Chasing a noise - What I have found so far -

[Wingsconsin]

My GS850GL developed a new weird noise so I shut down riding it and am chasing the source .
Here is the thread about that -->> https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...e-about-noise-got-me-listening-GS850GL-sounds

IN that thread STEVE mentions it might be Carb sync -
And I talk about being due for a valve shim check anyway --

After reviewing my process I realized I also changed something else recently that MAY (?) have affected the system -
The previous owner was one who wanted more sound - so he drilled out the ends - putting 6 holes in each end of the mufflers -
which in turn caused popping on decel - and a challenge in carb tuning , etc.
I recently turned self tapping bolts into those holes effectively plugging them (no picture) and probably affecting the overall exhaust/engine balance

SO - Last night I started the Valve Shim - Carb Balance odyssey --
I am not so experienced as to be able to do this quickly nor easily -
So I tend to work slowly and methodically and try to stay as organized as I can -

Each bolt is placed into cardboard templates for reinsertion into the correct hole it came from -
Each part is gently placed onto a table nearby for safe keeping - --

And here is what I found when I removed the spark plugs (this may tell a story)

 

[Wingsconsin]

More pictures --

Looks like #3 may not be burning as well as the others ..?

Which would explain the noise too I think ..?

 

[Wingsconsin]

Went into the shim adjustment process--
Last shim check was 4510 miles ago
I found the following when checking my clearances

Ex - 1 .004 In - 1 .0025
Ex - 2 .0025 In - 2 .0015
Ex - 3 .003 In - 3 .0025
Ex - 4 .002 In - 4 .0025

Yep-- I needed adjustments -

After shim replacements

Ex- 1 .004 In - 1 .004
Ex- 2 .004 In - 2 .004
Ex- 3 .003 In - 3 .004
Ex- 4 .003 In - 4 .0035

Hopefully tonight I can put it back together and fire her up -
I will clean and check spark plugs and gap
Then a carb synch and a little 'tuning' -

If the knock/click sound is still there -
I will be
a)surprised
b)confused
c) ****ed
d) all of the above

......:hopelessness:......


ray: - Keep positive thoughts

 

[Nessism]

Doubt the noise will lessen after opening up the valve clearances. The bike may even make a little more noise, but valve noise due to clearance is nothing to be concerned with.

I agree with steve about carb sync. Also check to see if the cam chain tensioner is springing out like it's supposed too.

Good luck

 

[Wingsconsin]

I am not certain it is carb synch either -
The noise doesn't go away above idle -
I thought the synch was of little affect above idle speed..

 

[Steve]

Carb sync is most noticeable at idle speed. The effects of a bad sync do diminish at larger throttle openings, but are still there.

.

 

[salty_monk]

My GS850GL developed a new weird noise so I shut down riding it and am chasing the source .

I've found that it goes away when the wife's not on the back....

 

[chuck hahn]

Check the clutch hub nut and the starter clutch bolts on the back of the rotor. Sounds "migrate" through an engine and these two things are common on GS bikes for an unexpalined noise.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Am I chasing a ghost ? A noise that doesn't exist ?

Am I chasing a ghost ? A noise that doesn't exist ?

I am so confused --
The bike seems to run nearly perfectly - I ran it last night for 30+ miles and this AM for 20 --
But I can hear a little tick-tick noise that I am not sure is right -- Sounds like I need to change the oil..
But the oil only has about 2500 miles on it -- I will do this next -- (maybe tonight) just to see if it makes a difference

My other bike is a Goldwing - so I never hear any engine noise -

My experience is limited and I am learning EVERY day on this bike (which I love) -

What is the tribal knowledge here -- listen all the way to the end of the video I crudely pasted together -- Thanks for any words of encouragement

 

[chuck hahn]

You have to periodically manually balance those gauges to get true readings. Youll notice the lenses screw off and theres an adjustment screw on the face of each dial. Get some plastic tees and enough vac house to get all 4 hooked to 1 line. Hook 2 dials to 1 tee and the other two to the second tee. Then hook the tees together and youll have 1 nipple left. Hook that to one sync port on the bike and start the bike. Use adjuster screws and set each needle to the same spot on all 4 dials. This will calibrate all dials very very close and you will get better results doing the actual carbs syncing. You will need 3 tees.

 

[jsandidge]

You have to periodically manually balance those gauges to get true readings. Youll notice the lenses screw off and theres an adjustment screw on the face of each dial. Get some plastic tees and enough vac house to get all 4 hooked to 1 line. Hook 2 dials to 1 tee and the other two to the second tee. Then hook the tees together and youll have 1 nipple left. Hook that to one sync port on the bike and start the bike. Use adjuster screws and set each needle to the same spot on all 4 dials. This will calibrate all dials very very close and you will get better results doing the actual carbs syncing. You will need 3 tees.

If you want to balance your gauges and not have to deal with the vacuum pulses from the bike, you can do the same thing using a vacuum brake tool. (Mightyvac, etc.)

 

[chuck hahn]

Yup...any good vacuum source will work. But the gauges also have dampners to take needle bounce out of the equation.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Thanks for the responses thus far...

I feel pretty good about the synch right now- it was rock solid right away with nearly zero adjustment

Does it SOUND right --? I feel like it sounds a little ticking or missing or something ..?
I can't explain it -- adn it rides nicely -- pulls well, starts right up , idles steady at 1100 ...
But something is bothering me--- and I don't know what...

But my other bike is a Goldwing -- so I hear the sound of a Civic running....

The 850 makes sounds I am not used to hearing so I get nervous --
Don't want to break something because I neglected it..that is just dumb...

 

[Steve]

But my other bike is a Goldwing -- so I hear the sound of a Civic running....

If your Wing sounds like a Civic, you need to re-connect the other two spark plugs. :-\\\

Don't want to break something because I neglected it..that is just dumb...

On the other hand, I have heard it said "If it ain't broke, fix it until it is". :encouragement:

.

 

[Guest]

Does it SOUND right --? I feel like it sounds a little ticking or missing or something ..?

My 1000 has a slight "ticking" noise that i haven't been able to find. After running the snot out of it at the picnic, i'm fairly confident that nothing is going to break.

 

[jsandidge]

I have a ticking sound that I was able to reduce to a much more acceptable level. There was too much end play in the tach gear. I found the source using a mechanics stethoscope. I put an e-clip in the little groove on the tach gear shaft, although I did need to grind the little ears down some.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Update -
Since the last video I have ridden the bike nearly 200 miles -
I ride it every day to work adn back -
Although 2 nights ago I went out for a longish ride -
I was able to go about 100 miles that evening and hit the REServe on the tank (at about 144 miles total on the tank)
I filled it up and calculated my MPG at 44.2 MPG which is as good as I ever got before -
Typically I have been around 40 MPG for every day riding / commuting.
The bike ran well - accelerated to higher speeds and generally performed fine.
It was little hard to start this AM (required 3 tries to get it idling) but it was out in a hard rain yesterday (got wet)
Once it warmed up it was fine - off the 'choke' before I got off my driveway -
The noise I hear is still there - and it worries me - but I can't find it and it seems to not affect anything.
Maybe it's just me hearing an engine working - which I do not get on the Goldwing
Race test it ? Ride it until something breaks.
Or keep fixing it until something breaks...LOL

 

[leftlostcommonsense]

Have you fiddled with the thumbscrew on your cam chain tensioner? From the right side of the bike while it's running underneath the front of the carbs turn that wheel a little clockwise and see if your noise stops. Something about mine will sometimes cause a click and I barely touch it and it's gone. I only hear it when it's at idle on cold start for some reason but the slightest touch makes it stop. I've even rebuilt mine made sure there's no notches or anything that will hold it back just something about right where it's at causes it to click sometimes. Don't go putting tons of force or anything, like I said the slightest touch clockwise is all mine has needed to get it out of that particular spot. You should give another video with a little more down by the engine All I heard was exhaust. Something else is check anything that could be rattling, it may not even be your engine just something loose somewhere on the outside vibrating with the engine making it seem as though it's coming from the engine.

 

[wymple]

Are you sure it's not just harmless cam walk?

 

[sam000lee]

I listened to both of your videos and didn't hear anything troublesome.

When I took my GS750 cross country I learned to stop listening for barely perceptible engine noise changes. We were doing 100-400 miles pretty much every day and so, by my reasoning, anything that was going to be a problem would soon present itself in a more obvious way. It never hurts to change your oil and check your valve clearances though