Very broken!

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Martin
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Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 6:15 pm
Location: York

Very broken!

Post by Martin »

Riding in to work this morning, the engine started making some awful clattering/metallic clunking noises, sounded to be from the front cylinder. It didn't sound too good, and sound like it might be terminal/expansive or both! Anyone got any ideas what might be wrong? I'm thinking cam chain or something similar.
AA were brilliant...15 mins to get to me. Left the bike with Wayne M's friends at Chiswick Honda...let you know how they turn out!!!!
Drink to contentment not to capacity. I just haven't figured out which comes first.
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WayneM
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Location: Stansted, Essex

Post by WayneM »

Not good fella. Hope its not to bad. Look on the bright side - at least your bike isnt with a bunch of tw*ts that dont know a torque wrench from a wholemeal loaf! Ermmm. Ah. Ermmm, Im sure it will be, ermm, ok!

Good luck!
:cry:
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RQ
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Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 10:31 pm
Location: Limerick , Ireland

Post by RQ »

Something like a piston slapping something metallic ?

If so, camchain or tensioner or both. Had same problem two months ago, and am still off the road due to some very annoyingly inefficient dealerships.

Cam chain tensioner around 50 quid, gaskets 2 quid, seems a straight forward enough job if you are sure that is what the problem is. You might as well replace the front and back while you are at it, as the other could go soon !

How old is the bike and what mileage has it up on it ?

RQ.
Andrew
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Location: London, England

Post by Andrew »

It all depends on how many miles youve done. I would definatley check the cam chain tensioner first. A new one will cost you about 23 quid so if it isnt that you havent lost a great deal, but i know a few people who thought their bikes were knackered when it was just the tensioners that needed replacing. The ones in the front cylinder go first because of the way the engine sits, i cant remember exactly why but it doesnt get as much oil as the rear cylinder so stuff wears out slightly quicker?? Definatley check that though.
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Martin
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Location: York

Post by Martin »

The bike is a Nov 2000 X-reg, which I bought from Chiswick Honda in April this year. It only had 7500 miles on when I got it, and I've only done about 2000 miles if that since I got it. They gave it the 8k service before I got it.

The one saving grace so far is that it should all be paid for by Mr Honda under warranty (thank God I bought one of those...I should think I'll save what I spent on that in this one job alone!). I'll keep an eye out for any breadcrumbs when I get it back!

Come to think of it, the noise started of like a metal tapping/slapping sound, then got louder as I was pulling over. Service dept have laso suggested a dropped valve....glad they're paying!

so far the only cost to me has been £3.98 for 40 of Tescos finest jam doughnuts for being late for work!
Drink to contentment not to capacity. I just haven't figured out which comes first.
Andrew
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Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2003 12:31 am
Location: London, England

Post by Andrew »

From the noise you described i would bet on it being the tensioner. Your bike is at the sort of mileage when they start to go aswell. If Chiswick Honda want to fix it for you then let them but knowing them they'll want your bike for a while. Personally id be tempted to change the tensioners myself seeing as its that simple my mother could do it :-)

Good luck!
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delmeekc
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Post by delmeekc »

If your going to attemp it yourself then for each cylinder you must make sure that the piston is at top dead centre on the compression stroke. If you don't then once the tension is removed fully then the cams will skip a tooth or two and then ya in trouble. Who every does the job should check that it hasn't happened already too and adjust as required.

If the valves aren't closed then the pressure of the valve springs is enough to force the cam sprocket off of the cam wheel against the cam guide above the two cam wheels and allow it to move.

Del.
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WayneM
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Location: Stansted, Essex

Post by WayneM »

Yeah, thats what I was going to say. Good to see your paying attention when Im teaching you stuff about the VTR Del :D
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BP team
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Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 8:41 am
Location: France (near Le Mans)

afraid!

Post by BP team »

The ones in the front cylinder go first because of the way the engine sits, i cant remember exactly why but it doesnt get as much oil as the rear cylinder so stuff wears out slightly quicker
I do many wheelies (and some long wheelies) so that i think the oil won't go enough on the front cylinder. i'm afraid of motor breaking. :sad2
So let me know if there'is a real risk. May be i can tell to the bike shop to check the cam chain tensionner? :idea: :?:

thanks!
Oliv'
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Martin
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Post by Martin »

Spoke to Chiswick Honda this afternoon....surprisingly it WAS the cam chain tensioner which failed. The cam chain skipped a couple of teeth, resulting in a couple of very bent (as in banana!) valves. Parts on order, warranty approved, and they hope to have it done by the end of the weekend....which is nice.
Drink to contentment not to capacity. I just haven't figured out which comes first.
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Loopy
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Location: Loughborough

Post by Loopy »

Martin. I hope you get your bike back on the road soon.

BP Team wrote.
I do many wheelies (and some long wheelies) so that i think the oil won't go enough on the front cylinder. i'm afraid of motor breaking.
You could always stop doing wheelies OR do more rolling stoppies to force the oil into that front cylinder !!!
LOOPY
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BP team
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Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 8:41 am
Location: France (near Le Mans)

Post by BP team »

OK Loopy!

I already try to do rolling stoppies but it is already hard to make 5 meters!

anyone know an eventual risk for the motor doing wheelies? what are the point to check to keep the motor safe?

Oliv'
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RQ
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Location: Limerick , Ireland

Post by RQ »

Martin,

Tell me, when you heard the slapping noise, did you stop straight away, or run it for a bit, you have me worried now about the poss of the valves being bent.
When I heard mine knocking, I pulled it over in as quick as you can take it down from about 80, and then turned it over once to locate which cylinder the noise came from. Please tell me you drove it for some distance and that's what bent the valves !!

(A depressed at the thought of more time off the road) RQ.
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Martin
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Location: York

Post by Martin »

RQ...I was doing about 40 or 50 mph, having just won round 6 of the traffic light GP. I thought I was running on one cylinder due to dirty fuel or something at first, then the noise got louder and more expensive, so I stopped and switched it off. Left it for a few minutes and tried to turn it over to find out where the noise was coming from...then gave up and called the AA. I'd only covered about 500 metres from hearing the noise to stopping. It may have started as a quiet noise, but as I ride with ear plugs all the time, I don't know how long it had been going on.
Chiswick H are still on the case...but should be finished today...I hope 'cos I'm off to terrorise North Yorkshire for two weeks.
Drink to contentment not to capacity. I just haven't figured out which comes first.
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RQ
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Location: Limerick , Ireland

Post by RQ »

Thanks for that Martin, sounds about the same as me (only I was only on round 5 !!) Heres hoping that my valves survive !

Bike is going into a mechanic next week to get the job done, I'm hoping no other damage will become aparent !

RQ.
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