Quote from: J_Walker on July 26, 2018, 05:14:28 PM
if its lower end, it will sound funny when riding the bike. like it will come an go depending on RPM. like it will start to make "the noise" when the engine is under load, but when you get to RPM steady, it will seemingly "go away" this is the "pre-warning" for spitting out a babbit bearing of some sort.

sounds like upper end to me, like its slapping, me thinks loose tolerances. cam chain is more of a slap sound, and it comes mainly from the front of the engine more, because the cam chain guide clips in towards the back of the engine [near the carbs]

Also you know when the cam chain skips a tooth or two......  things run into each other...

Interesting. I don't remember hearing it when I was riding. Only when stopped. I checked the cams and everything while I was adjusting my valves and nothing was loose. I completely forgot to check the cam chain tensioner but I will do that tomorrow. Is it possible to get to it without taking the carbs off?

Update: I think I might be getting somewhere. I took the cam chain tensioner off and it was stuck in one position. I tapped it a few times and it sprung back out. I'm not sure how strong the spring is supposed to be but it feels like it doesn't want to spring out. It feels very weak and a little sticky. Is there any way to fix it or should I just buy a new one?

Replace it or switch to a manual CCT

Quote from: Bluesmudge on July 27, 2018, 05:31:58 PM
Replace it or switch to a manual CCT

I will probably get a manual one since they are cheaper and I've read that the OEM auto ones aren't very good. But the problem is I can't find any for a gs500f except for eBay. Would an eBay one be fine? I mean it's just a bolt with a jam nut, right? I would like to get a reputable one though

Quote from: mrdrprof on July 28, 2018, 09:38:40 AM

Quote from: Bluesmudge on July 27, 2018, 05:31:58 PM
Replace it or switch to a manual CCT

I will probably get a manual one since they are cheaper and I've read that the OEM auto ones aren't very good. But the problem is I can't find any for a gs500f except for eBay. Would an eBay one be fine? I mean it's just a bolt with a jam nut, right? I would like to get a reputable one though

I doubt there's anything that bad about the OEM tensioners. Sure some fail occasionally and leave a bitter taste in the mouth of whoever they fail on, but I bet the majority of them are perfectly fine for dozens of thousands of miles.

Quote from: Kookas on July 28, 2018, 10:47:01 AM

Quote from: mrdrprof on July 28, 2018, 09:38:40 AM

I will probably get a manual one since they are cheaper and I've read that the OEM auto ones aren't very good. But the problem is I can't find any for a gs500f except for eBay. Would an eBay one be fine? I mean it's just a bolt with a jam nut, right? I would like to get a reputable one though

I doubt there's anything that bad about the OEM tensioners. Sure some fail occasionally and leave a bitter taste in the mouth of whoever they fail on, but I bet the majority of them are perfectly fine for dozens of thousands of miles.

Oh okay. I will probably get a manual one anyways just because they're cheaper

I'm happy to hear your making some progress.
Make your self a "manometer" if you dont all ready have one, and balance the carbs.
GS's will get "cam chain shimmy" if the carbs are out of balance.

Quote from: crackin on July 28, 2018, 04:58:29 PM
I'm happy to hear your making some progress.
Make your self a "manometer" if you dont all ready have one, and balance the carbs.
GS's will get "cam chain shimmy" if the carbs are out of balance.

my man-o-meter has been off lately... can't tell who's what anymore... 

Well, the new tensioner seemed to help a little, but that might just be me. But when I was setting the tension (I got a manual tensioner), I noticed there was a spot where it seemed to have good tension , about 6mm, and another spot where it was not as tight, about 9-10mm. Is this a sign that my cam chain is worn out?

That may be, however the cam chain is fully soaked in oil and has no exposure to the elements, which is what kills a chain, lack of lube and elements as well as loads - which in a cam chain isn't much but it is a small chain, but, the load is even smaller.
I would try to run the chain and see if the noise persists. When the one and only time my CCT went, the cam chain made a sort of tapping sound, not quite ticking.
A lower end bearing that is starting to go would make a sound under steady or even trailing throttle but quieten up in open throttle. Of course it also would not even make it 1/2 hr before it makes a banging sound all around and gives up.
Cool.
Buddha.

You need to check the starter clutch. The bolts holding it are prone to loosening off. It is a common problem that has been mentioned in this forum many times.

Another common problem with the GS is, the cam chain will stretch in some place's more than other's.
My chain has been replaced with one off a honda, that has a rivet joint. No need to split the casings.
I will check my receipts and or talk to my mechanic to see what honda cam chain he used.

Yeah, I've heard about the starter clutch coming loose on these bikes. What do I need to check in there?

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62379.msg728346#msg728346

I suggest you check it out sooner rather than latter. You DON'T want the bolts to shear.

So while I was trying to sync the carbs, the bike kept dying and each time I started it it would struggle more and more and now it will just crank but won't start. I tried:

Charging the battery
Bench syncing the carbs
Swapping spark plugs out for my old ones that are still in okay condition
Checking for spark
Putting fresh gas into the carbs

So maybe the starter clutch was loose and got loose enough to where it will crank but won't start? I will have to pull the cover off and check it.

Quote from: mrdrprof on July 31, 2018, 04:12:00 PM
So while I was trying to sync the carbs, the bike kept dying and each time I started it it would struggle more and more and now it will just crank but won't start. I tried:

Charging the battery
Bench syncing the carbs
Swapping spark plugs out for my old ones that are still in okay condition
Checking for spark
Putting fresh gas into the carbs

So maybe the starter clutch was loose and got loose enough to where it will crank but won't start? I will have to pull the cover off and check it.

Update: I guess the gas I used was bad because the Jets were clogged 

But I pulled the crank case cover off and nothing seemed loose. So that possibility is checked off. I took off the little cover on the clutch side for the spark generator and it looks like it wobbles more that it should. I compared it to my brother's GS and his doesn't wobble as much. What does this mean?

Video: https://youtu.be/Ev4OEpcZeeE

What? What the f%$k do you mean it wobbles? That shaZam! ain't sposed to wobble.

Quote from: crackin on August 02, 2018, 06:28:36 AM
What? What the f%$k do you mean it wobbles? That shaZam! ain't sposed to wobble.

It doesn't spin straight. Watch the video.

I'm so lost on this. After some really close listening it sounds like it's either where the clutch assembly is or in the top end. It's hard to narrow it down. I hear a more "clicky" noise from the clutch area and more of a general knock from the top end.

I think I found the problem... I'm not sure if this bolt is supposed to move up and down like it does. What is this?

https://imgur.com/a/nVt3ELQ

Quote from: mrdrprof on August 03, 2018, 03:42:24 PM
I think I found the problem... I'm not sure if this bolt is supposed to move up and down like it does. What is this?

https://imgur.com/a/nVt3ELQ

I've never been deep enough into the engine to know but from the nut and plate I think that's the end of the counterbalancer. It has weights on it, spins counter to the crankshaft and serves to reduce vibration. I would assume that there shouldn't be any free-play in it at all, being a core reciprocating component and all.



There must be a bearing right behind that shaft where the counterbalancer spins in the case, which may have disintegrated if there's up/down play, but this is just my guess.