Is this sound normal ???

[lenwe]

My Gs500 has 17.000 km on the block. and it from 1997.

When it gets good warm it start ticking like this ( video below ).. its that normal for a gs from 1997 ??
Its Valve clerance necessary all ready ?


https://youtu.be/AdPg0skwmLs

[The Buddha]

Hard to tell where its coming from. It almost sounds like a cam chain, you could take off the valve cover and as you turn the motor over by hand see if the cam chain ever sags between the sprockets. If so, yea its cam chain. However it will also make the same noise when cold.
Only when warm noises, actually that seems to indicate bottom end. See if it also makes it when cold.
Oh wait a sec, only when warm could also be an exhaust leak. Wiggle the exhaust and see if it changes when hot or cold. And could also be an intake leak.
Cool.
Buddha.

[chris900f]

Don't forget the "walking-cam" noise only happens after the engine warms up.

You can eliminate this as a possibility by leaning the bike to left side as it runs: if the sound gets quieter
it is the cams, and not a problem--just noise.

You should be checking valve clearance roughly every 6000kms.

[The Buddha]

I didn't hear the tap-a tap-a tap-a that the cam makes when side play is high. But you might have, it just seemed like some of the regular engine noises were escaping more.
Cool.
Buddha.

[chris900f]

I didn't hear the tap-a tap-a tap-a that the cam makes when side play is high. But you might have, it just seemed like some of the regular engine noises were escaping more.
Cool.
Buddha.

You are probably right about the cam-noise, but it is so easy to diagnose that I think it's worth getting it out of the way before moving on
to things that require actual disassembly.

I would add that if it's unclear if the valves have ever been checked, and you have 17,000kms on the clock...it's time.

[HPP8140]

Sounds like a healthy bike to me. My 2002 has 83K...I heard noises and thought it was going to die at 14K and many times after.

Stay on top of oil changes, oil level (burns lots of oil as it ages), valve adjustments (loose exhaust valves better), watch out for goats if the bike fell hard on the left cover. Other than that, I've learned...the engine just makes noises depends on temp etc.

[Bluesmudge]

Sounds normal to me too.

[Gladiator00sk]

Sound like spun rod bearing to me. (Try to change oil, If you see copper flakes it is definetly rod bearings)

[gigelmaricel]

Hello!

From what I've come across it is most likely a case of a failing cam chain tensioner
Given the low cost of the part and the relative ease of installation I suggest swapping it for a new one
If the sounds persists take the valve cover off, inspect timing chain and while you're in there also check valve clearances.

Concerning what others have said it really doesn't sound like anything bottom end related (crank bearings and the likes) so no worries there.

Hope this information will help you!