Odd "Sound" Coming From Engine.
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Pawleys Island, SC, USA
Odd "Sound" Coming From Engine.
I posted in the Engine section of the forum but was told to repost here due to higher traffic so here goes...
Ok, this started a few months ago and seems to be getting worse. The noise is right inside my right knee, so top end I am guessing, rear cylinder, but I don't know what it could be.
The best way to describe it would be the sound a pebble makes bouncing around the inside of the front fender - it's a tinny dinging type noise. It has no consistency - happens in all gears and usually after maybe 3k rpms. Cruising in 3rd gear at 40 or 45 is where it really starts "dinging". It sometimes does it every couple of seconds, sometimes the sounds are minutes apart, other times it is every ten minutes or more. This is really weird and concerning. I don't want to have some catastrophic failure while clipping along on the highway.
That being said, she is probably parked for the season unless we get some decent weather. She is a little overdue for an oil change. Could that be it? I figure while she is sitting this would be a good time to dig in and see what is going on. I will change the oil first and see if that helps, but does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be or what to look for? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Ok, this started a few months ago and seems to be getting worse. The noise is right inside my right knee, so top end I am guessing, rear cylinder, but I don't know what it could be.
The best way to describe it would be the sound a pebble makes bouncing around the inside of the front fender - it's a tinny dinging type noise. It has no consistency - happens in all gears and usually after maybe 3k rpms. Cruising in 3rd gear at 40 or 45 is where it really starts "dinging". It sometimes does it every couple of seconds, sometimes the sounds are minutes apart, other times it is every ten minutes or more. This is really weird and concerning. I don't want to have some catastrophic failure while clipping along on the highway.
That being said, she is probably parked for the season unless we get some decent weather. She is a little overdue for an oil change. Could that be it? I figure while she is sitting this would be a good time to dig in and see what is going on. I will change the oil first and see if that helps, but does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be or what to look for? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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What mods have you done? What type of gas are you using? What are your riding habits?
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
+1 - What octane gas are you using and what have you done (tuner?) to make the fuel mixture richer after doing a stage 1?
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From: Landrum, SC , elevation 986'
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: LI, NY
Check the primary chain adjustment. Sometimes noises travel, can't always trust what you hear.
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 10
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From: Pawleys Island, SC, USA
I got the bike with the Stage 1 kit already done. I run 93 octane exclusively. I haven't done any other mods that would affect the engine. I will check the mounting bolts for the tank. The primary "should" be ok as the bike has less than 5k miles on it, but I will check that as well.
As far as riding habits go, I don't usually rev it too high - every now and then I will stretch out the gears but for the most part it is city driving that I do. I do get to take her on the highway every now and then where I can get it into 5th gear and cruise for a bit - before hitting traffic anyway. I would say I am an average rider - not doing anything crazy - no racing or anything. I don't do burnouts or race from light to light either. I would actually say that I baby this thing more than I beat it.
Anyway, thanks for the few suggestions - will check some of that stuff this afternoon.
As far as riding habits go, I don't usually rev it too high - every now and then I will stretch out the gears but for the most part it is city driving that I do. I do get to take her on the highway every now and then where I can get it into 5th gear and cruise for a bit - before hitting traffic anyway. I would say I am an average rider - not doing anything crazy - no racing or anything. I don't do burnouts or race from light to light either. I would actually say that I baby this thing more than I beat it.
Anyway, thanks for the few suggestions - will check some of that stuff this afternoon.
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
I got the bike with the Stage 1 kit already done. I run 93 octane exclusively. I haven't done any other mods that would affect the engine. I will check the mounting bolts for the tank. The primary "should" be ok as the bike has less than 5k miles on it, but I will check that as well.
As far as riding habits go, I don't usually rev it too high - every now and then I will stretch out the gears but for the most part it is city driving that I do. I do get to take her on the highway every now and then where I can get it into 5th gear and cruise for a bit - before hitting traffic anyway. I would say I am an average rider - not doing anything crazy - no racing or anything. I don't do burnouts or race from light to light either. I would actually say that I baby this thing more than I beat it.
Anyway, thanks for the few suggestions - will check some of that stuff this afternoon.
As far as riding habits go, I don't usually rev it too high - every now and then I will stretch out the gears but for the most part it is city driving that I do. I do get to take her on the highway every now and then where I can get it into 5th gear and cruise for a bit - before hitting traffic anyway. I would say I am an average rider - not doing anything crazy - no racing or anything. I don't do burnouts or race from light to light either. I would actually say that I baby this thing more than I beat it.
Anyway, thanks for the few suggestions - will check some of that stuff this afternoon.
There is really no such thing as a "Stage 1 kit". A stage 1 upgrade involves the exhaust, intake, and some sort of fuel management system to enrichen the fuel mixture. All of this can be done with the combination of dozens of different devices.
So again, what was used or done to enrichen the fuel mixture? If the previous owner just installed louder (freer flowing) pipes and a higher flowing air filter, the bike will be running lean.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Pawleys Island, SC, USA
The upgrade was done by the dealer. As far as I know they swapped the stock pipes for some V&H short shots and added an aftermarket Screamin' Eagle air filter set up. As far as the fuel injection, they did say they did something to the computer (remapped maybe) to allow for the extra intake and exhaust. What exactly I really don't know...Is there a way to tell if it is running rich? Couldn't I tell by looking at the plugs?