Now then all.

First post on a forum ever, so here goes.

I have a 2002 XT600E with 53000 miles on the clock and has started making an erratic knocking/chattering noise, it sounds like its coming from around the bottom end on the left hand side, but these things can be hard to pinpoint. You can almost feel it shuddering as it makes the noise, especially at low revs.

My logic suggests that it could be the cam chain. The adjuster has 4 clicks left on it, and I guess coming to the end of its life. I did try the trick of pushing it out a click to tension the chain a bit more, but it made no difference so I put it back to normal.

However, the noise seems very erratic, not entirely related to revs. Some rides it would be worse than others, and not present at times, then suddenly come back. No real change in power/acceleration.

It was doing this about 3 months ago for a few weeks and I tried to figure it out but had to use the bike for work still. I tried to get the left had side casing off, just to have a look, but it wouldn't budge as its probably never been off and then it stopped making the noise at all suddenly, as if magically fixed. now its comeback after maybe 2000 miles and me no likey.

Other suggestions have been flywheel and balance shaft nuts/woodruff keys, but I haven't had chance to check and it definitely seems to be from the left hand side, but I may be wrong.

Ive been through a lot of forum threads but cant find an answer to my problem exactly.

Hope someone can give some suggestions.

Thanks.