I'm new to the forum, so I'm sorry to post another engine noise question. I just really need some help.

I was on the highway at about 9,000rpm with headphones in for the total distance of a half mile. Pulled off to the side and could tell something was wrong. Took out the music, and heard the worst noise of my life. Sounded like I could hear every metallic movement of my engine, constant knocking. The gasket had blown out the right front. The gasket had been leaking and got to low on oil till it finally went. We replaced the gasket, and put in new oil. The noise isn't as bad, but still there and very loud, it only happens when I hit 3500rpm or above. Checked the cam chain length, the cam tensioner, and then the valve clearance. Length and tension good, the valves have 0 clearance, and when turning the engine over we can hear one valve make a scraping noise.

Sounds kinda terminal to me. Engines do not seem to survive long with out oil, especially at around 9k rpm. Could I ask why you were pushing it so hard? My GS sits on the highway at aroung just over 5k rpm at 100kph (60mph).

Mine had a 14t front sprocket, I believe I ran about 9k at 90mph. Not that it's relative to your engine problems, just saying it's not necessarily 'pushing it'.

And I would be guessing it was already low on oil before the gasket blew. It would have to be p1ssing out oil for it to lose that much through a gasket.

He is right. I actually have a 14 in front, and 46 in back. I drained about a liter out of the bike after it all happened, a lil came out the gasket when it blew. I am guessing its some kind of valve damage since there is no clearance, and a scraping noise. However I am at a loss as to where to start. Figure I will buy the manual and pay however much i must to fix it.

id say get the valves shimmed correctly, look at the cams and the cam bearings, see if they are scrap
fill it with oil and use a screwdriver to listen when its on

if you hear noises in the crank case, might just be better to get a new engine

1 quart isnt much, barely reach the primary drive gears

Quote from: wsman21 on January 08, 2011, 04:38:55 PM
He is right. I actually have a 14 in front, and 46 in back.

What the fark?

Geeze, don't you like using first gear, want to take off in second, or even third...

So, for each three on the back up, that's like one down on the front, so you've gone up 7 on the rear which is like a stock rear and a 12 front.

Ok. I got to ask... Why? Seriously, it's not like the GS is so pathetically slow you need to do this to get going from traffic lights or anything? You just like to see how quick you can kill your bike or something? Never heard of Mechanical Sympathy? Man, your bike would be screaming its head of everywhere. Why do it? 

Michael

From many of the threads I've read in this forum, a large part of a GS's allure is the fun in riding a slow bike fast/aggressively (as oppsed to riding a fast bike slow).  9000 rpm is not crazy.  The engines are supposed to be bulletproof.  Running low on oil, however, is problematic.

Perhaps a second-hand engine would be cheaper than trying to repair the damage from lack of oil.

Quote from: ned from PA on January 08, 2011, 08:24:10 PM
From many of the threads I've read in this forum, a large part of a GS's allure is the fun in riding a slow bike fast/aggressively (as oppsed to riding a fast bike slow).  9000 rpm is not crazy.  The engines are supposed to be bulletproof.  Running low on oil, however, is problematic.

Peak HP on the GS is around 9,000. Why ride everywhere at peak where you'll have nothing up your sleeve? Yes, riding around all over the Public Streets at 9,000 is crazy. Sure the engines are bullet proof, when treated correctly with a set up that Suzuki's team of engineers devised was the optimum for the bike's longevity. At 9k in 4th the bike is doing 140kph (88mph). This is exceeding the speed limit in Aust and pretty sure the USA as well. Clicking up to 5th brings the rpms down and clicking up to 6th for this speed brings them down some more. So there is no Need to be riding at such RPM for prolonged periods on the streets.

Mess with how the bike was designed to run and you start getting problems - as this thread shows.

It sucks the OP has stuffed his bike. But he must also have had his earphones cranking right up high to drown out the screaming at 9,000 and also the noise it was making as it was being killed.

If he's not checking his oil, I'd bet the chain is history too and cogs are prob due for a change. Cause neglect in one area is usually a sign of neglect in other areas.

Michael

Thank you all for your feedback. I'm definitely going to get the valves shimmed correctly, and check the cam bearings. I am not sure where to buy an engine for it, but it may be a more cost effective route.

The gearing only changed the rpm difference by 1,500. So at 80mph stock gs500 is at 7,000 rpm. My bike at 80mph is at 8,500 (6th gear). I was on the highway when I was at 9,000. Had to rush home for lunch from work. Plus the gearing difference allows my bike to finally pop a 12 o'clock.

4th gear at 9k rpm was never 88mph for me. I am a 200lb rider, but to do 88mph in 6th gear I was at almost 8k rpm.

Check out the for sale section here. Post an ad that you are looking for an engine. Try to trawl ebay for one or ring a few bike wreckers.

Try these =

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-89-GS500-GS-500E-GS-500-ENGINE-/230564956165?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35aebe0805


http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-GS500F-GS500-GS-500-ENGINE-MOTOR-2004-2009-/380302048653?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item588bc4bd8d