valve noise?

[rob1bike]

Got some thing odd going on and I hope it isn't fatal. 1st of bike runs fine, hot,cold, no problems. Good power, normal top speed. Nothing like that has changed.
This 2001 has about 7000 miles on it and to my knoweledge never had the valves checked. I've had it for 500 miles.
Just today I have a noise, not a crazy tap tap valve noise, but at around 6000rpms I hear a loose rattle type noise. What do you guys think? I know I'm over due, was planning on tacklen it in a few weeks, guess that got pushed up.
So what do ya think? Is it a valve floating? And oh, also got a lil like on the vavle cover, what type of gasket is in there? Does the cover just retorque after the adjustment? Or is it trashed?
Thanx in advance.

[Egaeus]

Your valves are probably out of adjustment. 

Loose rattles are common on the GS.  Since it's at about 6000, it's probably the tank rattling.  There's a spot where the engine vibration cause the the entire bike to vibrate. 

It's not a valve floating.  That happens when the engine is turning so fast that the valves don't have time to close.  That doesn't happen until about 12,000 RPM. 

The valve cover gasket is rubber should be fine.  However, if you pinch it when replacing the valve cover, it will leak like a sieve, and you will have to buy a new one since it will be damaged in the process, so be careful that it's lined up correctly when replacing the valve cover.

[rob1bike]

Its not the tank. But it is that type of noise, loose type rattle.cam chain? Would that make noise at that rpm? Its only around that rpm, most noticeable on decel

[Egaeus]

It could possibly be the cam chain.  Check the tensioner while you're checking the valves.  It's under the carburetors.  it's basically a one-way spring type of system.  Take it out (2 socket-head bolts) and get a skinny flathead screwdriver and put in the hole.  You will be able to turn the screw clockwise and this will draw in the tensioner.  If it springs out okay after you screw it in, it's working fine.

[ducati_nolan]

It could be cam walk too. That's when the cam moves side to side, no big deal. These bikes are notorious for it. But it's a good idea to check the valves as well as the chain tensioner. The valve cover gasket is rubber and is reusable.

[rob1bike]

Well I figured it out when I put it in the garage, the frikn muffler broke. Just past the transistion (sp) from the muffler to the pipe. Stock, no rust, 7000 miles, it broke!
Oh well, guess I've got a good excuse for some new stuff!
And no I didn't hear it cause the stock can has been drilled....I wonder who did that?   

[scratch]

Vibration at those rpms are normal: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=8465.0

[rob1bike]

Scratch ya know what it turned out to be? Well, my exhaust is drilled, so its a lil loud. At any rate when I put it in the garage I noticed that the muffler broke at the weld were it connects to the pipe! That's not bad since I'm up grading the exhaust in a couple of weeks. I've put 4 good layers of jb weld to reattach it. Seems to be workn, Godbless jb weld!
Thanx for everyones input, this site and everyone here are awesome!