Hi all, after some advice as usual, lol

noticed today at idle i can hear what sounds like a plastic rattle / tapping from the primary area, it has no rhythm or pattern and doesn't appear to get worse when revving the bike although the engine drowns out the noise, also i can not hear anything unusual when riding but at idle its defiantly there

any ideas where to start?

I understand there is a plastic automatic tensioner in the primary but i have no experience or knowledge working on or with one?

thanks in advance

darren

 

Check primary chain tension. Hopefully you have a factory service manual, which tells ya how to do that! Check it at several different locations around the chain, as chain tension can vary. Adjust at the tightest point as per the book.

 

Thanks graham I'll take a look.

This might be a silly thing to say but if they are auto adjusting why would I need to adjust it lol?

 

An auto adjuster in a '96? Learn something new every day.

 

I don't believe there is an auto adjuster for Evos. They came along later on the twincams, at some time.

 

If you are working on the bike that is in your sig line, it does not have an automatic adjuster...

Auto adjusters came out with the advent of the six speed transmission.

 

Oh ok I did say I had no experience with them. Thanks peeps I'll check my service manual out and take a look. Cheers guys.

 

Hey Darren, Are you talking about the 1996 Evo ? It has a fixed primary chain shoe, that is manually adjusted. I believe all the 2007 & up have the automatic adjuster, they SUCK, they ratchet up everytime you decelerate, they over tighten the primary chain, that pulls on both the crank & tranny seals ! Hayden makes a Great one ! No disrespect to the Brit, but, you only CHECK IT, thru the long peep hole on the primary cover ! You really need to pull the cover, a tight primary chain & a "plastic" tapping sound, is 2 different issues ! Southampton, L.I. or Mass. ?

 

Thanks for the reply Boston Jim.

I just whipped the inspection cover off real quick ( hope the same gasket is ok? ) anyways not sure how in the world your suppose to check chain free play through there? Maybe your not. I had a quick look and nothing seems too out of place, I managed to push top of chain up and it didn't seem too tight or loose and nothing seemed broken in there so not sure what on earth this noise is.

southanpton in the U.K brother

 

I had an odd noise similar to that as well once. Funny thing is it turned out a nut on the floorboard was just loose enough to allow something to rattle.