Scary noises...

[planedick]

Went for a ride down Ortega hwy yesterday. Was a freeway ride for about 30 mi then some twisties. While in the twisties between 45 and 60 MPH I noticed some loud noises from the engine. Understand, I wear a really tight fitting fully foam lined helmet which makes it hard to hear engine noises. It sounded like a rod was loose because it knocked when not pulling or holding back, right at the point where there is no load. So I went home on the old road kinda easy and noticed it was quiet at 45MPH but started knocking around 50 MPH. When I got home I put on my little half helmet and went for a ride, because I can hear everything with that one. It scared me so bad I was tempted to push it home before damaging it anymore.

Took off the fairing and got to work. Compression check, 100, 140, 140, 100. Not good but not too bad. #1 plug looked just right, 2 was showing white flakes, 3 likewise 4 black crusty flakes. Put them back in and started it up to check the timing. Timing was advanced as far as the mcechanical mount allowed. WAY TOO MUCH Set it with my timing light and went for a test ride. Much better, but now I can see the carbs are not balanced and I have to get a balancing tool before it will run right. I was borrowing one from a friend, but he moved away.

[thewiz]

So did the noise turn out to be pre-ignition? Soon as I get my beast on the road, we'll have to meet up. Looks like you're in about the same general area as me.

[mro]

100, 140, 140, 100

Not good.......
Squirt a little oil in thru spak plug hole, then redue your compression test. If rings are good, compression will be same or very close to first test.

Most likely you have a valve problem.

Valve job???,
may be able to get away with "lapping em"



mro

[planedick]

That's probably it...

After setting the timeing it sounded much better, but now I decided to do all the necessary things it needs, like 2nd gear fix, lights on start up etc. So it is hanging in the garage now ready to turn over for the tranny work. I might take the head and sleeves off for inspection when I get it right side up again. I guess I was expecting too much, just because a bike looks good doesn't mean it's mechanically sound.

[planedick]

Bucket of worms...

I decided since I was going to turn it over and do the 2nd gear fix, I would take pics of my method for turning it over as there was some discussion about that here awhile back. That will be another post, but when I removed the tranny cover I got bad news.....



all sorts of junk on the pump screen. Some looked like crusty varnish finally broken loose, but some of it was steel and one peice in the corner looked a lot like a peice of a broken ring. I guess I will be pulling the head and sleeves too.

[Ken Talbot]

Before you pull the top end, does the 'busted ring' piece look big enough diameter for that, or could it be a piece of a failed circlip?

[Pat Kelly]

So, if there is a problem with the bike, someone flips the bike over, removes the oilpan and finds chunks, then loose chunks have now fallen throughout the engine...... not good.
Probably better to remove the oilpan before flipping (or don't flip it) so that broken pieces come out with the pan.

[HobbyMan]

IMHO, I think it is just as easy to pull the engine. Not that complex. It could be a problem though with just one person.

[planedick]

Further inspection...

The busted ring peice looked like the end of a ring, but turned out to be a peice of hard carbon. Shiny peices turned out to be some kind of plastic film like the edges of some sort of clear plastic gasket material, and the only concern now is the fine metalic grindings I found on the magnetic drain plug. I still think I'm gonna pull the cylinders and check.