GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

This problem just started on Monday after the GS spent three days hiding at work under cover.

When starting out in 1st, I hear a sort of grinding/rattling noise...  And occasionally a *ping*.  The grinding/rattling only seems to happen when in gear, as in.. When I pull the clutch it goes away and it doesn't happen when just revving the engine.  It's loudest when first starting out (2.5k-3.5K RPMs), and turns into more of a light "Up-And-Down" whirring noise at around 4K.  It more-or-less goes away once I'm over 5K (either that or I can't hear it over the engine noise). :dunno:

I had the valves adjusted yesterday and it didn't go away...  So, I'm guessing it's not the valves.

It doesn't sound like the Camshaft Endplay knocking (from the descriptions I've read).

I changed the oil about 2k miles ago and have checked the level regularly...  So, I don't think it's low oil.

I don't think it's the drive chain...  The tension was adjust when the rear tire was installed (about 250 miles ago).

So...  I'm thinking something is screwed up with the front sprocket, clutch, transmission, or...  maybe the cam (would I always hear it if the cam was screwed up?)...

I have an Apointment with Aurora Suzuki for my 12K maintenance, but the valves were adjusted by mistake when the front tire was installed at Eastside Motorsports (I asked them how much, and they thought that meant DO IT.)

What do you all think?  Any additional diagnosis I can do?  Should I just take it in to Suzuki and hope it doesn't cost $300+ to fix?  I'm at a loss of ideas and money.

camshaft teshioner?

Would you be able to hear the noise from the cam when just revving?   :dunno:
Or maybe the noise is there, but putting a load on the engine makes it louder?  The noise seems worse when I under rev the engine...

probably, but spell it right and it'll come up in a search

:dunno:

It doesn't sound quite right, but I guess I'll just leave it to the professionals and hope for the best.

Sounds a lot like my 6th gear noises. Does it only do it in one gear, or in all of them? Mine sounds fine until I shift to 6th, at less than 5k it's a "whrr-whrr" noise w/ a kind of mechanical, clanky sound. Once I'm going faster, say 7k on the hwy, I can't really hear it any more and I don't think it's just b/c everything else is louder.. but who knows. That said, I don't have a clue what it is.. it's been like that since I bought it. Probably my biggest pet peeve on my bike. Too bad it's a HUGE pain to pull out tranny gears and see what they look like. Oh yeah, I have 30k miles on mine... so it could be just wear.

trey

Quote from: RVertigoThis problem just started on Monday after the GS spent three days hiding at work under cover.

First I have to ask....it was hiding at work for three days....did anyone mess with?

Quote from: treybradSounds a lot like my 6th gear noises. Does it only do it in one gear, or in all of them? Mine sounds fine until I shift to 6th, at less than 5k it's a "whrr-whrr" noise w/ a kind of mechanical, clanky sound.

Well, mine seemed to be happening in all gears, but really bad in first at low RPMs...

Since I'm nowhere near mechanically inclined enough to diagnose and repair the problem myself, I just took it in...

The shop manager checked it out and took the GS for a spin.  He's rather confident that my sprockets and chain are SHOT!  He said the rear one wasn't that bad, but the chain has a tight spot and was worn...  He said it sounds like the front sprocket is pretty bad.

I sure hope he's right and it's not something else...  14K on the same chain and sprockets (and the last owner didn't maintain it very well)...  I guess I can't complain too much huh?

I think it's pretty odd that something could go from quiet to noisy as hell in a few days.  But, what the hell do I know?   :dunno:

Quote from: Jeppy

Quote from: RVertigoThis problem just started on Monday after the GS spent three days hiding at work under cover.

First I have to ask....it was hiding at work for three days....did anyone mess with?

I don't think anyone did...  It looked like it hadn't moved an inch to me, but... Who knows. :dunno:

i just replaced my chain.  I was getting the same sort of sounds that you were describing.  I couldn't tell what or where for the longest time either.  Certain links would kink making the noises when i started off.  I threw a new chain on and it was like getting a new bike.  Sprockets are pretty cheap (that is if you do truly need to replace them, mine were mint) and my new chain cost like $65 bucks and i put it on myself.

For me, i was able to lube the chain until i did the work and the noise went away.  Not a solution, but a good indication that it is infact the chain.

I wish I had the time and mechanical aptitude to do the chain and sprockets...  And a torque wrench. :oops:

I'm a little freaked out about messing with the drive...  And now I'm paying dearly for it.

My chain was $85 and the sprockets were like $25 and $30 or something.   :oops:  1.5 hours of shop labor...   :(

Maybe I should have changed to a 17 tooth to bring my freeway RPMs down...  Oh well.

did everything work out?

Yeah... It all worked out...  I ended up getting 30 min of labor free 'cause they f%&ked up and couldn't do my bike on the day of my apointment.  So.......  I saved $35.

The 15T is pretty good actually...  I just hope it doesn't screw up my MPG too much. :dunno:

I have the same thing, same noises under the same conditions, and I also came to the conclusion it must be the chain. I'm glas I could read all your findings, seems like replacing the chain is the way to go. The chain has 24K miles, so maybe it's time I'll change it  :) .

24K?!?!?!?!?!?  Yeah...  Uh... Yeah... CHANGE IT!

You might want to check out your sprockets too.  I'm sure mine were screwed because of the guy I bought the GS from.  When I got it, the chain was totally covered in crud, probably hadn't been lubed EVER, and had about 3" of play in it.  NO GOOD.

It's all sorted now though. :thumb:

THe new chain and sprockets are SWEEEEEEEET!  In the last two weeks I've gotten new tires, new chain and sprockets, valve job, new handle bars, and adjusted the rear shock tension...  It's like a new bike. (http://www.stearns.org/icons/motorcycle_smiley.gif)

Hehe good for you. A nice tune-up makes a new bike indeed.

I for sure am going to change the chain and sprockets in a few weeks.