Tap Sounds With Cold Start... Is This a Valve Issue?

[tzzzel]

Hi everyone,

I know that the gs500 is a cold-blooded beast. I'm just wondering if everyone here has tap sounds when they are running a cold engine? When I ride a cold gs500, the riding on lower speeds is rough and sometimes I hear tap sounds from around the engine. However, once it's warmed up or when I'm riding at higher speeds, there are no tap sounds.

Is this a typical symptom of a cold start? Or should I work on those valves immediately?

[Janx101]

so many possible 'tap' sounds... so many individual definitions of each sound...

video it? .. post it!! ... mucho easier!!! 

[robfriedenberger]

Janx101 said it best take a video....

But Its going to be one of 4 things.......valves, starter clutch, GOATS, or crank shaft. 

An easy way you can tell is take a long screw driver  and hold it up to your ear and place it on the different covers and listen, then you will know where it is coming from .

valve cover = valves

Left side cover = starter clutch

Right side cover + left side cover = crank or GOATS

Either way you need to dig into the the valve cover, if you find your in spec than go for the left side cover. 

[Janx101]

Or a 5th .... And I'm not having a go at Tzzzel .... Is it possible that it's a normal noise? ... My bike has different taps and clicks when it's cold and started ... But I've been to mechanics and ex mechanic mates . They said no drama ... And listened to other GS500s .. And it sounds the same as them.... But to start with I thought it was broken!

So ... Just how TAP is the tapping noise?

There have been worried renew GS500 owners on here before that are freaking out.... Because the bike makes different noises than other bikes.... It's tractor technology!! .. Of course it sounds different from modern stuff etc etc

[robfriedenberger]

Of course......I forgot the 5th nois 

[tzzzel]

LMAO. Tractor technology... sounds about right. Everytime I start 'er up, I'm reminded of using  weedwhacker .

Will post a recording from my tablet tomorrow.

One day, I'll probably have a fuel-injected bike that will be ready as soon I hit that ignition button. No chokin, no hard coughing, just humming from the get-go. That'll be the day