Well, THAT'S new...engine clatter.

Ok, so I just fired up the bike for the first time after my weekend drive, and I'm noticing a distinct chattering sound coming from the left front of the engine. It wasn't there this weekend, and I've never really heard it before. Also, nothing untoward or weird happened this weekend - the bike behaved fine.

It's kind of a semi-regular "takka takka takka". It gets louder when I open the throttle, and it's definitely in time with the engine. It's noticeable when it's idle, but not AS noticeable. Oil level looks good, if a little dark, but oil and filter were both changed about a month ago.

So, any ideas on what I can check without tearing the engine apart, can I provide more information, or is that going to have to be the next step?

 

Probe the Engine to isolate exactly where the noise is originating from.

Buy a Wooden Dowel, cut a length of Fiberglas Driveway Marker, a Broom or Mop Handle.
Hold the Probe like a Ski Pole. Place one end of the Probe on the Engine.
Put your fist around the opposite end. Apply pressure on the Probe with your thumb on the End of the Probe.
"Listen" to the Probe.
Place you ear on your thumbnail and actually listen to the Engine.
Make notes.
The noise is located at this spot.
Knock, vibration, rotational, scraping sound ...

 

Thanks, Rick. Unfortunately the closest thing I have to any of that is a hollow aluminum broom handle, and all I could hear from that was the general engine noise - I tried all four cylinders, top to bottom. I'll pick up a dowel sometime tomorrow and try again.

I'm wondering if it might be one of the header pipes. I had to take the exhaust off to take out my rear wheel. At the time, I didn't have new gaskets for the pipes - didn't even know there was such a thing, until Fitz told me - so I put the old ones back on. I've got a set from Len in-hand now; I'll try putting those in tomorrow as well, see if it makes any difference.

 

Tape a little "Flag" of Tissue on the end of a Long Screwdriver ... see if it "Flutters" while you check for Exhaust Leaks.

 

Another easy way to check for exhaust leaks is using one or two old cleaning rags. Fire up the engine, let someone press the two rags (depends on how many tailpipes you have) on the two exits and then listen if it flutters. In can be done alone, but it isn't so easy to close up the pipes and figuring out where it leaks.



grz Thijs

Edit: I suddenly remember that I once had a clatter sound too. It appeared that one of the bolts in the exhaust header (for emission settings in the factory) had come out.

 

All sound advice; check for exhaust leaks, etc. Doubt you broke anything.

Something to take into account: There was a Yamaha tech tip in regard to these bikes (the 550s anyway) having a camshaft end-play issue that causes a top-end ticking sound if the bike has been sitting on the sidestand for an extended period of time. The fix was a different cam cap; it also said it was simply a "customer satisfaction" issue and had NO EFFECT on the functionality of the motor.

You rode an extended distance for the first time in a long time; the bike was TRULY hot so all the oil drained down into the sump. I would go ahead and ride it (gently) and see if that sound doesn't go away once it warms up again. (After you replace the head pipe gaskets.)

Re: Oil changes: You said "about a month ago" but are you keeping track of mileage? Oil changes should be mileage-driven as well as seasonal; I usually change mine at 2500 miles or so, never more than 3000.

 

had another thought: Go ahead and adjust your camchain even if it was done recently. It can't hurt.

 

I had the same thing this weekend. Clatter from the left side of the engine. Result was a hole in the side of the engine on my way back home. So much for being bulletproof. Haven't tore it down yet to see what caused it. Not sure I want to. I'm more than a bit demoralized at this point.

 

After I adjusted my valves and put every thing back together, I had this small tapping noise. As it turned out after a few days of listening to it, that my horn was gently touching the valve cover, but only sometimes. Moved the horn a little higher and there is no more noise. This could be your problem too.
Then again, your clatter could be the cam chain.

 

Wow, sounds like this noise could be anything.. I've got one too, but only occasionally. I guess I'll start troubleshooting

 

:? Well, I was going to ride it into work today and see if it got worse/went away/stayed the same, but after Coach's post, I took the cage. Tonight I'll tear down the exhaust, put the new gaskets in, and torque the bolts down properly (7.2ft/lbs each); then I'll tighten the cam chain (another learning experience, whee! Probably have to buy more tools, too); then we'll fire it up and see where we are.

I really hope one of those takes care of it. If they don't, I'm going to guess it's something inside the engine, and I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle that just yet.

 

I still don't think a 180-mile ride broke anything. Hold off tearing the motor down until the other possible explanations have been investigated.

Cam chain is real easy: Remove the LH cover on the end of the crank (says YAMAHA and YICS on it; 4 screws.)

Rotate crankshaft CCW until you align the "C" mark on the plate with the pointer. Be careful not to crash into the ignition pickups.

Behind the cylinders, looking in from the right under the carbs you will see your camchain tensioner.

Using a 12mm deepwell socket, loosen the locknut.
Using a 10mm, loosen the bolt DO NOT REMOVE just loosen a turn or two.
You may hear an audible "click" maybe not. From the left side, tap on the camchain tensioner body just to be sure the plunger (inside) isn't stuck.

Tighten up the bolt (not super tight but the torque spec is at home I'm at work) then tighten the nut (also not super tight) and you're done. Put the cover back on over the ignition.

 

FWIW, I had some seriously weird noises coming from what seemed to be approximately the same place when i probed around with a dowel. After a full rebuild, I found nothing other than a slightly chewed up primary chain guide inside the motor, and the noise ended up being caused by my clutch somehow. Go figure.

 

Switch, Do you know what it was inside your clutch that was amking the noise? My next project, after rebuilding the forks.... is to rebuild my clutch. What should I look for?

 

Header pipe gaskets FTW! Apparently when I put the old ones back in, one slipped when I was seating the pipes - it was twisted into a new and interesting shape. I took the pipes off, took the old gaskets out, put the new aftermarkets from Chacal in (had to use a few drops of Elmer's on the back of each to get the SOBs to stay in place), then wrestled the header pipes back into place and locked them down. Fired up the bike - no more "takka takka takka takka..."

One of these days I'll stop panicking about every little thing the bike does...but it'll be a while.

 

SUHWEET. (Do I get to say I told you so...?) It's good you discovered and fixed it. I use a smudge of anti-sieze compound to "glorp" them in place temporarily.

I keep a couple in my parts drawer and try to use a new one any time I pull a pipe for any reason.

 

Mine was caused by weak springs, worn plates, and an ever-so-slightly out-of-round clutch basket. Shuffled the plates, swapped around the springs, re-torqued, re-adjusted, no more noise, but my clutch still slips I hate being broke. lol.

 

Congrats and glad it was something that simple. Wish that were the case with mine.