knocking valves-XJ700X

Here is a video of a XJ700X that in the comments section states that it sounds like a valves are knocking.
Yamaha Maxim praca silnika 02

So above is the video short less than two minutes.
Here is my bike XJ700X does it sound the same like a valve knocking problem- My apologizes since the Army my hearing aint what it used to be-

 

Our bikes don't have hydraulic lifters. There will be some valve noise. The first video is not of a Maxim-X (no radiator). I hear his valves (a good thing), but I also hear carbs that are out of synch, and fuel mixtures that are likely off.

Your bike is watercooled, and all that water acts as a sound dampener, so you won't have as much valve noise (but it will be there). I could hear the valve tick on my EX-500, so you should be able to hear it on your X (valve noise is GOOD).
The ONLY way to know if the valves need adjustment is to measure the valve clearances, or if the valvetrain goes DEAD silent (an indication of near-zero clearance).

Youtube videos need to be looked at with a critical eye; the comments triply so.

 

First one sounds like can of marbles from as k-moe said carbs not Synced and maybe idling on 3 cylinders. second bike idling too fast . Should be about 1050-1100

 

Just a general FYI:

Valve noise in order of loudness (loudness does not represent being out of adjustment).
Order is quiet to loud.

2-stroke engines, and Wankel engines.

4-stroke engines with hydraulic lifters.

4-stroke engines with solid lifters or buckets, adjusted by shims.

4-stroke engines with solid lifters or buckets, adjusted by screw and locknut.

4-stroke diesel engines with solid lifters, adjusted by screw and locknut (remember the wonderful sounds of a 60's Mercedes).

 

I still am amazed that you long time riders are able to hear such things as incorrect syncing of the carburetors and other oddities. I will in time hopefully be able to do the same. Thanks for your insights gentlemen.

 

I too wish I was better at identifying different sounds and what they mean.

I've only had or really ridden one bike in my whole life, my XJ550. Over 30+ years the sounds change so slowly they have to get pretty bad for me to recognize something is amiss (frog in kettle syndrome) since I have nothing else to compare it to.

For example, I currently have some "normal for XJ550" cam chain rattle. For awhile it drove me crazy wondering of something serious was amiss. Asking online and this forum about it, different people describe sounds differently, and I have no experience with the comparative sounds. so I wasn't quite sure what it was. I finally determined it was the normal cam chain rattle since I eliminated other possible sources (i.e. adjusted valves), and since the symptoms are: it gets better for awhile after I adjust the cam chain, the sound is sensitive to oil level and idle speed, and since after 3 years and several thousand miles nothing is broken! The sound did "rattle" me for quite a while worrying that something really bad was happening...

Here's a thought for the really experienced members who have a lot of models of XJ's: create a database of recordings of what each model sounds like when running well, and when certain kinds of sounds occur (tight valves, cam chain rattle, carb out of synch, etc.). Maybe this would not be feasible, but it would be beneficial to help us relative novices troubleshoot by ear.

 

Making videos of those noise sure would be a great thread that would be helpful to those of us who are still new to riding and maintaining their own bikes.

 

- THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE:

Stop, now, what’s that sound?
Everybody look what’s going down…….
- Buffalo Springfield


Yes, the joy of trying to describe a noise in text................and where it might be coming from.


- whistling or chirping noises are some of the hardest to identify as to their source. Here's a couple of tricks:

Quick verification: take the plugs out. If the noise goes away then it's compression. If the noise remains, it's something else. "Something else" can be a number of things, but large vacuum leaks tend to give off whistling and/or chirping sounds...........


- Popping noise or what sounds like a bearing knock:

Possible it's a bad bearing, but more than likely it's a leaking exhaust gasket (hold a tissue around the exhaust joints and see if it flaps in the breeze.......)


- a bag-'o-marbles-in-a-tin-can sound:

This is typical of a starter clutch issue


- Clutch chattering:
http://xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?threads/38486

If the sound comes only when the clutch lever is squeezed, then check the throw out bearing. It's a radial needle bearing that is pulled by the rack and pinion inside the clutch cover, and when it goes bad it will squeal like a stuck pig.


- XJ550’s can make a particular type of “quiet” rhythmic, metallic knocking sound from the top end, which will disappear as rpm’s increase………..this is typically caused by a primary chain (inside the engine) which can “flop” around a bit at low rpm’s due to low oil pressure (oil pressure is used to tension this chain). It’s nothing to worry about.


- Tap-tap-tap in the upper end.

This may or may not be something to worry about, especially if it’s s “sharp” metallic sound…..that could be a cam bearing or cam cap problem. If it’s just a soft, sewing-machine like tick-tick-tick sounds, then that is probably just the valves happily clicking away through their proper clearances. By the way, the lack of this tick-tick-tick sounds is not a good thing: tight valves make no sound, and tight valves are a quick way to ruin your engine!

 

Chacal,
Best explanation of what cam chain rattle on an XJ550 I've ever seen (fyi - you did help me diagnose this in a conversation):

What does "bearing knock" sound like? Many sites discuss, but I've rarely seen an explanation of what it really sounds like. I doubt I've ever heard it on any vehicle (at least I hope not!)

Anyone have recordings of these sounds?

 

Bearing knock sounds like a hammer hitting an anvil (which is pretty much what's happening).