Loud Tapping After Hard Ride?

[SlimKlim]

I just got back from a ride and I decided to stretch this little thing out and see what she'd do. It was my normal stretch of highway I've ridden many times to get into town, but this time I was moving a little quicker. Probably maintaining 75mph for a while, and twice I got flat in it to see what it would do. It only got up to 90-95 or so and pretty much flattened out, which was surprising, but not as surprising as what I heard after.

I slowed down to turn onto my street and the bike sounded different, sort of a loud tap, it sounds similar to the "GS camshaft noise" they all have, but way louder. At certain points in the throttle it was even high pitched, I rode it easy the rest of the way home and when I came to a stop in the driveway, it sounded pretty unhealthy at idle. Again, a tapping, matched with the engine speed. I don't know what happened to it.

Here are my guesses, the hard riding got it warm and the oil got thinner and less made it to the top of the motor, similar to my car during an autocross when it gets some knarly valve tick. Or I overheated it. Or the cam chain tensioner isnt functioning properly and the sound I'm hearing is chain slap.

I'm supposed to bring it in to the shop for a carb sync tomorrow morning, but I'm not sure if its safe to ride, so maybe you guys can share your thoughts. I have to leave in approximately 7 hours. I think I'll wake up, check this thread, fire the bike up and see what it sounds like, and if it sounds sketchy, cancel the appointment and take the car to work.

[average]

Sounds like the same issue I had with my last motor..unfortunately i didnt have the time nor place to dive into it head first to see what the issue was so I just bought another one.

[SlimKlim]

Well its still making the sound. It was nearly a quart low on oil after 600 miles, filling and letting it run didn't quiet it down, I'm going to check the chain tensioner before I leave, but I'm probably going to have to cancel my appointment, I don't want to ride it 30 miles until i know whats going on.

[jonathanneely]

Sounds like some burnt bearings, rod(s) and maybe even the crankshaft. Same thing happened to me 3 months ago after I let mine run low on oil. I picked up the parts to rebuild it and had a friend do it who knew what he was doing. All in all, about $750.

[bassmechanicsz]

Sounds like some burnt bearings, rod(s) and maybe even the crankshaft. Same thing happened to me 3 months ago after I let mine run low on oil. I picked up the parts to rebuild it and had a friend do it who knew what he was doing. All in all, about $750.

+1. 

Similar thing happened to my GF's boat last year when we ran it after getting it back from a mechanic who did an oil change.  He used an oil filter wrench to put the filter on and gouged the bottom of the filter.  Long story short is that it now has a new motor cause running motors to low on oil is not a good thing.  Ended up bending the rods and it would only run at about half speed with the throttle fully pinned.

[importslife]

Ok here we go im not a loan (sorry to bust in). Same thing here i'v got the same thing but didn't run low on oil. i just did a oil change 2 days earlier with Castrol 4T 4-stroke motorcycle oil (10w-40).  I was on expressway for about 20 miles or so at 65-75mph and said like most do lets see what it will do.It did good got up to about 110-115mph and let off and when i pulled over at a gas station there was a knock. So i let it sit for about 15 mins and started it up it was still there not as loud. So i went back home and by the time i got home it was loud again. I ride my GS to work and back every day rain or shine some days it is a small tick and some days its a knock. It doesn't smoke at all and it's almost like you can hear the noise coming out the tail pipe. Cup your hand over the out let and its like you can almost hear and feel it pop. So..... any thoughts on it?

[SlimKlim]

Sounds like I'm completely and royaly f*cked.

I can't afford to rebuild the bottom end, I just rebuilt the top end. My options are part it out, or sell all of my engine parts and buy another motor. Which isn't really in my budget either. God I'm f*cked.  

EDIT: Heartfelt and emotional feeler/possible FS thread in the FS forum, go check it out, see if you're interested in my proposal or know anyone who might be.

[SlimKlim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_zAH1_mUUI

Here is the sound, not pretty.

[Allen]

I'm pretty sure its not supposed to sound like that.

[ohgood]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_zAH1_mUUI

Here is the sound, not pretty.

can you isolate the sound to top/bottom end with a piece of hose to your ear ? hard to tell from the video, but it sounds quite light to be bottom end.

considering you've just had head work done, i'd suspect that right off. generally a problem area repeats if anything isn't done proper.

update ?

[SlimKlim]

Whatever it is guys I'm really not willing to shell out the cash to get in there again. The gaskets are $100, and that's just for taking it apart. I suspect the wrist pin or crank bearings, and if I'm going to replace those I might as well get pistons and the associated for $150, and to get into the crank the motor will have to come out and be taken down, another $50 in gaskets, and whatever the bearings are.

I think I'm going to wait for a low mileage motor to happen across my path, and sell this one and the other parts I have for parts. Should end up costing me $300 or so after its all said and done, and I know I'm getting a decent motor.