uhhhhhhh what the hell is this noise?? **update with audio**

[vsboxerboy]

So I guess it was hot today and I did do a good amount of riding, but on my way home from work tonight (when it wasnt that hot) I jumped on the freeway and after about a minute I noticed this strange noise.  The noise depends on both RPM and throttle and sounds kinda like there is popcorn in the exhaust or something.  The noise SEEMs to be coming from the left side of the engine by the cover, but its hard to tell because I only observed the noise while riding, when I went got off its much harder to notice the noise if it is even there at all.  I tried to listen to it while it was idling but then the oil light came on and I just turned it off and decided to post this up.  Any idea whats up

I guess first thing would be to check the oil level when the sun comes up.  The sad thing was that I planned on changing the oil tomorrow, because i JUST hit 17k (2600mi since last oil change).

**edit: here is the video of the noise for easy access:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0zQzEwJ7ds

[Dorianfes]

Yeah check the oil, and check the chain.  You probably know already but:  make sure bike is on centerstand for oil check, but is the sidestand for chain.  Chain slack is .8 - 1.2 inch. i think.

[vsboxerboy]

I'll check both of those in the morning but it definately sounds like its coming from the front of the bike (engine, tranny etc.)  Its just so hard to explain a noise through text

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

It's a '91.. when was the last time you did a valve check/adjustment?

Also.. the title of your thread had me laughing out loud! 

[Lukewarm Wilson]

sounds like low oil always remeber to check your oil at least every 2nd ride and keep it topped up not just at half or 3/4 but all the way 

[MarkusN]

It could be goats syndrome. (Alternator rotor breaking up). The bits might then have affected the oil pump.

If it was low oil, pray that you haven't heard the beginning damage that this can cause. It's not pretty (and usually means that you'd rather replace the engine than fix the damage itself; doing the latter is a nice piece of education, though.)

[deathlucky]

cam chain i had this sound like that it kind sounded like a bunch of washers on a bolt being shaken and it got worst over time

[vsboxerboy]

cam chain i had this sound like that it kind sounded like a bunch of washers on a bolt being shaken and it got worst over time

thats pretty damn close to what I would say the sound is

Okay so checked the oil and it is damn low.  AAAAAAH the bike literally has 16999.1 miles on it right now and my plan for today was to change the oil.  I guess I am a retard for not checking it more often.  So, it sounds like I broke something expensive huh?  Would adding oil fix this problem (please say yes).  I'm going to head over to the dealer and get some oil but any consensus as to what the problem could be now that low oil has been established?
Thanks!

[Egaeus]

It should fix it if you didn't cause any permanent damage. 

[phire]

I'd have to say cam chain, too. Could just be lack of oil causing it to be more noisy than normal. I have an 05 with about 3,000 miles on it and just finished up a valve adjustment, oil change, the works. I've been hearing the noise you describe and I think I've got it located to the cam chain.. It isn't BAD but I can hear it fapping every now and then. Question is, should it be TOTALLY silent if the chain slack is within clearance or is it normal to hear it fap at random intervals? I usually only hear it at idle, goes away completely while riding.

(Please say it's normal - I don't want to have to get in there again for a while)
The job itself only took me about 30 minutes, hooray. But, then I forgot to tighten down my throttle cables. D'oh. Off the tank comes. Fixed. Then I forgot to install my inline fuel filter. D'oh. Off the tank comes again. Fire up the bike and realize I've tightened the throttle way too much to where I could use it like a cruise control. D'Oh. Off the tank comes again. I've learned that redundancy is very important if you don't want a 30 minute job to last 3 hours.

[vsboxerboy]

Okay so I changed the oil (along with a wash and wax) and then started her up.  The noise was there for a little while, but then subsided.  I only hear the noise as the RPM's pass through 4k within a 500RPM or so band but that, hopefully, might go away when I get out and ride her.  I got a good chance to listen to the noise though, and it sounded like it was coming from under the engine like where the transmission is rather than the cam cover, although it is highly probable that the noise is just resonating through but I'll see if the noise comes back or what.

Lesson learned: stop being a dumbass and check your oil more often!!

[vsboxerboy]

update:

So I took the bike out for a ride, and the noise is definately still there under load above 4K.  I am also noticing a definate lack of power in the upper range, although I did not punch it too hard because I did not want to cause further damage.  Does this mean that I am f'd?  The noise almost sounds like I have a second exhaust that is full of washers or something rattling, but the noise is the same frequency as the exhaust.  Aaaah is there anyone in the Santa Barbara area that could hear this noise??  So given the loss of power, any new ideas?

[MarkusN]

Difficult to say, but if you did have a cam chain problem and the cam drive jumped a tooth or so you might have bent a valve. Which would explain the power loss. And all sorts of strange noises.

Check (have checked) compression.

OTOH, if it comes from the lower end, it might be a rod bearing. Common first damage when oil is very low.

[GeeP]

Please tell me:

1)  You drained your oil into a perfectly clean container.

2)  You still have your old oil, and it hasn't been mixed with anything else.

If so, strain your oil through a paper towel.  What do you see?

[ducati_nolan]

I agree with the post above. Or at least I hope that you examined your oil filter, you can cut the ellement apart and spread it out to examine for metal particles. If you find anything at all you should pull the oil pan and check the oil pickup for any chunks. if you find some you may be able to replace the bearings without needing to replace your major components (crank, rods, etc). If you find metal, brass and bronze = bearings, steel and alluminum = crank, rods, cam, etc = just find a used engine and replace the hole thing. Either way, if you find any metal you will need to tear the engine apart or it will die shortly.

Of course it could be the cam chain, so check the tensioner and replace that before tearing the thing apart.

[deathlucky]

i think ur cam chain is loose mine was as loose as paris hilton because the cam chain tenioner had been ripped off it was just hanging on by 1 of  the bolts

[vsboxerboy]

Luckily I bought one of those oil catch cans with the screw top from Kmart right before I changed the oil so that I could recycle it more easily.  That plus the fact that Im a lazy sob means that I do still have the oil and it hasn't been mixed with anything else.

I guess I'll go check the cam chain and tensioner.  It seems weird that engine damage due to low oil would have occured when I was driving home from work because it was cold and I wasnt pushing it hard.  I've done a good amount of canyon riding in the past few (and even the same) days so it seems like if there was a time when a butt load of damage were to occur it would be when the engine was hot/being beaten on.  Here's hoping 

[vsboxerboy]

So to check the cam tensioner, I would follow what it says about halfway down this page right?

http://www.gstwin.com/adjust_valves.htm

[vsboxerboy]

So I have the bike apart to check the cam chain and tensioner.  I took off the valve cover and the cam chain seemed to be taught.  There did seem to be an excessive amount of oil on top of the bottom left valve bucket (intake right?) compared to the rest of them and compared to when I checked the valve clearance a thousand miles ago.  I also checked the tensioner, but really didnt know what I was looking for.  I removed the two allen bolts then took the tensioner out, removed the two screws and turned the innards with a flat head screwdriver.  The coil wound up then unwound when I released the pressure.  I'm assuming that means its working normally.  Putting back the cam tensioner, however, I am a bit confused.  It seems to be pressing on the cam chain and doesnt want to slide in.  Should I use force to put it in by tightening the allen screws that go on it or is there something that I am doing wrong and it should just click into place??

[vsboxerboy]

nm on reinstalling the cam tensioner I reread the FAQ and found what I was looking for.  But the question still remains of what should I look for next, a compression test???