Engine "wuuuuuuring" noise

[Anonymous]

Hey all,
I have a 1980 GS850G with 67000 on the clock. I have had the bike two years and in the last month or so I have started hearing a good amount of engine noise. It wuuuuurs. I know its probley impossible to diagnose a problem through a lame discription of a sound. But it happens all the time. Not at high or low rpms but all the time. I have a feeling its time for a top end rebuild, new gaskets, valve job, cam chain adjustment, piston rings etc.

The bike still runs good though. No excessive oil consumption, no smoking pipes. And not any noticeable loss in power (it doesnt run as strong as it did two years ago, but still hauls.)

Im gonna get it checked out by my mechanic in the next 2 weeks. I am curious to see what you good folks think. So i can throw some ideas at him.

[Hap Call]

Does it increase in frequency when you increase rpms?

Hap

[Anonymous]

I rode today and didnt hear it. The temperature was in the 50's today ill try tomarrow. Maybe the cool weather had something to do with it?

[Dink]

It suggests camchain and/or tensioner noise, I suggest you check your camchain tensioner for binding etc.
Dink

[Anonymous]

The Tach and Speedo cables will make a whirring noise when not taken care of.

Steve

[Dink]

I had another thought!!! 8O (hands up anyone surprised) where on the motor is the noise coming from ? if it is in the centre, look at the tensioner or the camchain itself, it may be worn out. If it is on the left hand side it may be the dreaded starter clutch .
Dink
BTW the hands up is to stop the smart arse answers!!

[Jethro]

Got me a bad whirring noise myself. I replaced the head, all gaskets, did a valve job, checked the cam chain and tensioner, re-built the clutch, new speedo and tach cables, always used good oil and changed often, compression seems good, carb rebuild- you get the idea. Still can't figure out what makes the noise. What's this about the starter clutch? How do I check if that is the answer?

[frosty5011]

Dink said:

I had another thought!!!

Hey Dink, doesn't that remark belong in the "Joke of the Day" thread????

[Anonymous]

It suggests camchain and/or tensioner noise, I suggest you check your camchain tensioner for binding etc.
Dink

i think that is the likely culprit. How do i go about checking it? And while shes opened up is there anything else you can suggest i do?

[Anonymous]

Got me a bad whirring noise myself. I replaced the head, all gaskets, did a valve job, checked the cam chain and tensioner, re-built the clutch, new speedo and tach cables, always used good oil and changed often, compression seems good, carb rebuild- you get the idea. Still can't figure out what makes the noise. What's this about the starter clutch? How do I check if that is the answer?

Hey Jethro,
With all that work on the bike what did it run ya? Im thinking of taking on the project myself with a little help from one of my buddies next winter. Unless it needs to be done sooner .