RVF rattle slowly getting worse and now very loud

XXXV4 · Post by **XXXV4** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:02 pm

Hey all..

I have a issue with my rvf400. Over the last few weeks I have noticed a rattle (sounds to me like valve clearance) and at first it was only slight and sounded isolated to one cylinder, but it's gotten ridiculously worse seemingly overnight? It was normal after my ride yesterday, still noisy but nothing crazy, and this morning the bike wouldn't start sounded really weird like low comp then started and was tapping it's nuts off very loud! Anyone ever had a similar experience/have any ideas?

Cheers.

code2006 · Post by **code2006** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:22 pm

I don't know anything about engine noise's but I would think it would be rings maybe?

Post by **ibby4585** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:15 pm

You sure its not the exhaust?

Kris

Post by **porndoguk** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:03 pm

ibby4585 wrote:You sure its not the exhaust?

Kris

i can vouch on personal experiance,

do you have small/young children?

Post by **dx400r** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:43 pm

I agree with ibby.

Loose exhaust header bolts (esp at the rear) can make for very worrying tappy noises. Check em out.

XXXV4 · Post by **XXXV4** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:08 am

Ok I'll have a look and make sure there tight etc.. I think the hard starting may have Been a bad batch of fuel cause I started it again today no issues and all I've done is fill her up with premium fuel.. Hopefully! I'll let u guys know how I go! Thanks guys!

Post by **skinnydog0_0** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:31 pm

It may well be exhaust bolts, but i would deffinately not run the engine with it rattling or knocking till i had found exactly what it was. If it is a valve (IF) you may do some really seroius damage. Would you feel comfortable taking the cam covers and heads off? I would check valve clearences first, to see if there is any discrepancy from standard spec. then take heads off and look to see if the valves/piston crowns have any signs of damage.
Have you over revved the bike, or really ridden it hard before this happened?

Post by **Neosophist** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:16 pm

skinnydog0_0 wrote:It may well be exhaust bolts, but i would deffinately not run the engine with it rattling or knocking till i had found exactly what it was. If it is a valve (IF) you may do some really seroius damage. Would you feel comfortable taking the cam covers and heads off? I would check valve clearences first, to see if there is any discrepancy from standard spec. then take heads off and look to see if the valves/piston crowns have any signs of damage.
Have you over revved the bike, or really ridden it hard before this happened?

If it's suddenly got worse i wouldnt think it'd be valve clearances.. internally it could be something like big ends / little ends / no oil.

Or maybe simply an unscrewed exhuast nut.

Either way.. you should never keep riding an engine that develops a strange mechanical noise.. quickest way to turn what could be a small problem into somethign major...

Post by **skinnydog0_0** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:28 pm

Neosophist wrote:
skinnydog0_0 wrote:It may well be exhaust bolts, but i would deffinately not run the engine with it rattling or knocking till i had found exactly what it was. If it is a valve (IF) you may do some really seroius damage. Would you feel comfortable taking the cam covers and heads off? I would check valve clearences first, to see if there is any discrepancy from standard spec. then take heads off and look to see if the valves/piston crowns have any signs of damage.
Have you over revved the bike, or really ridden it hard before this happened?
If it's suddenly got worse i wouldnt think it'd be valve clearances.. internally it could be something like big ends / little ends / no oil.

Or maybe simply an unscrewed exhuast nut.

Either way.. you should never keep riding an engine that develops a strange mechanical noise.. quickest way to turn what could be a small problem into somethign major...

Very good point on the bearings Neo, I suggest checking the valve clearence to save on taking the heads off. I threw a valve in my RVF, and i reckon if i had checked the clearences when i heard that tap tap tap, it could have saved my engine. Perhaps i still have a valve hang up

XXXV4 · Post by **XXXV4** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:20 am

Pulled all the fairings off and the sound appears to be coming from the heads in the middle. Anyone know a good bike mechanic in Sydney???