Irregular engine rattle around 4000rpm under load?

IanC

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My 12 plate GSA with 8k miles has an odd rattle around 4k especially when winding it open hard.

I thought it might have been 'knocking', 'pinking', or something, so tried some super unleaded, but no change. It's a light, irregular sound, a bit like a lose washer rattling around, maybe something top end?

Seems fine rest of the time. Still under warranty, so will have to take a trip to dealer (and waste a day) if no explanation here!
 
Try a few tanks worth of posh petrol and see if it improves over time. I get more miles per £ with posh so never use vanilla 95RON. The Tesco 99 is especially good but has no cleaning additives.

Change the primary spark plugs for a colder grade. They don't have to be the twin contact type so not massively costly to try.
 
Check all your bolted on bits etc

I traced an annoying engine rattle (only at certain revs) to a cracked sump guard bracket.

:thumb
 
Colder plugs do make sense, in line with what I originally was thinking. Have you had the same problem, and this fixed it, Bendy?

I've been interested in the theory that better fuel brand = better economy, but I'm yet to be convinced. I've taken accurate measurements for a year or so now, comparing Shell etc with Tesco, which I thought were opposite ends of the scale? Having said that, I've not tried 99 for more than a tank at a time, either for economy or knocking.
 
Spout said:
Check all your bolted on bits etc

I traced an annoying engine rattle (only at certain revs) to a cracked sump guard bracket.

:thumb
Click to expand...

+1 was convinced recently I'd somehow got a pinking problem especially as it started just after a decat.. turned out to be a loose spacer at the front where the 2 engine guards meet (f800gs) was spinning like a bstard at about 4k I'd even changed the downpipe back to standard before discovering it :blast
 
It's a 12 plate bike, don't be messing about with it and invalidating your manufacturers warranty.

Get the dealers to sort it, in case it turns out to be something expensive.
 
Spout said:
Check all your bolted on bits etc

I traced an annoying engine rattle (only at certain revs) to a cracked sump guard bracket.

:thumb
Click to expand...

I was thinking along those lines as well......on the 1150 GSA the crash bars are prone to crack on the left hand top mount point to the engine, hidden away under the tank, and mine used to rattle at that sort of rev range as well.......no idea what commonly goes on the 12, but it sounds a good possibility

Easy enough to trace by pushing and pulling/damping things by hand while riding along or inducing the rattle in neutral if poss.
 
As spout + fanum says ,have a look at fixtures and fittings, my fogs slowly get loose over time and when touching engine bars set off some odd rattles,quite alarming. Mind there are many little people here who like to touch that big bike:D
 
I had a rattle that persisted for about 1000 miles, then the LAMPF warning came up. When I went to change the bulb, I found out that the stupidly designed lampholder fixing had failed. I fixed that, and the noise disappeared. I presume the noise I heard was the holder/bulb rattling in the housing. I am surprised the bulb had not failed earlier given how it was being shaken around.
 
Engine Noise

IanC said:
My 12 plate GSA with 8k miles has an odd rattle around 4k especially when winding it open hard.

I thought it might have been 'knocking', 'pinking', or something, so tried some super unleaded, but no change. It's a light, irregular sound, a bit like a lose washer rattling around, maybe something top end?

Seems fine rest of the time. Still under warranty, so will have to take a trip to dealer (and waste a day) if no explanation here!
Click to expand...

I also have 12 plate GSA with sadly only 2.5k miles and has a similar noise from approx 3500 - 4250 rpm. It is worse when hot and is under load or even light load when touring with pillion and luggage. Has been mentioned twice at dealer at first and year 1 service and on both occasions it has not been heard. Dealers not really interested. I believe my noise is from N/S of engine and too heavy a sound to be something loose like sump guard unfortunately.

You can easily drive through the noise, but if in traffic and right gear for the situation, it sounds dreadful.

Does anyone else have this problem?
 
My 90 Yr Anniversary GSA has engine noise rattle since first service. Dealer not interested, despite the fact that my 2011 GSA sounded great at idle and through the revs. There's this idiotic belief that because it's only noise it's not worth bothering about. Secondly the dealers claim all GS make funny noises, part of the character.

This is nonsense of course. Bad noises can drive you crazy, ruin enjoyment of the bike and can be symptoms of real problems with the bike. Dealers take note : stop fobbing off customers who have noise related issues.

I will post video of my offending engine noise, a click and rattle that starts at idle then worsens as engine revs rise.

The other thing that's odd is fuel economy on this GSA is far worse than previous ones. I'm only getting between 30 and 35 mpg, regardless of how I ride. Normally am a keep bike in responsive gear person, (above 4k rpm at all times), but I'd get at least 42mpg on my 2011 GSA.
 
Sounds just like my 10000 mile 2010 GS. Maybe a slight cam chain rattle. Not something I'm worried about.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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