Rattle down below

[TADracer]

Hi everyone.

Just recently my bike started to have a sort of rattle at idle. Sounds like it is coming from the transmission area. It does not do it all the time and mostly happens when I stop at a light. Seems like it happens only after I have been rolling and mostly happens for only a few seconds then it goes away.

I checked everything external as well as the clutch pack which I recently changed. All is tight and right there.

Anyone got any ideas for me?

[egsols]

I've got a slight rattle at idle that I notice goes away when I pull the clutch in. Hasn't gotten any worse and the clutch seems okay so I figured it could wait till winter tear down to check things out.

[webbcraft2150]

Adjust the cam chain?

[greyranch]

noise

My bike also makes some type of bottom end noise in that area.Seams just at idle.My cb550k Honda and Kawasaki KZ650 also had similar noise.Maybe it is what I would call a "stacking of tolerances" ??Combination of clutch,transmission shaft,piston pins,bearings etc.??? Anybody else with slight bottom end noises like this.Maybe normal for higher mileage bikes.Mine has 38,000 miles. Sorry I dont have an answer.Maybe type of oil.I used Valvoline 20w50 last oil change and seemed to have gotten slightly worse than the regular car oil 10w40 that was in it. I did do the cam chain adjust recently,didnt seem to help.Brad

[AlanB]

Hi guys,

Most bikes have a certain amount of clutch noise; If it goes away when you pull the clutch, that is the source! Balancing (Synching!) the carbs should sort it out, adjusting the cam-chain tension will get rid of a lot of what is left.

AlanB

[trbig]

Heat shields on the exhaust?

Tod

[TADracer]

Thanks for the responses.

I have ruled out clutch, cam chain, ignition timing, carb sync and most of the other common things. Also, I drained the oil last night to check for any bits of metal or evidence of bearing flakes...nothing.

I do not want to split the case to chase a rattle and I have no evidence that anything is really wrong.

It seems to be coming from the area of the shift drum. Does anyone know if slack in shift forks or something like that could happen in this area?

[trbig]

Loose clamp on the crossover pipe?? lol. Want me to keep guessing?


Tod

[TADracer]

Found it!

Guess my bike must have been a ventriloquist in a past life. I pulled over to the side of the road to answer my cell phone (I know, I know....) and it was doing it's rattling and buzzing. I happened to lean on the tank with my forearm to bend down to listen and it stopped. When I lifted my arm off it started again. Seems the tank is buzzing against something underneath and transmitting the sond down so it seems like it is coming from the transmission.

Thanks for all the input, though. I appreciate it.

[egsols]

Don't think it would the cause but have to mention anyway. Parked my bike in the garage after a ride and heard a buzzing, with motor off. It was just the fuel cap venting. Don't think I would have heard it with the bike running though but then again I don't think I would be able to hear a cell phone either.

Hopefully when you pull the tank you'll find the culprit.