Bag of nails at startup!

[Balders1450]

My 2010 GSA 18,000 miles, and my mate's 08 GS 24,000 miles both sound like a bag of nails for the first few revolutions when started.

When I asked my dealer he said "it's the cam chain, lack of oil for the first few revs"...it's normal........

I'm currently trying to sell a mates 08 GS with 3,000 miles on, we started it for the first time in 2 months and it purred like a good un straight away....

My guess.... it's because it still nuns on normal mineral oil where as mine uses fully snyth and as it's thinner it drains away from the top end, so when started there isn't the lubrication to begin with

Or the cam tensioner?

Any ideas, and should we be concerned?

Both bikes are booked in for a service next Sat before our next Alps trip..

 

[NLC]

Mine does the same and I asked about it on its 12k service last week. Same answer.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Yep mine too although it is fine on initial start but after about 30 seconds you can hear the chain rattle for a couple of seconds.

 

[Beemerman59]

Sometimes mine does and sometimes not - '08 GSA. Once, when I got it back from a dealer service it made so much noise for about a minute I thought it was going to self destruct. Usually its only a second or two. If I ride the bike every few days there's usually no noise at all - leave it a week there is. Its the hydraulic cam chain tensioners I'm told and no worries. I use 20/50 mineral oil.

 

[VAL. H.]

Yep, The tensioners need to refill with oil as it will drain back when not running.

Depends also on what oil you use too. Some will be thiner when cold than others. Plus the bikes vary one from to another and it will probably be different if the bike is stord on it's sidestand as opposed to it's mainstand.

You also get the same symtoms if the bike is dropped. Hot oil will drain out even quicker. In this case it will take longer than normal to refill the tensioner that was drained so the throttle may need to be held at around 2000rpm for a few seconds therefore raising the oil pressure to force oil back in. Done this many times with no adverce affects. Also had to have one tensiner replaced when the oil became emulsified preventing it from filling propperly, after a river drowning (replaced under warrentee, but I guess it could just have been cleaned out instead)

However; if after about 15-20 seconds the rattle hasn't stopped. Turn it off and consult you dealer. There will be some kind of blockage or a worn tensioner preventing it from working as it should. You won't be starving any other parts of the motor, as they will have their own oilways.


Val.

 

[NLC]

It does make it sound like a tractor.

Hitler didn't own a tractor.

 

[Stretchamus]

Hi Tossers,
My 2010 GSA, now 12,000 on it has always, on start up from cold, initially been quiet then when I am backing it out of the garage it starts to make a mechanical noise like there is a problem with the engine, then it goes quiet again.

From day one I posted up on here the symptoms and the answer from here is that there is nothing to be concerned about, so I thought well its got 2 years warranty so I stopped worrying

Any how its been in for three BMW services and no one has ever mentioned it.
Its just come back from a trip from Czeck Rep. Poland Slovakia Austria, in the company of Japanese sports bikes, has had a good flogging and still sounds and runs just as it did the day I bought it

Best regards Stretch

 

[leftofcentre]

You also get the same symtoms if the bike is dropped. ..................... Done this many times with no adverce affects.


Val.

 

[Horse1200]

My 2010 gsa has just started the same noise. I have carried out a oil flush and filter change. New slippery atuff added, it doesnt sound quite so bad, but still rattles from the o/s cylinder on start up. The bike did have a slight dunking in a muddy salisbury plain hole...(see hog raost pictures). BMW assist told me that if the noise continues after 15-20 seconds of running then a new chain tensioner maybe required.. But would be covered by warrenty.

 

[Stretchamus]

My 2010 gsa has just started the same noise. I have carried out a oil flush and filter change. New slippery atuff added, it doesnt sound quite so bad, but still rattles from the o/s cylinder on start up. The bike did have a slight dunking in a muddy salisbury plain hole...(see hog raost pictures). BMW assist told me that if the noise continues after 15-20 seconds of running then a new chain tensioner maybe required.. But would be covered by warrenty.

Hi Horse1200,
Mines done it since new and seeing as there seems to be no problems/recalls with cam chains, then I don't believe there is anything wrong with my cam chain.
It's my first BM and I reckon its just part of their character along with everything else that is different about them

Best regards Stretch

 

[G5RJO]

Centre stand for a change...

Stick it on the centre stand...

Sounds daft but no noise on the centre.... rattles on side stand, try it.

Roger.

 

[Stretchamus]

Stick it on the centre stand...

Sounds daft but no noise on the centre.... rattles on side stand, try it.

Roger.

Cheers Roger, but its always parked over night on its centre stand and it still makes the same noises as described above.

Best regards Stretch

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Yes mine still rattles whether on centre or side stand. All this never leave on the side stand because of XYZ is a myth. The oil is so far below anything that it makes no odds so far as oil is concerned.

 

[Roymondo]

Mine (2011 GSA) is quiet on start-up but sounds like the veritable bucket of bolts when at idle after a run. I can't decide whether it's a mechanical noise or exhaust based (mine has the flappy valve thing in the exhaust).

 

[pistonbrokescooby]

rattle

hi all
thought i had a problem with my first gs , always rattled , one i have now does it as well , if i stop in a garage and fill up ,on start up it sounds bad , i now wear ear plugs most of the time and can only faintly here it rattle .

 

[Beemerman59]

Having just done my 24K service including the rocker end floats, valves, balanced throttle bodies, alternator belt, K&N air filter to go with the remus/Akro/Wunderlich controller and Iridium plugs I can finally say she's quiet, smooth and goes like stink. No snatching at low revs anymore and the power delivery is linear all the way to the redline. Love it!

Finally, and yes, not a small amount of money, but I'm happy at last. No more Nails.

 

[Horse1200]

Update:- My 2010 GSA has developed a alarming rattle from what sounded like the right hand cylinder upon start up. The bike ran ok and rode fine, until the engine was switched off, when hot and upto temperature it would then not restart, thumbing the start button the bike would sound like it was seized up. After 1 hour it would then restart. Turns out that the starter motor was seizing up and had, damaged the flywheel. So new starter motor and fly wheel required.
The early signs of this were being lazy on start up when hot. Thought it was the battery, BMW assist came out and replaced the battery, there are two batteries fitted I found out, a small one with a plastic spacer under it, which was replaced with a bigger battery minus the spacer, the bigger battery would turn over the starter motor quicker so made seem ok, as the starter then got worse it couldn't cope. I think the hog raost was the final nail in the starter.
Hope this help someone.