Fellow XJers.. Lend me your ear ;-)

Calling all XJ guru's that have good running bikes ;-)

So I am a little paranoid by nature. I am not sure what my engine 'should' sound like, so I always think the worst or that something is wrong. Its a 'new to me' bike that I got about a month ago.

So with this paranoia, any chance anyone will take a listen to this MP3 file? I stood about 12 inches away from my engine with my camera and took a video (just so I could get the audio). Its from a cold start with about 3/8 choke on (no i didn't clean carbs yet). Its not so much the rate of idle or anything (was at about 1100-1200 rpm), but more of the pinging sound.

I've changed out the plugs, flushed and chained out the oil (it has 15-40 in there right now) and redid back brakes. Plus a lot of general work and cleaning (engine was massive dirty). As far as I am aware its been ridden with no 'down' time (at least not on the span of 'years). Its got 38k miles.
I have the parts for the carbs and a spare rack that I am using. Plus I have most of the parts I need to pull the valve cover to check clearances.

However I drive this a lot (weather permitting), and I am unsure if this noise is normal - or if i should STOP riding until I do my carbs, valves clearances and getting it all sync'ed because this noise is bad........

Black Beast Running

Anyone got an opinion?

THANKS!

 

Not sure if it's me or your server but it was very choppy and I played it a few times so it should have been cached on my machine.

Anyway I head some normal valve ticking and at the end it may have been a bit of excessive chain rattle. Really hard to tell.

 

Bill,

Thanks for the feedback!

Hmm, not sure - plays fine for me. Maybe right-click it and do a 'save-as' so you can save on your computer?

I moved the camera around a little bit, mainly so I could reach the throttle to rev the engine a bit.

Below is a link to the actual video itself if it might help, that would be better to do a 'save-as' for this one I think.

Video and Audio of engine

Also got another video that takes audio samples from both sides of engine and right by the end of my 4-into-1 muffler. Its about 25mb in size, which shouldn't be too large for anyone w/ broadband.

More Locations and Sound


Thanks for any feedback!

--josh

 

I think once you adjust the cam chain, run the valves, sync carbs and colortune it, most of those noises will calm down.

I adjusted cam chain & ran valves on 2 of my bikes this weekend, cleaned and synced carbs on one of them and another. The 81 XJ550 with 54k on it, quieted down the most. All but 2 valve shims needed replacing. Had a couple noisy and a few others tight... It definetely sounds way better and quieter.

 

I couldn't hear anything either. Are you using hi octane gas? Mine pinged like crazy with the lower grade unleaded. I may be wrong, but I think these bikes were made with leaded gas in mind. Super unleaded seemed to help on mine.

 

I did not hear anything that would be real alarming to me. It sounded like the noise went away when you rev'ed the engine. Is that true?

A buddy of mine has has a 82 suzuki with a very simialar motor as what is on the XJ's and it makes an awful noise when it is idling. Revs the motor and it goes away. It has been like that for over a year, we are not sure what is causing the noise.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Ok good. Yeah it does seem to go away when I rev. I did get a high pitch whine under load - but I lubed up the speedo cable and most of that went away.

I am sure it will sound better once I get done with everything; I just was hoping I wasn't making anything worse by running her before.

Thanks!

 

Maybe a little valve noise when you first started it but other than that I hear no other motor noises

 

I got a better listen to it - I have to agree I don't hear anything alarming. Mine sounds like a sewing machine at idle sometimes. What I did was go though the valves and checked the chain while I was at it. Now I know there is no problem

 

Ok good, glad to hear it. It really makes me feel better.

I have been focusing on the brakes for now and was going to do the valve's and carbs later, but not being sure of what it sounded like I didn't want to burn up the engine or throw a piston or anything crazy ;-)

Ok, i can sleep better now - thanks all!

 

Sounds to me like the Timing Chain needs to have the Slack taken-out during a Manual Resetting of the Timing Chain Tensioner.

Although the drawings show your Bike to be equipped with an Automatic Tensioner, ... sometimes the Automatic Tensioner needs Manual Assistance.

Pull the Plugs
Remove the Crank Cover on the Left Side.
Wrench the Engine over two full revolutions -- Clockwise and slow to a stop.
(Have an assistant "Tap" on the Hex Head at the end of the Tensioner.)

While the assistant taps on the Tensioner Body:
Quickly turn-over the Engine -- Counter-Clockwise -- Presenting the slack before the Tensioner.
You might hear the Tensioner "Click" (Good)

Perform the reset several times.
Button-up and Test for noise.

 

Do the XJ's normally sound like they're missing a cylinder? Kinda sounded that way to me, but i've only got 2 jugs to worry about so i'm not so versed in the sounds of i4

 

Kr: I thought I might have been too at one point, so i tested all plugs and I am getting spark - i've also unscientifically tested the heat from the pipes, and they are all getting hot (dipping my work glove in water and touching the pipe - all caused water to evaporate very quickly)

 

Rick:

Thanks for the write-up. I will try that (hopefully tonight if the rain holds out) and re-record some video and see.

When you said, "(Have an assistant "Tap" on the Hex Head at the end of the Tensioner.)" you mean specifically have them whack it (gently of course) with a mallet or something? Should they do so in a repeated fashion (tap tap tap) and I do the counter clockwise revolution during them doing that or just once and then I do the counter-clockwise revolution? (sorry for noob-ish question, just want to make sure I get it right)

Thanks!

--josh

 

Ahh ok as long as they're all gettin hot you should be fine, like everyone has said, valves check, colourtune, sync should clear up any bumble in it.

 

Hi Rick,

I thought the initial rotation was supposed to be in the "normal" direction of rotation for the engine, with the quick motion in "reverse"; is it the other way around?

I ask because my '82 SECA 750, at least, runs CCW.

Thanks,
Paul

 

From what i can tell it sounds like a classic 80's yamaha running. My neighbor has a 83 venture and even thou it has 4 cylinders in a v formation, it still sounds allot like my 83 maxim. My wife has commented before while ridding with me, (what is that high pitched sound I hear now and then.) It is noticable at the right RPM. Like others have said, (big singer sewing machine.)

 

With the Bottom of a Hammer Handle will do the trick.

A quick-time Tapping to make sure the Pawl moves when you present the Slack before the Tensioner.

 

So I've read a lot of 'auto tensioner' resets and there is a back and forth with if its CW or CCW for the first few rotations.

I didn't do anything yet, but its leaning to be a CCW rotation followed by a CW rotation of the slack to be picked up... right?

 

Ok,
So i did this tonight. it is CCW for normal forward movement.

However, I followed your instructions Rick, and .... I don't think anything happened....? I didn't hear a 'click' etc.. and the bike sounds the same. I tried it about 4 times....

So I am thinking, was I supposed to rotate it 'backwards' and THEN do a fast forward rotation? Not sure of the mechanics of it, I just know it didn't do anything on my bike.....?

thanks!

 

Yes, the "Opposite" motion should be QUICK!

If the tensioner doesn't do anything ... Take the Cam Cover off and try LIFTING the Chain off the Bridge between the two Cams.

If it's loose and lifts ... your Auto-Tensioner could be Stuck.

The Auto-Tensioner is EASY to Strip-down and Clean.
Removal is Quick.
Making a New Gasket ... Easy.

Getting the Tensioner BACK ON without Removing the Carbs ...
Is a BITCH!

 

LOL, such language, its unbecoming of you ;-)

Hmmm.... Honestly I am probably swapping out my carbs in a week or two anyways.. so if they are off the bike, no reason why not take a look at that as well.... Now to search for a how-to on stripping it down and cleaning it ;-P

Thanks for the advice so far!