Rattles when cold
 

My '03 XT600E (11,000 miles) has a noise which is driving me nuts. In the first 10 minutes or so of running from cold I get a rattle when I load the engine (just give the throttle a slight open up) - it's almost like pinking. After 10 mins the noise is gone. Is it just a cold,air cooled single settling down? Probably nothing to it, but it would be nice to know if it is common. Strangely I get the impression that the noise comes from the rear end of the engine (hard to be sure)- gearbox area. It doesn't seem to be valve gear.Any input appreciated.

Are you missing any tools lately?

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

My bike seems make a bit more valve noise when it's cold, too. I only notice it when I wear ear plugs, strangely enough.

Probably sounds like it's over the gearbox because it is intake valves ringing through the airbox.

Thank you Fred. Why didn't I think of that?
Forschmeidt - you could be right about that. The trouble is the more I try to pin the noise down, the more it seems to move. Tank off soon for valve checks and a look at carbs (for another reason).
We'll see.

Maybe the air inlet connnecting rubbers between head and carbs leaking when cold and no more when warm?

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

I have to travel away this weekend so can't sort bike, but I'll look at it when I get back and let you know if I find anything - or if I decide to get better earplugs.
Thanks so far.

The cold engine noise I spoke of above is a little better. All I have done so far is take out chain tensioner to check how far it had moved and replaced it. Perhaps in putting the spring back I caused adjuster to step forward one notch.
However, I now have a new cold engine noise lasting about 15-30 seconds. It sounds like a noisy tappet - a light tapping/clicking varying with engine speed. I checked tappets (setting was ok and area is very well supplied with oil), but the noise actually seems to come from low down in the engine, on the right and towards the front rather than at the clutch area. I have never had a 11,400 mile engine with so much noise! Bike is XT600E. Any suggestions? (Apart from sell bike, buy earplugs or noisy exhaust)

Sounds like the crankshaft pinion on the clutch side. Check if the nut has loosened. Buy a clutch cover gasket before starting.

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

Well - I've been under the clutch cover. No loose fasteners anywhere. The 15 second rattle persists. I wondered about the oil pump, whether it is being starved in some way so I connected a long polythene tube to the filter housing air bleed connection. The pump builds up a head of 90" of oil (1.9psig by my calculation) as soon as the engine fires up, even when the rattle is there. It will do better but I only had 90" of tubing.Pump performance is the same with the engine warmed up for a couple of minutes ie until it will tick over on it's own. So I don't see a problem there. But the noise does seem to be in that area. Changed the filter again just in case - no difference. The pump shaft has a fair bit of end float, but I think the drive is just a pin in a slot, so I would expect end float. Any ideas welcome - at least I have something to do on these dark nights!
Regards - stay off the ice!

sounds like piston slap, a normal noise for a large cyl, air cooled engine

Sorry - it's me and my rattle again. Having listened carefully at both sides of the engine, and got a second opinion, rattle is coming off timing chain. Quietened it down by stepping the adjuster one notch forward, but wasn't happy as the adjuster did not go right home when refitted. It stood off by about 20 thou until pushed home by fasteners. So I put it back where it was.What I can't understand is why the chain rattles for 15 seconds or so - it never used to. Do I need a new chain at 11,000 miles - adjuster has 8 notches exposed. Weird. I need to mend this or get some therapy to help me ignore the rattles.Regards.

HI, i have a simuliar noise in my 3aj except it only appears after two minutes running from cold. sounds like its coming from the top right hand side, valve clearances are ok. driving me mad also! any help welcomed. T

Hi guys,

Last year I had the same problem on my '89 3AJ 55.000 kms. Anyway rattle on start lasting 1 -2 minutes. My local Yamaha garage serviced the bike and suggested a new timing chain (recommend @ 50.000) and new oil Elf 10/40 synthetic Fortified.... problem solved... the bike has stood over the winter, I've started it and not a rattle to be heard..

Cheers
Matt

cheers matt, but my rattle only appears after 2 mins from cold! camchain has just been replaced, so can,t think what it can be. am i just expecting too much from a big thumper? T

Hi Boxer

Whatever the noise is, you can locate it better by taking a screwdriver,( say,) put the tip on the engine and your ear pressed against the handle end. This transmits the sounds directly to your ear for more accurate diagnosis.
PS you could always get a Honda(!)
Goods roads!