Loud Tappet Noise - Help

[needlongerlegs]

Hi Peeps I have a 2000 1150GS 10,000 miler, I got down to doing the valve clearances hoping to sort out the loud tapping I've noticed sometimes just after start up (not always and not at all revs about 2.5k ish) - I checked the valves spot-on checked end float on rockers fine and could not see anything else amiss.
It sounds like a single tappet with 1/4 inch clearance but not all the time any ideas?

Did I hear there was a problem with early 1150GS's valve gear?

I didn't buy it from a BMW dealer so I'm a bit stuck.

 

[Captain Beaky]

Funny,

Mine sounds like a bag of nails when it's started. But several people have said that the 1150 is not as smooth sounding as the 1100, and it takes a long long time to bed in. Mine's going in for a service at Sherlocks in a month , so I'll ask about it then.

Bike goes like the clappers though - no problems in that department, but does it have to sound like a beetle on speed?

 

[needlongerlegs]

Not a Quack more of a Clack

Mines a Clack Clack Clack from the left side at half speed just like one very large valve clearance. I've had thoughts of cam chain or valve guide problems but it goes away after a few miles (buy the time I get to the end of the road).

We thought it was the throttle butterfly jumping back and forth for a while but holding that doesn't stop it.

It's off to Cannons - Essex in a couple of weeks for it's 12.000 miler (£200) so they might pick up on it but it only makes the noise from cold.

That will be it's last visit to a dealers after that its out with the spanners (I'm to tight to pay for servicing).

Any body got any thoughts?

Graham

 

[Jeff H]

I've being watching this club for a long time and following this query I feel I must reply
I brought my 50,000 mile 1100 about 3 months ago (to keep my r100 company) and it came complete with a similar rattle when very hot - 30 mins in heavy traffic
It has now been repaired by replacing the piston, con rod and small end - you cannot replace just the small end as it is all a matched set
I know of another bike with 1100 miles with the same problem with the rhs cylinder - may be it is continued use of the side stand and the oil draining before the next start up ?
Zwerver has also mentioned similar noises on previous machines he has owned
hope this helps and is not too gloomy

 

[Simon Eassom]

Just for information, although I'm sure most people know this, you should not start up the bike or let the engine run with the bike on its sidestand. The oil drains into the left cylinder housing and the pump cannot properly lubricate the right cylinder and gear.
I never leave the bike parked up on the sidestand if I can help it and only do so for security if I think it's too vulnerable to a fall on the centre stand.
If I do leave it on the sidestand, I stand it up and either sit on it or put it on the centre stand for a few minutes before starting it up.
All BMW boxer twins will be clattery and noisy when starting up. There's not water cooling to dampen (no pun) the noise, but all rattles and tappet clatter should ease when the engine heats up.
I hope this is of use to some people out there who didn't know it, 'cause it's pretty damn important.

 

[needlongerlegs]

A bit of Background

The Yellow Peril - Clack Clack is just that Clack Clack Clack

This is my sixth BM so I'm used to all the wonderful noises these beasts can make. - my noise is unusal not to do with OIL drain or Presure Pump Up at start.

Any Help Sugestions - Small End one sounds interesting but wouldn't that be all the time?

I wish it was an Air Cooled I'd have the head and barrel off in a flash and look tonight, I don't know all this new technology makes things much better but much much more complicated.

Graham

 

[City Slicker]

Just for clarification:

Which cylinder is the noise coming from, the side with your left or right knee when sitting on the bike?

Are you getting this noise when it is fully warmed or as it is warming up, and if so is it with the fast idle/choke on or off?

 

[needlongerlegs]

More Info on the Clack

It's as it warms up - not imeadiatly after start up but a few seconds later and lasts until its warmed up.

and with or without fast idle on

Sitting on the bike its on my left.

Regards

Graham.

 

[IainMac]

My 1500mile new Adventure has a clack sound from the left pot when cold. I checked the valve clearances and found they were ok.
The Rocker arm float was in the middle of the spec (~0.26mm) but I found that the inlet rocker would make the clack sound when moved up/down the shaft, the exhaust rocker has similar clearance but i a lot quieter.? I dont think I'll worry about mine at the mo, and get it looked at when serviced next.

Iain Mac

 

[City Slicker]

Re: More Info on the Clack

It's as it warms up - not imeadiatly after start up but a few seconds later and lasts until its warmed up.

and with or without fast idle on

Sitting on the bike its on my left.

Regards

Graham.

I would be thinking that it might be the throttle body housing than the cylinder head. My understanding is that the butterfly valves are shimmed and do wear. I had a throttle body replaced for this reason.

If the noise was confirmed as originating in the cylinder head, it may be that you haven't correctly adjusted the clearances. If you use two feeler gagues to adjust both tappets rather than one at a time this will help with the correct adjustment - and dont forget to do the rocker end float down to .05mm at the same time. With the correct feeler gague measurement there should be a drag with the correct size and you should be unable to insert the next size up. Oh, and if you dont already have a good set of feeler gagues, pop down to Halfords and buy two of their sets for about £12 each - each gague can be removed from the set to make life a little less awkward.

Having said that I am sure that needlongerlegs already knows and has done everything properly. But its always worth the double check to avoid worrying unneccesarily about bigger problems.

 

[Hew]

My bike makes a similar noise again only when cold and on the LH side.
I checked where the noise was coming from by using a screwdriver as a stethoscope.
Thankfully the valves etc. sounded fine and the noise is coming, as City Slicker suggested, from the throttle body.
Don’t know yet how to fix it, whether it does need a new throttle body or not, but as it is not the sound of imminent mechanical failure I have plenty of time to find out.

 

[needlongerlegs]

Yo Eddie

Got the pointed stick out again and mines also from the throttle body area

If I hold it - it gets better quieter I ment.

Anyone know about shimming these ?

Graham