Odd Rattling Noise-Where Is It FRrom?

[Whysub]

My Skorpion Sport was making a noise like bottles clinking together. I put this down to the projector headlights being loose and rattling. I changed the headlight unit to a (much, much better) TRX unit but the rattle remained.

I then thought it was the horn touching the bottom of the radiator-until the bracket fractured on this, and the noise remains.

Seems to happen at all sorts of road speeds and all revs-I have checked and rechecked and everything is tight. It is driving me mad. Anyone else have (had?) this annoyance?

[phlat65]

only when driving? or stationary too? I have had chains make very strange noises..

[gedge]

Is it too much free play in the front disc rotor? keith had some trouble with his and I think it was the noise that gave it away...

[boysie]

I had a rattle, but it turned out to be the piston wobling about on a knackered conrod Still, that's what happens when you buy a bike with a "bullit-proof motor"

[keithcross]

Dont want to be the bearer of bad news, but my rattle turned out to be a big end

Keith

[friendfire]

Strange that Mate, i see to have the same kind of rattle as you, it comes and goes. I also thought it may have been the headlight unit as this is where the noise appears to come from, my horn bracket snapped yesterday and the noise still remains.......i am very curious??

[DAVID THOMPSON]

hi
you guy's are lucky when my bikes make some kind of rattle
my wife says its my brain moving in my head

[Whysub]

[Whysub]

Even more confused now. Riding into work today, I heard the “clinking” noise again, so I cut the motor, and the noise stopped. I did this a few times,with the same result.

The noise appears mostly in the midrange of revs and when under load. But not all the time. I tried acceralting from the same revs from the same speed-mostly quiet, sometimes clinking noise appears.

It sounds like the sound is louder when listening to the left side oof the motor, but this could just be the acoustics of the bike.

I have spoken to a mate that races in Supermono, and he has made a couple of suggestions, one of it being a loose rotor, the other a worn/loose clutch basket-both creditable causes of the problems, but until I find the time to look at it, they will remain theories. I will also try to have a word with Steve Ruth at Brands Hatch this weekend (the Supermono’s have a couple of races there)-he knows these XTZ motors inside out.

It made this noise when I bought this, and 5,000 kms later, it is no worse, but now I am worried something is amiss that will blow the motor to kingdom come. Wish I had stayed in blissful ignorance now!

[Whysub]

Even more confused now. Riding into work today, I heard the “clinking” noise again, so I cut the motor, and the noise stopped. I did this a few times,with the same result.

The noise appears mostly in the midrange of revs and when under load. But not all the time. I tried acceralting from the same revs from the same speed-mostly quiet, sometimes clinking noise appears.

It sounds like the sound is louder when listening to the left side oof the motor, but this could just be the acoustics of the bike.

I have spoken to a mate that races in Supermono, and he has made a couple of suggestions, one of it being a loose rotor, the other a worn/loose clutch basket-both creditable causes of the problems, but until I find the time to look at it, they will remain theories. I will also try to have a word with Steve Ruth at Brands Hatch this weekend (the Supermono’s have a couple of races there)-he knows these XTZ motors inside out.

It made this noise when I bought this, and 5,000 kms later, it is no worse, but now I am worried something is amiss that will blow the motor to kingdom come. Wish I had stayed in blissful ignorance now!

[jbthumper]

just a hunch....try checking the timing chain...
hope this helps...

[keithcross]

[Whysub]

Think I have solved the cause of the noise.

After extensive riding from work last night and into work this morning (the long way round, all on B roads-300 miles in total), differing the loads and noting when it made the noise, I have come to the stunning conclusion that the engine is pinking

Now all I have to do is work out how to richen the mixture and/or balance the carbs properly.

And I am hoping that I can get Steve Ruth to rebuild my motor (big bore, better conrod, balance crank, etc.) in between his racing commitments, as his reputation is excellent with the XTZ engines. And I have known him for many years-although that may not help!!!

[dthemic]

Is "pinking" a British term? Here in the good old USofA I think that condition is refered to as "pinging" or sometimes predetonation .

[Whysub]