R1150GS - unusual engine noise

[rustychain]

Morning all

I'm trying to identify the cause of an intermittent engine noise. I know these engines aren't known for their refinement, but this noise is more than 'agricultural' and doesn't sound healthy when it occurs.

You'll hear the 'clack, clack, clack' as I come off the throttle (around 00:10 seconds).

Background information:

• Only happens when the engine is fully warmed up.
• Seems to happen on warmer days (recently started again after no problems over winter).
• Symptoms only at idle (the noise goes if the revs are raised, but returns at idle)
• A very metallic noise (like metal on metal contact)
• Rough/lumpy idle when it happens (ignition issue?)
• Oil - 20W 50 - fresh and correct level
• Spark plugs good
• Valve and rocker end clearances checked last week (all ok).
• Timing chains and guides checked at the same time - appear to be ok.
• LH chain tensioner upgrade done.
• Mileage ~ 60K miles.

Would welcome your thoughts on possible causes/things to explore.

Many thanks
(PS - I know there's a leak around the front cover )

 

[oblertone]

Check the upper mounting point of the crash bars; the oem ones were prone to fracture around the weld.

 

[theoneandonly]

i'd think oil pressure related ? yes i know it has fresh oil.

 

[Udders]

Timing chain tensioner? I know they had problems and there’s a modified part available for the 1150.

 

[rustychain]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm pretty sure it isn't the mounting bars but I'll double check.

Oil pressure did cross my mind. Where do I connect up a pressure guage - where the oil pressure sender is?

It's had the can chain tensioner upgrade.

 

[Johny w]

Mine sounds similar but not so loud, fitted new LH modified cam chain tensioner, new oil and filter, plugs and coil packs. adjusted the tappets but only with one feeler gauge.....(surely cant be that far out) I'm going to do the tappets again with four feelers.
Its especially loud when i throttle off at low speed.....it runs very well otherwise, but it worries me. its very hard to pinpoint.....could the RH cam chain tensioner be at fault? are they prone to failure?
rode it without ear plugs in tonight and it worried me, any thoughts please?

 

[Riceburner]

Just an observation from my experience: the noise from the rocker end-float gap only really goes away if the gap is right at the tight end of the acceptable clearance.

I can't remember the numbers off the top of my head, but IIRC it's a "permitted" tolerance gap, and the tight end is a very small gap, but if you set the gap somewhere in the middle of that tolerance (which is a perfectly reasonable thing to do), then you'll still get some of the noise.

 

[Johny w]

Just an observation from my experience: the noise from the rocker end-float gap only really goes away if the gap is right at the tight end of the acceptable clearance.

I can't remember the numbers off the top of my head, but IIRC it's a "permitted" tolerance gap, and the tight end is a very small gap, but if you set the gap somewhere in the middle of that tolerance (which is a perfectly reasonable thing to do), then you'll still get some of the noise.

Thanks, I'll be doing them in the hear future, I hope it is that.

 

[landmarkjohn]

My hexhead 1200 had a clack like that when warm. I figured it had to be a tolerance somewhere as the oil got hot and thinned out and it did turn out to be end float adjustment.

 

[Steptoe]

adjusted the tappets but only with one feeler gauge.....(surely cant be that far out) I'm going to do the tappets again with four feelers.

A gap is still the same size gap no matter how many feeler gauges you use.
In 35 years of adjusting valves on an almost daily basis I’ve never used more than one for inlet, one for exhaust.
Plus I regularly measure the feeler gauges with a micrometer to check the wear

 

[Johny w]

A gap is still the same size gap no matter how many feeler gauges you use.
In 35 years of adjusting valves on an almost daily basis I’ve never used more than one for inlet, one for exhaust.
Plus I regularly measure the feeler gauges with a micrometer to check the wear

Well that's what I thought too, but the manual says different.

 

[Johny w]

My hexhead 1200 had a clack like that when warm. I figured it had to be a tolerance somewhere as the oil got hot and thinned out and it did turn out to be end float adjustment.

End float on what?

 

[rustychain]

End float on what?

Here you go

Adjusting rocker end float, and valve clearances

Checking valve clearances and rocker end float ; When removing the valve cover, the inner gasket has a habit of staying in the head. Gently remove it and fit it to the cover, if left in place you’ll most likely “pinch” it when replacing the cover, and find you’ve an oil leak. If you remove...

www.ukgser.com

 

[rustychain]

My hexhead 1200 had a clack like that when warm. I figured it had to be a tolerance somewhere as the oil got hot and thinned out and it did turn out to be end float adjustment.

I've only had the issue a couple of times since my original post - I put that in part down to the average weather we've been having! It only seems to happen when it's hot.

I did an oil change recently and dismantled the filter to see if there was any signs of metal. Thankfully there wasn't. So mine could also be a tolerance issue. I'll check the end float at the next service.

 

[Wrigsby1]

I didn't chip in originally cos there's always plenty of suggestions but on the 2nd 11GS I had a similar noise which I thought could be the primary chain tensioner losing pressure when hot... I rode it for 30k and never fixed it...
Oilheads are pretty agricultural sometimes and my1150RT often sounded like it had piston slap at certain revs when proper hot... Again 30k + of living with it...

The funny thing is I've had 6 oilheads and they've all had different little rattles and vibes but been OK. I've checked the usual service stuff but only on one checked end floats and other details in over 100k oilheads miles. And I've ridden quite a few more when selling them, again all with their little differences the buggers...

 

[Riceburner]

I didn't chip in originally cos there's always plenty of suggestions but on the 2nd 11GS I had a similar noise which I thought could be the primary chain tensioner losing pressure when hot... I rode it for 30k and never fixed it...
Oilheads are pretty agricultural sometimes and my1150RT often sounded like it had piston slap at certain revs when proper hot... Again 30k + of living with it...

The funny thing is I've had 6 oilheads and they've all had different little rattles and vibes but been OK. I've checked the usual service stuff but only on one checked end floats and other details in over 100k oilheads miles. And I've ridden quite a few more when selling them, again all with their little differences the buggers...

Yup - they're basically an air-cooled engine (when compared to a water-cooled engine that has the water jacket around 90% of the moving parts) so there's a lot of noise that you just have to live with.

 

[Johny w]

Yup - they're basically an air-cooled engine (when compared to a water-cooled engine that has the water jacket around 90% of the moving parts) so there's a lot of noise that you just have to live with.

I like the simplicity

 

[Riceburner]

I like the simplicity

Yep, easy to work on, easy to fix, but with just enough technology to be "low maintenance" (unlike forever tinkering with carbs...)