Noises: Cam chain, valves, what elese?

[Newt500]

New to the GS500F, its the 'newest' bike I've owned at 15 years young with 24,000 miles. I have a few questions if anyone can help me out, they're mighty vague but lets see:

1) does this sound okay?

2) its become harder to start, if I rock it to the right side it seems to help fire up - petcock or carb issue maybe?

3) now that its getting up in miles, what heavier duty maintenance would people perform or look out for? Every once in a while I hear a clang after pressing the start button, after reading through this forum I FEAR GOATS. Thanks for your input yall!

[moe_tunes]

1) That sounds OK. It's an engine designed in the seventies, air cooled and all engines sound noisy on video. If that engine was warm when the vid was taken check the idle speed - should be 1200 - 1500 rpm.

2) A 15 year old bike with only 24000 miles on the clock is a bike that has been parked up alot. Clean the carbs paying attention to the float heights and while you're there check the rubber manifolds between the carbies and the head for deterioration - cracks and whatnot.

3) A GS500 is just run in at 24000 miles... so standard maintenance is all that's needed. For the engine - checking valve clearance and changing oil regularly is really all it needs if it's not parked up alot. For the rest of the bike - changing brake fluid and checking brake pads for wear, checking the brake lines and fuel hoses a couple of times a year at least and maintaining the chain and tyres is enough for the basics.
   I've never had a clang on startup. If it is just every once in a while are you sure it is properly in neutral? Someone else might have some experience with that.

Cheers

[Bluesmudge]

Clang on startup could be loose starter clutch bolts. Its an annoying fix but if you search around the forum there are some good posts on the subject.

[Sporty]

It doesn't sound so good to me. Its seems to be running on one cylinder.
I'd try running it with one spark plug disconnected at a time to find out if both cylinders are working.

I hear a distinct metallic noise. I'd inspect the oil filter for metal debris.

Also Listen to some videos for Suzuki cam walk and compare the noise.

  CHeck the cam chain tensioner too.

[sledge]

That sounds awful, almost certainly a top end problem going on..........you will have to get the valve cover off and take a look.

[user11235813]

Jeez, Sledge ya reckon? I hear a little bit of a click at low revs but otherwise sounds pretty good.

Certainly get the valve cover off and check the valves and retorque the cylinder head. Maybe check the cam chain tensioner that it feels good.

[Sporty]

Listen with good earbuds or headphones, there is a slapping metallic noise.

Certainly rule out the easy stuff first.

[The Buddha]

I didn't play the video. but the clank at start up will definitely need to be checked and fixed - yes starter clutch is the primary suspect but has to be fixed, else that clang noise that you hear, is actually a sharp metallic blow to the alternator rotor - obviously something metal is hitting some thing metal - that's why it sounds like that - it will destroy the rotor, and the stator and dump a bunch of lacquer and goopy magnet crap in your crankcase and be impossible to clean out cos it sticks to all the steel ...

Dont even ask how I know.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Newt500]

Appreciate the responses! Will start with checking valves and cam chain tension and go from there. 

[chris900f]

Sit on the bike while it's idling/making the noise--then lean the bike as far to the left as you can. If the noise drops significantly it is the "walking-cam knock"
Common to this engine, (mine does it too, with less than 1000km on the clock) Annoying, but not a big problem.

[sledge]

Cam float was common on the early E`s. There was even a dealer fix under warranty for the problem, at one time I had a copy of the bulletin, but the problem was engineered out by the time the F`s came along.

Look at the pictures on the parts fiches/sites and you will see that around 2000 they had added spacers and wave washers on the end of the cams to hold them in place, limit travel and ultimately prevent float.

................of course at some point in the bikes life someone could have fitted an E head but for me the noise is far too rhythmic and/or metallic to be cam float

[chris900f]

Here's the Service Bulletin from 2006, also gives the range of engine numbers affected. I would rule this out first because the diagnostic is so simple.