My gallbladder was removed two weeks ago and I'm finally feeling well enough to ride again. Went out this morning to start the bike and when it started, there was a noticeable knock coming from the engine. Not way loud, but doesn't sound right. Turned the bike off, let it sit for about twenty minutes and checked the oil. It's full of oil on the center stand and without threading the stick. Any ideas as to what it could be? I know I need a valve adjustment since the bike's sitting on 8,100 miles right now and I doubt it's ever been done. The bike also floods extremely easily now when I go to start it. If I'm not really careful of how much I choke it, it will flood out. It didn't do this before. This started about a week ago. Went out to the garage and started it every few days. The bike is a 2002 and like I said, it has around 8,100 miles on the odometer. It sleeps in my garage, so I know no-one has been fooling around with it at all besides me. Last time I changed the oil, I didn't change the filter. Could this be the reason it's knocking? Maybe oil not passing through the filter as well as it should? It's time for an oil change soon anyway. Any ideas?
Quote from: lewismug on June 27, 2008, 09:33:27 AM
My gallbladder was removed two weeks ago and I'm finally feeling well enough to ride again. Went out this morning to start the bike and when it started, there was a noticeable knock coming from the engine. Not way loud, but doesn't sound right. Turned the bike off, let it sit for about twenty minutes and checked the oil. It's full of oil on the center stand and without threading the stick. Any ideas as to what it could be? I know I need a valve adjustment since the bike's sitting on 8,100 miles right now and I doubt it's ever been done. The bike also floods extremely easily now when I go to start it. If I'm not really careful of how much I choke it, it will flood out. It didn't do this before. This started about a week ago. Went out to the garage and started it every few days. The bike is a 2002 and like I said, it has around 8,100 miles on the odometer. It sleeps in my garage, so I know no-one has been fooling around with it at all besides me. Last time I changed the oil, I didn't change the filter. Could this be the reason it's knocking? Maybe oil not passing through the filter as well as it should? It's time for an oil change soon anyway. Any ideas?
Welcome back! I'm glad to hear everything went well. :cheers:
It seems really strange that sitting for only two weeks would result in these problems :dunno_white:
I think you're on the right track to check valves, but I don't see why sitting would suddenly make out of spec valves so noticeable.
Lots of people (gsJack included!) change the filter every other oil change; I definitely don't think that would cause the knocking.
How ya feeling ? Hope things are well for you post surgery. :)
Could be just the bike needs a little riding, get the oil running nicely. I don't remember you being the type to beat on her, so I doubt there is any damage.
An oil change will tell you if things are ok or not. Slivers in the oil - well, you know what that means.
I'd bet you just haven't heard her in a while, cranked her up without your lid on, and thought "OH NO !" - but everything is fine.
Keep us posted. :)
Oil will have drained out of the top end while it was stood and parts will be dry, after starting the engine are you allowing enough time for the oil to find its way around the valvegear? I would say leave it ticking over for a minute or two and give things chance to warm up and and see if it quietens down but be ready to shut it off if the oil-light comes on or the noise gets progressively worse.
Thanks for the quick responses guys! I'm feeling great now! It was the first time I've ever been operated on and I must admit that seeing the incisions was an experience! Still can't sleep on my stomach, so sleep hasn't been as good as before, but that will come in time I hope. The Lortab really helped me to kind of stay in/out of it for the first week after surgery. What really sucked is that this was supposed to be the first Father's Day I have been able to spend with my son. He usually goes to Florida to spend the summer with his grandmother and decided he wanted to stay home this year. Well, Father's Day morning around 6 a.m. is when I woke up with the attack, so it kind of ruined it for me and him! Maybe next year though!
I let it run for maybe a minute this morning and shut it down because I was scared of locking something up. I'll do an oil change, along with a new filter and see how things go. I'm thinking of maybe placing a hard drive magnet on the inner side of the oil plug just so I can kind of keep a really good eye on any shavings. Would this be a bad idea? I don't know how much clearance there is in that area for something like that. Also, I just filled it with regular Shell 10w-40 on the last oil change. It's also the first oil change I'd ever done on the bike. Should I get motorcycle specific oil for the bike, or will just any old oil work? I'm thinking this may be the cause of the knock maybe.
Quote from: lewismug on June 27, 2008, 11:28:32 AM
Thanks for the quick responses guys! I let it run for maybe a minute this morning and shut it down because I was scared of locking something up. I'll do an oil change, along with a new filter and see how things go. I'm thinking of maybe placing a hard drive magnet on the inner side of the oil plug just so I can kind of keep a really good eye on any shavings. Would this be a bad idea? I don't know how much clearance there is in that area for something like that.
I bought a replacement oil drain screw a few weeks ago. Apparently, the screw has been redesigned to include a built-in magnet; the end of the screw has been hollowed out and a small magnet is embedded right in there. I'll see if I can get a picture this weekend (I haven't installed it yet).
Anyways, it seems like you're proposing something similar. Sounds like a good idea, assuming you can prevent the magnet from coming loose and getting "lost". :)
Quote from: lewismug on June 27, 2008, 11:28:32 AM
Thanks for the quick responses guys! I'm feeling great now! It was the first time I've ever been operated on and I must admit that seeing the incisions was an experience! Still can't sleep on my stomach, so sleep hasn't been as good as before, but that will come in time I hope. The Lortab really helped me to kind of stay in/out of it for the first week after surgery. What really sucked is that this was supposed to be the first Father's Day I have been able to spend with my son. He usually goes to Florida to spend the summer with his grandmother and decided he wanted to stay home this year. Well, Father's Day morning around 6 a.m. is when I woke up with the attack, so it kind of ruined it for me and him! Maybe next year though!
I let it run for maybe a minute this morning and shut it down because I was scared of locking something up. I'll do an oil change, along with a new filter and see how things go. I'm thinking of maybe placing a hard drive magnet on the inner side of the oil plug just so I can kind of keep a really good eye on any shavings. Would this be a bad idea? I don't know how much clearance there is in that area for something like that. Also, I just filled it with regular Shell 10w-40 on the last oil change. It's also the first oil change I'd ever done on the bike. Should I get motorcycle specific oil for the bike, or will just any old oil work? I'm thinking this may be the cause of the knock maybe.
Good to hear surgery went well.
I use motorcycle specific oil after having clutch problems.The previous owner used standard 10-40 GTX auto oil.I had to replace the clutch at the begining of spring.I'm not saying don't use auto oils.You just have to read the fine print on the back.Look for anything that says energy conservation or friction modifiers.These will cause the clutch to slip and burn the friction discs up by over heating them.I also change my filters every oil change.I live near 2 rock quaries, 3 concrete mixing stations and 2 asphalt mixing stations.So, I have dust and lots of it, since we have not had rain since the 1st week of April.
Quote from: lewismug on June 27, 2008, 11:28:32 AM
Thanks for the quick responses guys! I'm feeling great now! It was the first time I've ever been operated on and I must admit that seeing the incisions was an experience! Still can't sleep on my stomach, so sleep hasn't been as good as before, but that will come in time I hope. The Lortab really helped me to kind of stay in/out of it for the first week after surgery. What really sucked is that this was supposed to be the first Father's Day I have been able to spend with my son. He usually goes to Florida to spend the summer with his grandmother and decided he wanted to stay home this year. Well, Father's Day morning around 6 a.m. is when I woke up with the attack, so it kind of ruined it for me and him! Maybe next year though!
I let it run for maybe a minute this morning and shut it down because I was scared of locking something up. I'll do an oil change, along with a new filter and see how things go. I'm thinking of maybe placing a hard drive magnet on the inner side of the oil plug just so I can kind of keep a really good eye on any shavings. Would this be a bad idea? I don't know how much clearance there is in that area for something like that. Also, I just filled it with regular Shell 10w-40 on the last oil change. It's also the first oil change I'd ever done on the bike. Should I get motorcycle specific oil for the bike, or will just any old oil work? I'm thinking this may be the cause of the knock maybe.
Man, I'd be nuts if I didn't have mini me around for that long ! :D Ah well, it will change as he gets older i guess. :)
The oil type debate will go on and on. (shrug) I just use castrol 10w40, minus the friction inhibitors of course ;) and no unusual (ok, unusual for a gs anyway) noises on mine.
Good luck :)
ps- please save me 3.2 lortabs
Well, I just got home and decided to take it for a spin. Went about 5 miles and when I got back home, the knock is still there. The idle is crazy as well. I had to adjust the idle screw way out just so it would stay running and then when I turned the throttle, it hung way high. I then had to turn the idle screw back in to make it idle close to normal. The knock sounds like it's coming from the left side of the top of the engine as I sit on it. with it idling, I can get down close to the engine and hear it really well. It sounds kind of like a light pinging, but more of a ping. It's not a thud. Know what I mean?? This has me worried because this is my main transportation on my 180+ round trip to work each day. Having to drive the Jeep right now and 50 bucks a day for gas is not fun.
After letting the bike sit for about an hour or two, I drove it down the road and now everything is back to normal. :dunno_white: Idle is great, knock is gone completely. Gremlins maybe? I guess she was just mad @ me for leaving her alone for so long. ;)
Quote from: lewismug on June 27, 2008, 06:56:18 PM
After letting the bike sit for about an hour or two, I drove it down the road and now everything is back to normal. :dunno_white: Idle is great, knock is gone completely. Gremlins maybe? I guess she was just mad @ me for leaving her alone for so long. ;)
left hand side, up at the top, sounds like cam shaft float. dunno if yours has the fixed spacer or not.
so you're saying more like ping, or tappet kinda sound ?
mine makes all kinds of rattle bangs at red lights occasionally. for the most part the V&H covers it up. :)
check yer engine mounts n stuff. might have one working loose.
as far as the idle goes, sounds like you might have some trash or water that's creeping in. :(