GSA 1150 engine ticking noise

[TomFarming]

This is my first post on here though I've already spent many rainy days trawling the forum for great tips and advice. I've recently purchased an 1150 with 15,000 miles on the clock but only did 100 miles in the last 4 years. I've done a basic service oil change, filters etc (didn't do valve clearances). but it's recently developed a ticking noise which occurs as the bike warms up and is very noticeable when riding at around 3000rpm but I can still just hear it when parked up at lower revs. I've read quite a few things about throttle bodies, valves, timing chains. But I was hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction. I've uploaded a video below of the engine running. Any direction would be hugely appreciated! Thanks in advance

https://youtu.be/pBwP-lRUrZs

 

[luke scott]

Sounds like all my 1150's . Welcome to the forum.

 

[hops]

What oil did you put in? They seem to run a bit quieter with 20/50

 

[Slipperyeel]

100 miles in 4yrs?! Wow.

My first thought on reading your post was the cam chain tensioner on the LH side. But that tends to only mean noise at idle...you say it continues when you're riding it?

I can't imagine what else (apart from valves) at that mileage?

You could try ignoring it and just riding it It doesn't sound 'bad' in your video.

 

[Deleted account 220427001]

just ride it you worry to much !

 

[A303]

Sounds like all my 1150's . Welcome to the forum.

Tom, welcome to the forum, all 1150's sound very much like that, don't get too worried about it.

If it get noticeably worse in say 2k miles then perhaps start checking valves etc, but with that mileage it isn't run in yet.

Oil - don't upset Tarka by asking what oil to use.. All 3 of 1150's have been on Castrol 20/50 and no issues.

Cheers

Dave.

 

[Edward]

Loose pushrod end?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRXeaequvzk

 

[Slipperyeel]

Loose pushrod end?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRXeaequvzk

With that low mileage? Good call though.

 

[oldnfat]

Are you sure it is not the throttle bodies. The bush wears on the butterfly and ticks loudly. The way to check this is to use your finger to put pressure on the throttle quadrant. This is the pully that the throttle cable runs around on the back of the body. If the ticking stops then you know what it is.

You can mask the symptoms with a ticker killer from motor works which or get them rebushed which cures it...or as many do, just live with it...it isn't terminal.

Cheers

 

[Robh1664]

My 1100GS has supposedly only done 24000 miles and both my throttle body bushings are fooked. I'm taking the throttle bodies off tomorrow and having them re bushed with new shafts. When warm it sounds like....tik tik tik tik. Not the end of the world, and very sortable !

 

[oldnfat]

My right one went at about 18k....and it usually is the right hand side for some reason.

 

[TomFarming]

Thankyou for the welcome and all of the input, great to get some more points of view. I've since done the long screw driver to the ear test over both the cylinder heads and throttle bodies to try and rule out some problems such as the pushrods mentioned. From what i can hear its definitely the throttle bodies which are making the rattle though applying pressure to the throttle quadrant as suggested oldnfat hardly reduces the sound which seems odd. The right one is also also more audible as was mentioned...

As suggested i think i'm going to let it run in a little longer and see how the sound develops, i'm unsure if the ticker killer will work as i can't seem to eliminate the sound by pushing on the quadrant. So i may look at getting the bushings redone at some point but i'm definitely nervous about taking them apart and having to resync the throttle bodies and reset the idle etc. It I found when i started working on my Honda Transalp with a haynes manual and youtube open i'd successfully solve one problem but inadvertently create 2 others.

Yes when i went through the MOT's the mileage history seemed very unsual but its sat for a few years in damp lock-up and has its fair share of rusty bolts which i'm slowly switching out. I just can't quite believe these TB bushings are going after 15,000 miles when other people are doing well over 100k on these bikes, but it yours went at 18k that would make sense

Thanks all for easing my mind though, i used 15w 40 motorcycle semi synthetic when i did the change but have heard that people are using car oil which is tempting to try.

 

[Hay Ewe]

wow, sounds like an awesome find
There are a few places to get bits for the throttle bodies, I got mine from the Bing Agency in the USA
http://bingcarburetor.com/

 

[oldnfat]

Agree the ticker killer probably won't work if pressing the quadrant doesn't stop the sound....it does need a fairly strong prod though. Not sure which bit of London you are in but for all things 1150 Steptoe of this parish is THE guru based in Kingstone.

 

[Da1sycat]

I'll be the first to admit that the Doc (DrFarkoff) cures any of my biking woes, but having been a four times Honda owner I've discovered that not only is the 1150 an audible equivalent of a street busker's recycled bongos, it's also an incredibly resilient piece of engineering.

I just keep the oil topped up and it hasn't missed a beat in the mechanical sense, even if the engines "beats" are a collection of farts pops ticks and whirrs, it still pulls like a train.

Come to think of it I'm probably guilty of the odd fart n pop myself.

Enjoy!

 

[George's Dad]

That sounds exactly like mine did before I did the throttle bodies. Moto Bins do the kit and it's a piece of cake to do. Made the world of difference. I've also literally just (this afternoon) done the valve clearances and the rocker end float which was miles out. Now it fires straight up and thumps away. No rattles, no strange noises. I don't believe anyone that says "they all sound like that"

 

[TomFarming]

Thanks again for the input, Georges dad thats really good to hear, what was the kit you ordered from Moto Bins? I'm also going to check the valves this weekend

 

[Thirsty 1]

Do not fuss with the throttle bodies. Adjust the valves to spec and ride the machine.

 

[George's Dad]

https://www.motobins.co.uk/mobile/b...50GS&P=4&model=R850 R1100 R1150&M1=29&M2=5320

Throttle body kit is at the bottom of the page. I've never opened an engine until I bought the GS but everything is so accessible. My TBs were rattling like mad, when I stripped them there was practically daylight round the shafts. Interestingly the shafts seem to wear far more than the bushings, it did occur to me to leave the old bushings in but there was still slight play so I screwed a tap into the bushings, gently warmed the body up with a heat gun and knocked them out. Doing them made an amazing difference. Much quieter. I've just done the valve clearances which was easy. The end float was a bit of a faff but I swear there was about 1mm of vertical play in the rockers! It's sweet as a nut now!

 

[King Rat]

Do not fuss with the throttle bodies. Adjust the valves to spec and ride the machine.

Heed this advice!

My 1150 is 120,000 miles, thew ticking has been going on for about the last 50,000 miles. It is just a bit annoying, but it is doesn't make it run any worse.