Engine noise

[djduke7]

I just purchased a 79 XS1100 Special and after getting the carbs cleaned up and the tank coated and painted i got to start it up ...i changed the oil and filter and to my surprise.....i got a smooth runnig bike with a lot of chatter at idle......iput it on the center stand and put it in gear and there is a lot of noise while running...the point of all this is where is a good place to start and did or does anyone have the same trouble tnx Duke

[Ken Talbot]

The chatter is probably a loose cam chain. This is an easy adjustment, but do yourself a favour and read as much as possible from the various maintenance and repair sections of the forum before you dive in too deep. You can save youself a lot of time and aggravation in false starts trying to chase the wrong problem.

[djduke7]

re: cam chain

thanks ken for the reply but the adjustment of the cam chain was included in my before start up maintence and when the bike is put into gear on the center stand there is a knocking grinding type noise that is realated to the spinng of the wheel....

[Ken Talbot]

Next place to look is the spline where the rear wheel fits onto the final drive. While you''ve got the rear wheel off, you then also pull the final drive to check the splines where the final drive connects to the driveshaft. SWMBO's H was making an odd noise just a whle back and it turned out the rear wheel/final drive spline was absolutely bone dry. I greased it up (this spline has no external grease fitting) and the noise went away.

[djduke7]

re final drive

thanks again ken

i'll check that out and let you know how i made out ...the noise is in the final drive area or just in front of the final drive.....

tnx Duke

[strom]

Middle drive oil seal tends to leak with age and time while not running. Check it. Take the rubber boot off and see if theres any oil in the u. joint area/rubber boot. Cost prev owner a tire, set of bearings and....

LP

[wallyfishing1]

your knuckle on the driveshaft might be at to much of an angle. take it off center stand and ride it before you get into too much dismanteling..

[djduke7]

re engine noise

tnx to all i solved the mystery it was a combo of the bike being up on the center stand and the spline was bone dry lubed it and ran it still some noise but off the stand ok took it for a ride seems ok .....tnx again duke