Cam chain replaced but problem not solved

[timphy2]

It's 16 years old , it will have been ruthlessly raped for 45000km. Some engine noise is to be expected.

yer true, however some part of the bike must be making that noise, so there is a possibility to replace that part with a new one. but true im sure its had its days of ruthlessly bein raped.

[rookie]

bloody kb wont let me pm you back sorry

Hey Tim

Ok so you have had the cam chain AND(?) the cam chain tensioner replaced?? was the tensioner an auto tensioner or manual??
how long ago??

Ok...so if the chain AND tensioner have been replaced, could you try something for me??
sit on your bike... start her up... put the stand up... chuck it in first... and release the clutch to the point where the bike wants to start moving....

DID THE RATTLE GO AWAY?!

If so, its got the same rattle as mine...its due to wear in the clutch basket(housing). What happens is that the housing wears over time as the plates are constantly vibrating. As the wear increases the rattle gets a bit louder. It doesnt have any affect on the clutch itself...its just noisy. The housing is a bloody expensive part to replace...second hand parts are going to be worn as well.

I wouldnt say its a problem...more of a feature.
oh btw...my bike has done 50,000km now so i'll let you know if it does end up being the cam chain for me.

btw...ive had a shit load of problems between the 47-50,000km mark.
Keep an eye on the battery charge(regulator may need doing), front fork seals, radiator/overflow water level, clutch, clutch and throttle cables, and make sure you keep up with oil and filter changes.

I can help out with most stuff as ive started doing some things myself to try and save money

Let me know how it goes

cheers
Stephen

[rookie]

When the cam chain was replaced the tensioner should have also been replaced...if not then i suggest you pu it back into the shop...Dont worry its cheap, shouldnt be more than $130 including labour.

If the clutch is slipping try adjusting the clutch so that it doesnt...if not possible than you will need to have a fresh clutch kit installed...about $95 for parts... you'll also need new motor oil.

[roadracingoldfart]

As a mechanic i daily have customers that have a "rattle" or "clunk" and all i have to say is that what the cistomer may be hearing is differant to what a mechanic will hear as we have a more trained ear to hear the "normal "engine chassis noises than most. Unless you have the ability to go for a ride with a mechanic and say , its "THAT" noise then they may hear what you dont and place a differant priority on the work required than is really needed based on what is heard by them.
What im trying to point out is even a NASA rocket scientist cant tell you what a noise is without hearing it and you may well find a couple of hundred other peoples ideas are miles away from the truth. ( im not knocking the helpers ) but this sort of thing cant be sorted on a read and reply forum like this unlike a problem of "oil is falling out the hole in the bottom of my engine "
My reccomendation is to go to another bike shop and dont tell them whats already been done but ask them if the noise is something to worry about and can they then give a rough cost to fix it if it has got a problem.
Cheers Paul.

[Max Preload]

If the noise is present at idle, half the battle of finding it, is won.

Narrow the actual source using a mechanics stethescope or simply a screwdriver with the handle in your ear and the blade pushed firmly against vavious parts of the engine.

[RSrider]

Funny, my story sounds identical to the original posters. I have a 1993 ZXR250 C. It has the same rattle as described in the first post. I too took it into my local bikeshop who informed me it was the cam chain/tensioner and advised to replace it. After getting my bike back and a $600 bill, the bike was still making the same noise.

After a little talk they refunded me the money, as they hadnt fixed the reattle, which is what I asked for, the bike had only done 14000kms, there was nothing wrong with the cam chain.

My bike does as you say, rattles until you let the clutch out to the point of take off, then it goes away. Is there ANY way of fixing it?

[discotex]

My bike does as you say, rattles until you let the clutch out to the point of take off, then it goes away. Is there ANY way of fixing it?

Totally normal for bikes to have rattling sounds at idle. Doesn't mean it's broken.

You have to remember that unlike a cage there is nothing absorbing the normal rattles of the engine, gearbox and clutch.

What's important is unusual rattles that get worse with RPM or over time.

[Drum]

I've owned two Kawasaki's and they both had/ have noisy engines. Something to do with the primary chain design I believe (Hi-vo chain).

The Zephyr is typically described as sounding like a sack of hammers.

[rookie]

After a little talk they refunded me the money, as they hadnt fixed the rattle

Nice work on the refund.

I have been off the bike for a while now, but my mechanics repsonse (back when i owned a zxr) was that the rattle was coming from the play between the clutch basket and the clutch plate fingers.

When the clutch was released to the point of take-up then the rattle went away. It didnt affect the clutch operation but sounded a bit rough when idling.

I never got this replaced tho as it was one of those $500 genuine spare part jobs.

[FLYMO]

yeah its got that sound of being a clutch basket gettinga bit warm

[Max Preload]

My bike does as you say, rattles until you let the clutch out to the point of take off, then it goes away. Is there ANY way of fixing it?

What does it do with the clutch engaged (that's you not touching the lever) in neutral?

[jonbuoy]

Carb syn might help if its the clutch plates jangling around in the basket. That should have been done on the service anyway but worth checking.

[RSrider]

In neutral the rattle is present, and it is also present in every other gear until you release the clutch lever.

[The Pastor]

Zxrs rattle its what they do