engine start up knock

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Mogster

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Had my 2006GS since new and has 22k on it now.
But I have noticed that I get a knocking/clatter on cold start up.
It goes away after a few seconds and only does it when left over night.
I have taken it to my dealer and he has updated the cam chain tensioner thingy.
It still seems to do it and I have taken it back to the dealer again since for a further check and he says its normal.
I have had loads of mainly japanese bikes before and covered fairly high miles on them and never had this.
Am I getting paranoid, I am even considering trading it in.
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
 
Quite normal as long as it goes away soon after starting. It's nothing to worry about :thumb2

It's just the oil pressure building in the cam chain tensioner - the colder the weather and longer the bike has been standing the more it is likely to happen.

Can also happen when the bike gets VERY hot where the oil thins and pressure drops.

Andres
 
Every boxer motor I've owned (cars and aeroplanes included) has a bit of a clatter on startup. So long as it quietens down within a few seconds, it should be fine.:)
 
Mogster said:
Had my 2006GS since new and has 22k on it now.
But I have noticed that I get a knocking/clatter on cold start up.
It goes away after a few seconds and only does it when left over night.
I have taken it to my dealer and he has updated the cam chain tensioner thingy.
It still seems to do it and I have taken it back to the dealer again since for a further check and he says its normal.
I have had loads of mainly japanese bikes before and covered fairly high miles on them and never had this.
Am I getting paranoid, I am even considering trading it in.
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I can't think of too many Japanese boxer engines. My 07 1200GS with 7.5k does this. It's only momentary until the oil pressure gets up and tensions the cam chain through the tensioner.

If your dealer (BMW?) says it's OK then it should be. This thread looks at the same issue and talks about oil. Is yours due for a change? Is it getting a bit thin?

The fact that it makes this noise from being stood overnight would tend to suggests it's oil pressure related. The fact that it takes overnight to subside would suggest all is well.
 
mine does

My 1150gsa does it to,goes away seconds after start up,its not worrying me...
 
Mogster said:
Had my 2006GS since new and has 22k on it now.
But I have noticed that I get a knocking/clatter on cold start up.
It goes away after a few seconds and only does it when left over night.
I have taken it to my dealer and he has updated the cam chain tensioner thingy.
It still seems to do it and I have taken it back to the dealer again since for a further check and he says its normal.
I have had loads of mainly japanese bikes before and covered fairly high miles on them and never had this.
Am I getting paranoid, I am even considering trading it in.
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

If the temp is getting down to the minus in your area change your oil to 10w-40. I had the same problem on my 06 GSA starting very early in the morning.

You are more then lightly running castrol 20w - 50 at present and that does not like cold weather, change to 10w - 40 problem solved.


Cheers

Ty
 
Mogster said:
Had my 2006GS since new and has 22k on it now.
But I have noticed that I get a knocking/clatter on cold start up.
It goes away after a few seconds and only does it when left over night.
I have taken it to my dealer and he has updated the cam chain tensioner thingy.
It still seems to do it and I have taken it back to the dealer again since for a further check and he says its normal.
Click to expand...

Yup, my 2005 with 15,000m on it does it as well. In fact it did it again today.
It doesn't happen on every start up but I do notice it if it's been left for a while.
I mentioned this to my 'spanner-man' when I first had it serviced & he thought it may have been the oil the previous owner used. Although he replaced the old oil & put the correct spec oil in it still does it. After about 30 seconds or so it does go away. I'd say in the 18 months I've owned mine it's done it about 3 or 4 times.

Although my heart was in my mouth when I first heard it I don't worry too much now.

10w40 may well be the cure!

:thumb2
 
My bike is kept in a garage over night and certainly doesnt see extreme cold temperatures. Once run it stops making noise even when hot.
Also it has the correct 20/50 oil as specified by my supplying BMW dealer.
I would also agree that it does sound like the oil draining out of the cam chain tensioner over night but that should have been sorted with the upgraded bit.
 
Mogster said:
My bike is kept in a garage over night and certainly doesnt see extreme cold temperatures. Once run it stops making noise even when hot.
Also it has the correct 20/50 oil as specified by my supplying BMW dealer.
I would also agree that it does sound like the oil draining out of the cam chain tensioner over night but that should have been sorted with the upgraded bit.
Click to expand...

20w-50 is a spring/summer oil, BMW specify 10w-40 for harsher conditions. 20w-50 is only rated to -10, where I live in Hampshire in the winter the temp gets down to minus 8 regularly.

The problem is the 20w-50 it's very syrupy and thick in cold temps and does not circulate around the engine very well until the heat from the engine has warmed it slightly, this can take 30 - 40 secs and the ensuing noise sounds like a bag of nuts and bolt.

10w-40 is less thick and heavy and has a temp range down to – 30, however you will need to change the oil back to 20w-50 again in the spring when the outside air temp raises.


Cheers


Ty
 
Had to try for ages for my 1200GS to start this morning. The (standard BMW) battery stood up very well and eventually and reluctantly the engine started after nearly firing several times. Once running, the clatter was awful. I got so scared I switched it off to consult UKGSER. It's 20W 50 oil, bike has stood for a week or two and (of course) it's feckin cold- but only a little colder than recently when the bike has been starting perfectly. Ignore and ride on? (Assuming it'll start- battery on charger).
 
E. Buygum said:
Had to try for ages for my 1200GS to start this morning. The (standard BMW) battery stood up very well and eventually and reluctantly the engine started after nearly firing several times. Once running, the clatter was awful. I got so scared I switched it off to consult UKGSER. It's 20W 50 oil, bike has stood for a week or two and (of course) it's feckin cold- but only a little colder than recently when the bike has been starting perfectly. Ignore and ride on? (Assuming it'll start- battery on charger).
Click to expand...

How long was the engine running before you switched it off ?
 
When I got my 1200 out of its international shipping crate in December it had stood for 3 months (with 20W50) and was freezing.

On reconnecting the battery it fired instantly (Hawker Odyssey :thumb) and clattered like hell. A Blip of the throttle was too unnerving to risk any revs, but after about 20 secs at fast idle the camchain tensioner finally pumped up and all was well.

Like Easysushi says, the 20W50 oil takes a while to get around the engine when cold hence the clatter on cold start. I've just gone over to 10W50 fully synthetic oil for this reason, and mine quietens down after starting very quickly.
 
Engine was running for less than a minute before I switched it off thinking WTF?. I started again a few minutes ago and set off...clatter went away after a couple of mins so it looks like I over-reacted. Unfortunately the snow is now coming down and laying so I didn't fancy a long run. Still a mystery why I had to press the button for so long to start earlier but hey ho. Just as well these BMW batteries hold their charge so well. :) Thanks for (most of) the responses.
 
knocking but you can't come in

hi
my old 1150 adv used to knock first few seconds of start up , i was worried to death thought i bought a duffer , the dealer said don't worry bring it back if it stops , huh i thought 15000 later still had the knock ,also used to burn shitloads of oil ,1ltr per thou , least its cheap . stopped burning oil so much after 15000 , 1/2 ltr per thou , if parked on side stand for a few days ,clouds of smoke came out on cold start up , also used to knock when restarted when hot ,after a fill up at the garage etc, rattled off throttle at low speed too. its a bmw ,they all do that , mine never let me down in three winters and i only ever rode it in the wet and shit . ;)now on a 1200 gs. rattles as well ,think i will worry when it don't rattle and knock .:cool:
 
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