tightenend in the ares....rule out the simple first.

I had that exact problem in my car, I thought maybe valves were bad or something because the sound came out of the top of the engine.  Upon closer inspection, I saw that one of the wires was vibrating a little too much.  Tightened the plugs (no easy task on a Jetta) and good to go.

[Red01]

I don't see how a cam chain tensioner can get dirty unless you've got alot of trash floating around in your motor.  In this case, I would think you would have much bigger problems....I've taken mine out before when I changed out my cams and its a simple mechanism.  I don't see how it could get fouled.  Perhaps the chain has stretched a bit and the auto tensioner is fixing to take up a bit more slack?....  I doubt that however...I still think its your valve clearances.

I don't understand how either, Dave, but I have heard of them getting sticky before. While it certainly isn't bad to check the valve clearances, they are seldom the cause of intermittant ticking noises. Sounds like a day of PM is in order... oil change, cam chain & tensioner inspection and valve lash check/adjustment.

[MaccDaddy]

Cleaning the tentioner won't do anything, you should however check to see if it is functioning properly if you remove the rear of the tentioner you will see what looks like a flat head screw turn it anti-clockwise and it will loosen the cam chain and clockwise it will tighten it. Although if it is cam chain "slap" then it (cam chain) will need to be replaced befor it jumps and you start putting valves through the pistons which is very expensive, it ended up costing the previous owner of my bandit 250 stacks and all because of a $50 cam chain and a bit of time!!!!.