What is a normal egine noise?

[Banshee's Veil]

So i got my project fired up after two decades of sitting. It occured to me I have no idea what it is supposed to sound like. I know it is running smooth, firing on all 4, slight popping from a lean mixture.

However there is a rhythmic tapping coming from the top end. Not the whirring noise of the valves, but more of a tic tic TAC TAC tic tic TAC TAC. It got a bit quieter as it warmed up.

I have adjusted the cam chain tensioner before firing it up. Loosey loosey, tighty tighty.

Any ideas on the noise?

[jetmechmarty]

Make a recording and embed it here.

I swapped in an engine on my XS650. It rattles. I posted the video below to XS650.com that I made with my iPhone. I had answers in minutes. We couldn't do that at XS11 dot com, but we can do it here!

[Banshee's Veil]

Make a recording and embed it here.

I swapped in an engine on my XS650. It rattles. I posted the video below to XS650.com that I made with my iPhone. I had answers in minutes. We couldn't do that at XS11 dot com, but we can do it here!

Something similar to that sound, I'll post a clip here soon

[Bonz]

Not sure what other things you’ve done to the bike, valve clearance on the loose side for a valve or two, and it tightens up a bit as things warm up?

[Banshee's Veil]

Not sure what other things you’ve done to the bike, valve clearance on the loose side for a valve or two, and it tightens up a bit as things warm up?

Haven't checked the valves yet. Just adjusted the cam chain tensioner.

The sound is very similar to jetmechmarty's video.

[Bonz]

That's definitely a noticeable noise! With that said, I don't know what an XS650 sounds like when it needs the valves adjusted.

Jetmech, what was the answer to the cause of your noise?

[Loch]

Valve adjustment should quiet it .

[jetmechmarty]

That's definitely a noticeable noise! With that said, I don't know what an XS650 sounds like when it needs the valves adjusted.

Jetmech, what was the answer to the cause of your noise?

That being an XS650, what's wrong with it has nothing to do with the XS11. The engine design is very different. I only posted it as an example of how to share the noise.

The XS650 has shed the rubber from the forward cam chain guide foot. It's a very common issue on that bike. The tensioner, having run out of travel, confirms it.

[Bonz]

Thanks for the reply!

[jetmechmarty]

Thanks for the reply!

Adding confusion with an XS650 engine probably wasn't the best idea, but the embedded video is a tool new to this forum.

[Bonz]

Hey it was a video and it was of a motorcycle, haven't seen that around here in a long time! 😂

[Banshee's Veil]

Valve adjustment should quiet it .

Checked the valves. All to tight. Intake on 1 and 4 was 0.002. Everything else off by 0.001-0.002 in

[jetmechmarty]

Checked the valves. All to tight. Intake on 1 and 4 was 0.002. Everything else off by 0.001-0.002 in

This is the best place to start. An out of adjustment or worn out cam chain also makes noise.

[DiverRay]

Banshee, Keep the valves a little on the loose side. They tighten up as you put on miles, so if you can adjust them to the upper side of the spec, you'll have more time between adjustments. For some, that isn't a problem, but others like me tend to put miles on the bike, so it does keep the bike on the road a bit more.

[Banshee's Veil]

Banshee, Keep the valves a little on the loose side. They tighten up as you put on miles, so if you can adjust them to the upper side of the spec, you'll have more time between adjustments. For some, that isn't a problem, but others like me tend to put miles on the bike, so it does keep the bike on the road a bit more.

will do. I have got the tappet tool ordered to remove the shims