is this the cam chain or starter chain

[hook line n sinker]

Before my Fj1200s most recent demise i have been troubled by the sound of what is possibly the cam chain or i have been told the starter chain was wondering if anyone can tell me the bike is high mileage over 80,000 miles with 20 odd previous owners on the v5 lol is the noise a sign of imminent motor death ??

Heres the video on you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiYedXs1qbg

[racerrad8]

I have not even listened to the video...

The cam chain cannot make noise, it is held under constant & consistent tension by the spring loaded tensioner. In all of my years, I have never seen a tensioner that has ever been fully extended allow the chain to make noise.

The starter chain has no tension and can make noise if the RPM's are too low and the chain gets to whipping in the case. Make sure the idle is 1100 RPM

The other source of noise if the clutch pack. If you pull in the clutch and the noise goes away then that is the noise.

None of these are imminent death of the FJ, they will make the noise forever...

Plus, do not forget about the header pipe breaking internally, just as Pat...

I'll listen to the video later from my computer at home

Randy - RPM

[Steve_in_Florida]

From your video, it's clear that your bike has been "Punished"!!!

[Pat Conlon]

Plus, do not forget about the header pipe breaking internally, just as Pat...

Nope, not that....he has a '87

[FJmonkey]

Sounds like a starter chain, with the revs up the noise is gone, as the engine lugs the noise is worse. Make sure you have the idle set close to 1100 RPM, like Randy said, it keeps the chain from slapping the internals.

[racerrad8]

Plus, do not forget about the header pipe breaking internally, just as Pat...

Nope, not that....he has a '87

How does one really know?

We cannot really see the pipe in the video as they go past pretty quickly. Who is to say that they might not be double walled tubing...?

Those tubes look pretty big. The sounds seem to coincide with the engine miss as well.

It sounds really "tinny" and not deep enough to be a starter chain.

Randy - RPM

[Pat Conlon]

The double wall pipes were on the '84-'85 FJ's. '86 on, they had the single wall (painted) stainless head pipes.

Looks to me to be a crusty Supertrapp exhaust (single wall)

[racerrad8]

The double wall pipes were on the '84-'85 FJ's. '86 on, they had the single wall (painted) stainless head pipes.

Looks to me to be a crusty Supertrapp exhaust (single wall)

I know what years the pipe were double wall, but I am saying there is no way to know what some of the previous "20 odd owners" might have done over the years and it looks big to me.

HL&S, can you measure the tubing so we can determine if is could be the early style double wall, a single wall O.E. or aftermarket header.

It still sounds "tinny" to me.

Also, I would be interested in seeing a clear picture of the forks where the anti-dive used to be attached

Randy - RPM

[bigbore2]

I occasionally get a chain noise, upon startup, during winter months [meaning a colder engine, 20-35 degrees from overnight] coming from the left side of the motor. Once warmed a little, it goes away or with slightly higher revs it goes away.  [84-1100] Which chain is that?  thanx

[Anti-Dive Dave]

I notice on the video (looking at the rev counter) that she's only ticking over at 500 - 800 rpm.  So, in my unprofessional opinion, as Mr. Monkey says, the revs need to be upped on tickover to a minimum of 1100/1200 rpm.  It sounds like the engine is slapping the chain around.

You couild hear the noise go away when you just gave it a tiny increase of revs.

To adjust the tickover - look at the back of the engine and below the carbs.  You'll see a large knurled screw sticking out.  Turniong it out will slow the bike down, and turning it in will increase the tickover.  This does all 4 carbs in one go (linked) so no need to fart about with individual settings.

Up the tickover to just over the "1" mark on the rev counter and report back!

Oh - have you checked the oil levels too?  If there's little oil there then top it up to the level indicated on the lower large casing on the bikes RHS.

I put a heavier oil in mine to quieten it down a bit (they recommend 10/40) but I use TSX 20/50 with no ill effects.  It is a Mineral oil, and not semi synthetic.

Oh, and still come back with the measurrements that Randy requested.  This helps to rule out all possibilities.  Best of luck. 

[JMR]

I will say I have seen on my personal FJ the tensioner very close to fully extended as most of the rubber tip had broken off. There was very  limited contact area with the tensioner blade as well secondary to chunking.

[andyb]

^ or an aftermarket "upgrade" manual tensioner installed, and then never adjusted properly.


And to add to above:  Turn your idle up to where it's supposed to be, and I'll wager a fair amount of the noise goes away.  What's left will undoubedly be the starter chain flopping about.  Wonder why there isn't a little spring-loaded doohickey on the guide for that one...

[Mark Olson]

turn your idle up as recommended by others. noise will subside .

nothing to worry about , they all do it at low rpm.

[jvb_ca]

Its the skulls that are making that noise....  get them the hell off of there.....she ain't no Hardley.....(sounds like it the way its idling though)....
Oh and turn up your idle like everyone else says...

HTH's...Cheers..Jake

[aviationfred]

Its the skulls that are making that noise....  get them the hell off of there.....she ain't no Hardley.....(sounds like it the way its idling though)....
Oh and turn up your idle like everyone else says...

HTH's...Cheers..Jake

I agree....... get rid of the skulls, mine had a few small skull stickers. They were removed in very short order.

Yes, bring the idle up. I also noticed, IMO the tinny noise seemed louder at the right side, front of the engine. I am in agreement with Randy. Good possibility of having the early 2 layer headers. I can't think of anything else that would make noise that pronounced at the front of the engine.

Fred