Noisy cam chain when idling

[waricle]

The bike starts & runs well but the cam chain is noisy when idling.
Whats the cure?

[mz_rider]

Waricle,

Are you sure that the noise is coming from the cam chain? I've never heard of anyone having cam chain or tensioner problems. At big mileages the starter motor chain, which is untensioned, can rattle. I've found that this goes away when the motor heats up.

Stuart

[threejagsteve]

waricle,

FJs make all sorts of unsettling rattles (and even an occasional clank) when idling... the aforementioned starter chain, the clutch basket, etc.

If it's not getting worse and starting to sound serious, don't worry about it... you'll get used to it!

Cheers,
threejagsteve

[RichBaker]

 The cam itself rattles side-side at idle, as well.... don't worry about it.

[waricle]

Thank you all for the reassuring replies!!
It will sound MUCH better with a helmet on.........

[higbonzo]

It could be the clutch.  They tend to raddle a bit.  Next time the bike is warm and idling, put in netural and pull the clutch lever to see if the sound changes.  If it does you can rest a little easier knowing where the sound is coming from.

Later......

[Mark Olson]

The bike starts & runs well but the cam chain is noisy when idling.
Whats the cure?

turn the  idle up.

no kidding , It should be 1000-1200rpm.

[waricle]

Thanks for the replies,
I have it in bits at the moment painting the tank & fairing so won't be starting it up for a while.
The bike has 105,000 MILES up- (Its a British import) so it has lots of loose bits to fix.
It's great not being in a hurry and being able to give the spray putty a good week to dry & shrink before proceeding.
-but I do love the work!!

[plouw]

Got the same on my FJ 1100 50 000 KM, It irritate the hell out of me. I've heard about the FJ noises that can be ignored, but this sounds like trouble to me. On high rev driving it's fine, but stopping at a traffic light, the noise slowly comes back until its loud again. Ive set the revs above 1000RPM and the "cling-cling-Cling" noise got softer. I want to upgrade to FJ12000, but i love my bike FJ rocks. (The heavy beast)

[MOTOMYSZOR]

verrrry old topic but new (for me) noise..... And of course I can't just live it alone.....


Noise in my engine is getting louder (or it is auto-suggestion)
Valves are adjusted, starter chain noise is something what I know, clutch is quiet.

On this short video this noise is very noticeable. Any ideas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tijoTZavw3I&feature=youtu.be

[FJmonkey]

Cam or starter chain, normal for this engine. Set the idle RPM to 1000/1200 and deal with it. You can hear that it mellows out with RPM increase. To frequent and wrong sound for a valve tap. How many miles on the engine?

[MOTOMYSZOR]

almost 60.000 miles on the clock - more or less real.

[ct7088]

That sounds like a chain with a rusted non flexing chain link to me. The crunchy noises don't sound very good. I have never split the case of any motorcycle. What do the experts think? When the microphone gets closer to the alternator-starter area the noise is more easily heard.
Chris

[Pat Conlon]

If you are worried about the cam chain you can always remove and reset the automatic tensioner.

The noise you hear is the starter chain which has no automatic tensioner. Very common noise in our FJ's

[MOTOMYSZOR]

I know the sound of the starter chain - is not this one.

This sound which I am concerned, is much lauder on left side when I am close to alternator. It comes from back of engine, from inside.

On this video, after unscrew cam chain tensioner in FZ9 the sound is very similar.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPwTTTKPEk