Engine clunking!!!

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VTRPiG
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Engine clunking!!!

Post by VTRPiG »

Hey guys for a while now I have been noticing a clunk of some sort while riding. It only happens when pulling away or at a constant speed between take off and around 40mph once I'm doing motorway speeds its smooth and no issues. At first it felt like the chain may be jumping as it has the same feel to when peddling on a push bike and the chain jumps a tooth, but last night it seemed to get a little more violent and I think it maybe coming from the engine but not 100% sure.

Is there a chance I screwed up the cct's and a piston may be hitting the valves? If it is why does it only happen at slow speeds?

The bike has got 26000 on the clock and I have no idea if the valve clearance has ever been done.

Thanks for any helpful info in advance :D
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AMCQ46
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by AMCQ46 »

That feeling of the drive chain jumping a tooth (a clunk and a momentary loss of drive) is on my bike every now and then and I have never found the reason. So I put it down to a single event misfire and now ignore it.

It is not the CCTs or a cam jumped a tooth
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VTRPiG
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by VTRPiG »

Hey AMCQ46 so I'm not the only one with it happening then :P ... Phew! Thinking about it it seems to happen all the time when the tank is almost empty. Have to bars left on the gauge that is normally when I fill up or around 100 mile mark on the odometer. I'll fill up in the morning and go for a ride and see if it reduces the happening of it. You said yours happens now and again, mine happens most of the time. But then I have the piss taken out of me by friends and family for being to picky about knocks and rattles coming from the bike lol :crazy: :eek2
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mattycoops43
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by mattycoops43 »

Sounds to me like the chain/sprockets are worn.

Sprockets tend to wear oval, which means as it gets worse, you get a tight spot as the wheel goes round, this makes the chain jump up and slap down on the swingarm and causes the knocking you are describing.

get it on a paddock stand or roll it back and forwards and check the chain slack at all points of rotation, if it much looser in one spot than another then that's the issue and you need a set.
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AMCQ46
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by AMCQ46 »

mattycoops43 wrote:Sounds to me like the chain/sprockets are worn.

Sprockets tend to wear oval, which means as it gets worse, you get a tight spot as the wheel goes round, this makes the chain jump up and slap down on the swingarm and causes the knocking you are describing.

get it on a paddock stand or roll it back and forwards and check the chain slack at all points of rotation, if it much looser in one spot than another then that's the issue and you need a set.

Chain and sprockets new last yr, I know it's not that. I think it is a missed spark and the lost of drive makes the chain clank due to the backlash
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VTRPiG
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by VTRPiG »

So got bike put this morning, filled up with petrol and went for a brief ride with no issues just a couple of clunks. Used the bike for work and not one clunk in my16 mile trip. Very confusing as it felt like it was going to implode on Friday night it was doing it so much. Is there any chance as it was raining that the moisture in the air was causing issues? Still need to check the chain and sprocket, will get it up on the paddock stand tomorrow morning of I get a chance 8O :roll:

Cheers guys for your input and advice greatly appreciated :D
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AMCQ46
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by AMCQ46 »

If rain is involved you need to check that the drain hole for the front spark plug is not blocked.

Just below the exhaust you should find a hole and you need to stick the straw of your tin of wd40 up there and plast it out.
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agentpineapple
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by agentpineapple »

AMCQ46 wrote:If rain is involved you need to check that the drain hole for the front spark plug is not blocked.

Just below the exhaust you should find a hole and you need to stick the straw of your tin of wd40 up there and plast it out.
i'm with al on this one, if water pools up in the hole around the spark plug in will make the bike intermitantly run on one cylinder. worth checking because its an easy fix.... :thumbup:
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Kev L
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by Kev L »

No, take the clutch out first!!!!!! :lol:
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VTRDark
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by VTRDark »

No, take the clutch out first!!!!!
Oh nothing wrong with taking the clutch out. It's an easy job too. :biggrin

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agentpineapple
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by agentpineapple »

Kev L wrote:No, take the clutch out first!!!!!! :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
let us know if you want us to do your next service kev!!!!!
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Diabolus
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by Diabolus »

CHECK YOUR CUSHDRIVE if its badly worn like my bike was when i got it it does the exact klonkyness your describing .
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Kev L
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by Kev L »

Bash & Smash Motorcycle Engineers of East London. "we never do any easy job when we can make it more difficult!" est 2012 (copywrite Marty & Carl enterprises). :lol:
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VTRDark
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by VTRDark »

:lol: :lol: :clap: :clap:

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tony.mon
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Re: Engine clunking!!!

Post by tony.mon »

+1 on keeping the front drain hole clear- just do it every few weeks as a matter of course, part of the usual maintenance.

Just for peace of mind, check all of the mechanical parts- swingarm pivot bearings, rear wheel bearing etc- just grab the rear tyre at the back and try to move it side to side.

Cush rubbers will do this- remember that riding in the rain your riding style alters as well, you aren't as hard on the power, don't lean as far etc. So some faults show up more when you're riding gently and smoothly, and some when you're riding normally. Wheel out to check- temporarily you cn pack them out to get a snug fit with plastic sheet pieces cut to size (don't use cardboard....)

Check plug caps are properly pushed on to the plugs, and that plug/plugs haven't loosened in the heads.

Swap plugs for some old ones, or if yours are old, fit new ones, to see if that helps.

Balance carbs.

Swap one coil at a time for a known good one, to see if the coil or leads are being affected.

Clutch out*.

In that order :D



* only joking about the clutch....**





** unless it's the clutch centre bearing....
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
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