| Author | Message | ||
     Cowtown |
I have a noise I want to describe to see if someone may know what it may be. It’s a knocking sound coming from the top, right, front cylinder, possibly the gear case but it sounds higher than that. I’ve had the mechanics listen to it, but of course they had no answers. If you have experienced this please let me know what you discovered. Thanks | ||
| Mikej |
noise in engines travels in bewildering ways, and apart from a stethoscope or a screw driver to your ear (handle to your ear, pointy end on the engine) it's nearly impossible to say exactly where a noise is really starting from. For starters I'd suggest doing the easy stuff first and check your primary chain tension/slack. Too tight is bad, but too loose sends noises everywhere. Next would be to remove a rocker cover and look for issues up topside. After that would be to look in behind the cam cover. | ||
| Cowtown |
Thanks for the responses. The mechanic did use a stethoscope and the only thing I remember is he ruled out the bottom end. He said to just ride it. The primary chain was adjusted about 1,000 miles ago and I checked it 100 miles ago, still have the noise. The noise is more like a clicking than I ringing. It does not change when you load the engine. | ||
| Jim_h |
Cowtown, I have a similar problem. I have an engine noise that is driving me crazy - it's a raspy/rattly noise that starts at about 1500 rpms and is loudest at 2500 rpms. I'm pretty sure it's not coming from the primary drive and it isn't pre-ignition (pinging). It doesn't change under load, but does seem to get worse the hotter the engine gets (don't hear it when it is cold). I understand that air cooled engines make noise, and I don't mind orderly mechanical noises, but this isn't. I'm about to decide that it's a Buell thing and think about getting a louder muffler. This and the electric fans detract greatly from an otherwise good engine. Good luck with you problem and hope, in both our cases, that it's not an 'expensive' noise. Jim H 2005 XB12S | ||
| Cowtown |
I have the noise all the time, from start up cold to hot, idling or not. | ||
| Jim_h |
Have you always had the same noise, or has it developed over time? If it's not the lower end or the primary drive/clutch, it's probably alright - a Harley/Buell thing. Funny thing, I've never heard my bike's noise on any of the Harley twins (maybe it's the loud exhaust). Too bad there aren't more Buells in my area, I'd like listen to other XBs. | ||
| Cowtown |
It started about 300 miles ago. I have listen to other Buells and they don’t have it. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I used to have a pretty loud clicking noise that would start as the bike warmed up and gradually disappear. Then it got to a point where it would never go away. When I investigated it, it turned out to be an exhaust leak where the header mates with the exhaust port. An exhaust leak there will sound like a metallic click. It won't sound like a knock, however... | ||
| Jim_h |
Cowtown, I'm out of ideas - maybe it will go away with time (or at least you will get use to it) Good luck. Djkaplan, I thought about the exhaust leak. Checked the front cylinder: nuts were a little loose, but no leak. The rear is hard to check: I couldn't put a wrench on the fasteners, but I couldn't hear/feel any leak. My noise is hard to describe (its more of rattling almost knocking kind of noise) and hard to locate but if I had to guess I would say it's coming from the valve train somewhere. Thanks for the help. | ||
| Jsunstar |
jim, i have the same noise...rattling and knocking in a consistant way. goes faster if i rev. i thought at first it was just no oil up there after rebuild. maybe a bad lifter? im gonna post for some help in this topic area. i have some bad noist coming from the front rocker area. would a bad lifter make alot of noise in there? i just put the whole top end and cams (n8's) from my s2 in my sportster and it runs great but somethings banging around in there. its not rocker clearance, i checked. i put a stethescope on and its coming from around the rocker/head area... primary chain seems ok. any help is appreciated! | ||
| Cowtown |
Well it was my flywheel sprocket nut that had come loose. Luckily no damage, they just tightened it to the new torque specs. |
