Just finished the first service.  The bike went in and came out of the service with a recurring noise that sounds like a metallic, "clunk-clunk".  It occurs every second or so when the engine is running.  The dealer stated that "We have another owner with the same noise.  Suzuki so far hasn't come up with a reason for it."  Any ideas?  The bike runs fine and is a hoot to ride.

Gene

This is probably not what you're after but I think it sounds like one of those noises that will drive you mad and cost you bulk dollars to diagnose and perhaps still not fix.  Alternatively you can accept that your bike is running well despite the noise, call it part of the character and charm, and ignore it.  If your mechanic isn't concerned about it from a safety or longevity point of view, I'd ignore it.

Michael,

There is the sound of experience in your reply.  I'm just curious to see if other "F" riders have the same observations!  Thanks.




Gene

i have a new gs500f also, i have been told and read that it was the cam chain tensioner, mine used to do it, but haven't noticed it lately, i have 4500 miles on her already, i think it stopped around 2500.

Quote from: tdan553527i have a new gs500f also, i have been told and read that it was the cam chain tensioner, mine used to do it, but haven't noticed it lately, i have 4500 miles on her already, i think it stopped around 2500.

If you listen real hard can you still hear it?  Is it possible you don't notice it because you've gotten used to it?  Sometimes these noises go away during/after breakin as things loosen up, only to be replaced by other noises as things loosen up.  Euther way, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I had the same noise on my new f and I asked the service guy at the dealer and he said suzuki knew about the noise and decided that it was just one of those noises it would make and not to worry about it.

Quote from: CaravanThe bike [has] a recurring noise that sounds like a metallic, "clunk-clunk".  It occurs every second or so when the engine is running.

As far as you can tell, does this only happen at idle?  It sounds like the noise that we have chalked up to "camshaft sideplay".

I have owned two GS500Es.  One of them made an "intermittent soft clunk" noise like you describe, and the other one didn't.   I eventually checked the valve clearances on both bikes (service due every 4,000 miles).  On the bike that made the noise, I could manually move one of the 2 camshafts from side-to-side by a millimeter or so.  On the "quiet bike" I couldn't detect any such sideplay.

OK, so maybe this didn't constitute a definitive diagnosis.  But it satisfied me that the sideplay was the cause of the noise, and that it was nothing to worry about.  If / when you eventually do your own valve clearance check (we can help!) then you can try this test for your peace of mind.

Yup, mine does it too.  It almost sounds like knocking.  I've had the noise since about 500 miles, the dealer couldn't find anything wrong at the 600 mile service.

Mine does it when hot, and after you've come to a stop.  Doesn't do it at all with any amount of throttle, only when the rpm's return to idle and only for about 2 seconds, then goes away. No rpm drop, no change in the engine sounds otherwise, just a cloppa-clunk noise at a rate of about 3 per second for 2 or three seconds.  

It never happened all the time, but I have found a way to decrease the occurances.  I bumped up my idle speed from a lowish 1300rpm to just a hair over 1500rpm and it happens less frequently. Used to do the noise about 70% of the time I'd come to a stop, now it does it about 30% of the time.    I'll grab my digital recorder and try to get it for a group diagnosis sometime.

Thank you all for the useful responses.  I intend to put as many miles on it as I can and see what happens.  Now....in a totally unrelated topic, the bike appears to be rusting before my very eyes.  (It is the rainy season in Florida. )  It is outside and covered with a Dowco cover.  Any suggestions to keep the rust   :x at bay?

Thanks for the help and the positive attitudes!

Gene

Quote from: PAC.  I've had the noise since about 500 miles, the dealer couldn't find anything wrong at the 600 mile service.

I was suppose to service the dang thing? Geez...oops...it's alright, I'm still sitting around 700 miles...hee hee...

I haven't noticed this sound unless it's the same sound I had with my GZ250 and this one. I figured clunking was normal and like any new auto/bike - breaking in takes a long time. I don't think a bike is truly worked it's kinks out until at least 5000, and a car, upwards to 15 or 20K.

Btw, what does the 600 mile service involve? I know my oil was low last time I rode so I threw in some more...then it burned it and left a nasty burny smell for a little bit...

Quote from: djplumkingwhat does the 600 mile service involve?

Check out the "Maintenance Schedule" entry in the "Go To" dropdown in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

It's up to you whether you do EVERYTHING on the list.  But better safe than sorry!

Yes the intermittent clunk is a strange noise. I pretty much ignore it. I've got a 2000 model.

It's character my fine colleagues.  That's what it is.

:guns:

Smooth Dave

is the rust on the buts and bolts ? Cause i think i read on here, if you dab some grease on the nuts and bolts, that will help prevent rusting of them.

Ive got the same noise also, my valves checked out so its very likely its the cams as mentioned by Kerry.

If the cams do have side-to-side play in them and that is causing the noise, there is a supposed to be a washer on the left side of the cam to eliminate the play. I wonder if some the 04 models are missing them or the washer is too thin. Just a thought.

btw...If I had a bike under warranty, I would be pestering the dealer until I was given a satisfactory explaination & repair of the noise. A group letter to Suzuki perhaps.

It's not a cam chain noise or valve train noise as I've said from the beginning, it's a camshaft with a bit too much sideplay moving back and forth sideways.  

In case anyone is loosing too much sleep over it, it is harmless.  Started in my 97 during the first 1k miles and went away when I went to 15W-50 Mobil 1 at about 5k miles.  Ran the Mobil 1 till about 60k miles and changed to Mobil Delvac 15W-40 oil and the noise came back and is still there at about 80k miles.  So don't panic till you have more than 80k on you engine.   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

It knocks only when hot, only at idle, pick up the revs and it goes away.  If you can't live with it, you can try some heavier oil like the 15-50 or 20-50 which seems to quiet it for many, many miles.  One opinion though on the heavier oil, the engine runs cooler with the 15-40 than it did with the heavier 15-50.  When I changed from 15-50 to 15-40, I could run a octane grade lower gasoline without pinging under load in hot weather.  I'm running the 15W-40 Delvac 1300 in both GS500's now.  My 2002 GS500 does not have the knock and has 12k miles on it now.  I'm gonna try to remember to check the camshaft sideplay on it next time I check the valves.  Like Kerry's one bike, my 97 had excess sideplay in one camshaft and not the other.

Mine's making the same noise at idle(300 miles).

Jack,

The noise that I hear is always present.  The dealer claims that he has at least one other 500F with the same complaint.  I guess that this will be a good opportunity to "discover" how customer oriented this dealer is!

Gene

I'm having the same noise, I only really notice it when it's idling, but every now and then I notice it when I'm going slow speeds. But as you can tell from the thread I started, i'm having other issues with my bike.