Bad engine noises.

peeps .... I have had to leave my beloved steed in strange place overnight ... in the cold ... alone.... I am bereft...

a nice little bimble tonight turned into a nightmare

making spirited progress on a dual carriageway (not 3 figures though)

a sound suddenly came about from the engine. No warning lights, misfires ... a slight noticeable lack of the normal vibration pulled in ... sounded like a blown exhaust... checked for obvious looseness splits etc ... nothing ...hand over the end of the exhaust pipe no difference.

helmet off only to hear a loud metallic clanking from the front cylinder/barrel....

nothing ever heard like it before

plenty oil (new) and always changed every year with filter

it sounds horrendous.... help me.....my beloved steed needs me...

got the steed back tonight

although I cannot get the compression tester down the plug hole
sticking your finger in the plug hole definately finds good compression - but lbs sq in would be better

whipped the cam cover orf and all seems well there.. plenty oil ...
.5 - 1mm or so back and forth on the camshaft no up and down play...
chain is intact

just clicked 19K miles... thought I would have got a few more miles before this happened...

what the hell do I do now????

[TamSV]

I take it the cam chain was tight - i.e. not a failed tensioner?
Can you describe the noise in a bit more detail? Did you lose power when it happened? Any work been done recently?

BTW I'm only asking in case more info helps someone who knows what they're talking about - don't expect me to come back with a sensible answer.

appreciated

could be a failed tensioner .. I can pull the chain a fair distance off the cam shaft drive.. it does seem quite loose but not sure if it only tensions when running...

even the bike recovery geezer says its unusual to hear of the sv going pop at 19k (this bike had been exceptionally looked after prior to me getting me mits on it)

I'll get there .... it just takes me sooo much longer these days!!

That does indeed sound like a failed tensioner (or tensioner blade) - you shouldn't really be able to move the cam chain at all.

If it's got really loose and jumped a tooth, you could've mashed things up in there. Check the cam timing (if you've got a manual it'll show you how) - if the timing is off , you'll probably need to get the heads off to check the valves + piston. If you're lucky the noise may just be the chain slapping around while it's loose and the timing's still good...in which case a new tensioner should fix it.

In the event of mashed up valves etc., I've got a pair of heads from my SV engine (the bottom end went) - probably cheaper to buy one of those than to get the work done to replace any bent valves.

if the tension is applied when idle I would say its that that has failed ....

but without checking how it works, the valve timing etc there's not enough indicators ye (I'm reading the Haynes manual now!!!)

There was no loss of power when the noise came on...
the noise is strange as its not like a small end or big end knock it comes from the cylinder/block area and is rythmic to the stroke... not a knock but a klack with lots of background.... similar to piston slap but not as pronounced ..... sorry this is tres difficult!!!!

I will do a recording and stick it on utoob... the noise I think would be consistent with a failed tensioner

if the valves are mashed thats a tough call ....eeek

but that offer of the heads is tres kind sir and I would take you up on it if the worst is found
I would feel a lot happier with a compression check and the skillful ear of someone with more sv mechanical savvy than moi

the bike is a gem (known history et al) straight as a die ... it would be a shame if I found lots of expensive broken bits inside....

[TamSV]

Originally Posted by stepheng

if the tension is applied when idle I would say its that that has failed ....

but without checking how it works, the valve timing etc there's not enough indicators ye (I'm reading the Haynes manual now!!!)

There was no loss of power when the noise came on...
the noise is strange as its not like a small end or big end knock it comes from the cylinder/block area and is rythmic to the stroke... not a knock but a klack with lots of background.... similar to piston slap but not as pronounced ..... sorry this is tres difficult!!!!

I will do a recording and stick it on utoob... the noise I think would be consistent with a failed tensioner

if the valves are mashed thats a tough call ....eeek

but that offer of the heads is tres kind sir and I would take you up on it if the worst is found
I would feel a lot happier with a compression check and the skillful ear of someone with more sv mechanical savvy than moi

the bike is a gem (known history et al) straight as a die ... it would be a shame if I found lots of expensive broken bits inside....

Hopefully just the CCT and the noise is chain slap but I wouldn't run the engine anymore until you know the score. Front CCT's easy enough to remove.

It moves out in stages on a ratchet mechanism - it shouldn't move back in and let the chain go loose.

Check the CCT and I'd defo want to check the timing before firing that engine up again.

Think I have been tres lucky and glad I didnt ride the bike home...

Hopefully this will be conclusive !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d76ZIVkg4VQ

timing marks on camshaft checked with the 16 links between the cogs
F on flywheel checked against valve timing marks and all as per manual

ordering tensioner tomorrow !!!

anyone know if the newer K3 (improved ratchet version) will fit the 2000 model?


fingers crossed .......

Holy crappity. That ain't good.

Take out the front CCT and take a look at it. For added peace of mind, take out the rear one and put it in the front and check that the front cam chain goes taut. If it does, it's probably just the tensioner that's gone, and you're good.

yes