Throttle bodies or camchain tensioner?

[MMC]

The Panzer has been clacking away to itself for a while now - but the clacking is getting slowly worse.

It's from the right-hand cylinder (as I sit on the bike) and is audible between about 2,700rpm and 3,000rpm. It's there on gentle acceleration and deceleration. It's a clacking rattle and, as I say, getting worse.

Thought it was a tappet - but set the clearances at the weekend and they're fine. Endfloat's fine too (although if that was the cause I imagine I'd have more serious issues!)

From a search around, it sounds like either the RH throttle butterfly or a camchain tensioner. But - again - from reading around, it sounds as though the camchain tensioner is normally a problem on the LH cylinder.

I know it's almost impossible to diagnose a problem like this without hearing it yourself, but anyone else had a similar noise and found the solution?

Suggestions very welcome

 

[John Armstrong]

Read these threads;

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185996&highlight=throttle+body+noise

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=320559

http://65.38.186.190/forums/showthread.php?p=1416231

and if you want to buy one:

http://www.bmwandguzzispares.co.uk/bmw/products/product.php?f=b&bke=bmw&q=ticker&x=41&y=9

 

[MMC]

Thanks John - s'much appreciated.

I've got a ticker killer but really don't want to fit it as it simply seems like a bodge rather than a cure.

Suspect I should simply cut to the chase and give St Eptoe a call

 

[DrFarkoff]

Reach under the throttle body and curl your fiungers until you can touch the cable quadrant If you hold it tight against the stop does the ticking diminish or cease?

If so the spindles worn

Contact the usual suspects for a GOOD second hand replacement

I did and am well chuffed as there's no more ticking

I keep saying I'm going to rebush the body but never get the time to set it all up

 

[MattW]

Scriminger will refurb your TB's for about £50 / side. Probably a good deal unless you're set up to machine your own bushes.

 

[John Armstrong]

Thanks John - s'much appreciated.

Glad to be of help, but why is it easy to find answers to other peoples queries and not your own when googling?

 

[MMC]

Glad to be of help, but why is it easy to find answers to other peoples queries and not your own when googling?

Actually, I'd spotted most of those - but I'm still grateful for the help.

I think it's more a case of determining which of the two options I've got. Soooo - on the grounds that a ticker killer can't foul things up so much that a recon can't fix, I'll try that if the new camchain tensioner I've just ordered from Motorworks doesn't fix it.

Then I'll report progress

 

[MattW]

Actually, I'd spotted most of those - but I'm still grateful for the help.

I think it's more a case of determining which of the two options I've got. Soooo - on the grounds that a ticker killer can't foul things up so much that a recon can't fix, I'll try that if the new camchain tensioner I've just ordered from Motorworks doesn't fix it.

Then I'll report progress

I don't like ticker killers - they are just a bodge to mask symptoms rather than cure the problem. I've also heard anecdotal reports that they can stiffen up the throttle and cause balance issues but I've not fitted them so have no personal experience of this.

For the extra few pounds, I'd go for a proper rebuild by Scriminger who by all accounts do an excellent job using better materials than originally fitted meaning the issue shouldn't be a problem in the future.

My right hand TB ticks at idle but when it finally gets unbearable I'll not be fitting a ticker killer...

 

[MMC]

There really are some smashing people out there.

Just spoke to Steve Scriminger who couldn't have been more helpful. He reckons it could well be the throttle butterfly, but the symptoms aren't clear and classical. So he's going to have a root about for a '94 throttle body, bung one in the post and see if it cures it. If not, "just send it back".

Top chap.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Did you try th e trick that I saidf up HERE that will clarify for you if the spindle is bollixed or not?

Before you go getting dirty changing stuff

 

[MMC]

Did you try th e trick that I saidf up HERE that will clarify for you if the spindle is bollixed or not?

Before you go getting dirty changing stuff

Akshully, tickover's not the problem - it's as quiet as the grave at tickover. The problem comes at 2,700-3,000rpm.

Hey ho.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Thats odd they normally rattle / clack like mad at tickover when they are worn

Perhaps noting approx where throttle sits when at those revs whilst riding (dab of tippex or a wee bit of sticky tape on the switchgear

Then when you have stopped turn the throttle to there and see if you have any play at the spindle?

I'd be interested to hear what your result is

Does it still happen if you have a little pressure on the clutch lever?

 

[MMC]

Thats odd they normally rattle / clack like mad at tickover when they are worn

Perhaps noting approx where throttle sits when at those revs whilst riding (dab of tippex or a wee bit of sticky tape on the switchgear

Then when you have stopped turn the throttle to there and see if you have any play at the spindle?

I'd be interested to hear what your result is

Does it still happen if you have a little pressure on the clutch lever?

I'll give that a go - and try the clutch lever (but I don't think that's the problem - but you never know )

Off out now - so I'll give it a go!

 

[Steptoe]

Chewing gum - cures most rattles

 

[Stewart H]

Chewing gum - cures most rattles

What do you do, stick it in your ears ?

Stewart

 

[MMC]

Chewing gum - cures most rattles

FFS Neil.

You're supposed to be some sort of GS god and you don't even know the basics. Chewing gum doesn't work on pre-95 bikes - and even on the post-95 machines you have to use proper sugared gum (none of the sugar-free stuff). Pre-95 and it's bubble gum. Or nothing. Think it might be nothing on this one.

And this coming from a man who doesn't know his left* from his right.









Cheers Neil - the LH guard arrived today

 

[MIKE R]

After 43K my throttle bodies are making the 'tappet noise'. The bikes a keeper (had it since new, Jan 02) so I'm taking it down to Steve Scriminger. £150 for both sides on a ride in ride out basis. If they're worn, they'll have to be changed or refurbished eventually so why not now as I've heard that Steve does a first class job which is better than the original.

One word of warning. If you are thinking of having yours done, Steve is heavily booked and you may have to wait a while.

Mike

 

[Son-of-godzilla]

could be a few things but if it only does it at 2700-3000 then ,adjust the valves and check the side play on the rocker shafts,could be internal ,how did it come round

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

99% of the time you'll only ever here cam chain noise due to tension problems below 1500rpm.

Once the engines running fast enough the cam chain will form its own standing wave, even if there is slack - due to mass, harmonics and lots of other things.

Also at higher speed the chain pull force is increased on the tight side, so the slack side is easier to control with a weaker spring.

Try my method of a clear bathroom silicon blob on the spindle end - acts as a damper and a sealer for the spindle

 

[MMC]

Thanks all - the help's much appreciated.

I did wonder if it was something as basic and simple as my spare clutch cable vibrating against brake pipes on the side of the engine casing (although feck knows how that would make that sort of noise) - but it's not.

Changed the camchain tensioner on the RHS (I know it's the LHS one that people normally change, but this noise is from the RH of the engine).

Now double-checked the valve clearances, rocker endfloat and they're all bang-on, can't see how it's the throttle body as fiddling about with the TB doesn't make any difference.

I think the next step is easy, though. Write it off to standard GS engine racket and wait for the noise to go away or for the whole plot to go bang. The engine's running a treat, mpg is normal so leave it alone and see what - if anything - happens.