TLS Dying?

[tl_tub]

I was in masterton yesterday, and after giving the bike a bit of a wind up I stopped for a coffee. After 30minutes or so I jumped back onto the bike to head back to Wellington. A new noise had appeared. It sounds like a metal on metal slaping, and is well loud enough to hear over the exhaust.
The noise sounds as if its coming from around the steering head area. I have recently taken the top tripple clamp off and replaced the seal, however i cannot find any movement in the forks.
Does it sounds like a major bearing in the engine has started to distroy itself?

The bike has just on 100,000kms on the clock and the camchains and tensioners were done around 3000kms ago.

Help?

[98tls]

Hard to say without hearing it mate......is it losing power?drop the oil and see what comes out with it.

[tl_tub]

Power still seems to be good, but i cant be sure as i dont do any high speed stuff. I guess i shouldnt ride it till i know, so yeah, ill drop the oil tonight

6.40pm: Have just dropped the oil. I cant feel anything it in, but will let it settle then pour it out to see what is left behind.

[cowpoos]

go check if ya brake pads have heaps of meat on them....both sides of the pad....failing that....give it to me and go buy a new bike

[tl_tub]

Well, there were a few flakes in the oil, with this being the biggest. its a copper color on both sides and looks a little rounded.
Photo taken on a paper towl, so you can see the size of the dots. Maybe the flake is 1-2mm in size?
Sorry, it was hard taking such a closeup photo in the evening

[Dak]

unfortunatly that doesn't look good, looks like bearing material, get the oil pressure checked ASAP before more damage is done.

[TLDV8]

Is the noise there when the bike is idling ?...... On a TL the main concern is any kind of internal noise that appears while accelerating..ie conrod under load.If it was a conrod bearing going,i doubt you would have got from Masterton to Wellington.Once the copper is exposed on a bearing shell,the next thing is heat and knock,knock.... You might want to raise the frontend/rear etc to eliminate the chassis first.

[Sensei]

Drop the sump off the bike Brent that will tell you what ya need to now as all the shit will be sitting in the bottom of it . Don't ride till you have done this as by ya Picture it doesn't look to nice . Looks like apiece of Big end shell !

[tl_tub]

Cant find any movement in front end, however as cowpoos says, pads getting low and make quite a racket when the wheel is moved back and forth.. I have a spare set so will throw them in and see if it makes any difference tomorrow.
Original oil added back to the bike, minus small flakes

The bike idles nicely, and revving up to 5k makes no funny sounds, though i could have sworn today, maybe it did


Anyone know of a TLR engine for sale??

[TLDV8]

TL1000 cases have no removable sump...so you are saying no noise at idle,only while moving.?

[Sensei]

If it was a conrod bearing going,i doubt you would have got from Masterton to Wellington.Once the copper is exposed on a bearing shell,the next thing is heat and knock,knock....

I road my T509 Speedtriple for 5000ks with no White metal or cooper on 3 Bigend's but Triumphs have Bloody good Nitrated Cranks .

[tl_tub]

TL1000 cases have no removable sump...so you are saying no noise at idle,only while moving.?

Thats correct.. If im riding along with gradually increasing revs, or stable revs i dont get the noise. And sounds just as normal at idle

[Sensei]

TL1000 cases have no removable sump...so you are saying no noise at idle,only while moving.?

Then ya fucked ! Pull it out . There will be no load on the Rods at idle

[tl_tub]

Then ya fucked ! Pull it out . There will be no load on the Rods at idle

Would the engine not vibrate more if there was a problem with the internals? I rode up the gorge today with my hand on the side, feeling for anything while it was making the noise, but nothing at all

[cowpoos]

give dave andersons a call in masterton.... a theres a mechanic there that knows TLs really well.... his names shane I think.... 06 3700033
ask him a few questions....he won't mind....