Cam chain noise?

IMAWILDPARTY

IMAWILDPARTY

Well-known member
I've had a virago 250 since may(2013), and pretty well since I've had it, there has been an audible rattle/clacking noise at a certain med-high rpm(I have no tac). In 5th, the noise occurs from 82 to 87 kmph, in 4th, it's somewhere around 70, etc. The noise also only seems to occur under load, not in neutral. Ride above or below that speed in a certain gear and the noise is gone.

The bike gets daily use, much more than it got with either of the last two owners. Bike is a 2003, less than 10 000 km when I got it, about double that now. (short trips in town, as well as some long-distance, like 800km+ in a day)

Now, based on some research, valves tend to get quieter and not louder with wear, and the noise hasn't really changed since I've had the bike, except that the speeds it occurs at moved up abut 10 kmph when I changed out the front and rear drive sprockets and drive chain to make the gearing a bit taller(so the rpm's it occurs at should be about the same). So, it seems like valve clearances aren't the issue. Checking and changing valve clearances also seems like an incredibly time consuming and involved process so I'd rather avoid it.

Does this seem like it could be the result of issues with the cam chain/tensioner?

If so, should the chain, tensioner, and associated sprockets all be replaced?

I appreciate that it's impossible to say for certain, but what does it seem like based on the info I've given?

Thanks for giving my problem a read, one way or another.
 
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I was never able to hear cam chain noise while riding, I had to be standing beside it while parked in the driveway helmet off. Revving the bike up in neutral sounded good, it was when I'd close the throttle that I would hear the slack chain whirring along merrily, then getting quiet again until you revved the engine once more and backed off on the throttle. That was on my bandit 600.
 
It has been a while, but...

What you have described could be cam chain noise. The timing sprockets could be fine, they might not, you'd have to inspect them. This will be a WAY more involved process than checking valve clearances, which you should do anyway.
 
TwistedKestrel said:
It has been a while, but...

What you have described could be cam chain noise. The timing sprockets could be fine, they might not, you'd have to inspect them. This will be a WAY more involved process than checking valve clearances, which you should do anyway.
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Yeah, I'm starting to see that. I suppose I'll have to pick a weekend to do it over, since it's my daily driver.

Sounds like it'll be expensive to have a mechanic handle it.
 
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I doubt that it's cam chain noise if you hear it under load. Usually cam chains are at their loosest as the revs slowly drop off without load. But it's not preignition? How does the spark plug look?
 
skapan said:
I doubt that it's cam chain noise if you hear it under load. Usually cam chains are at their loosest as the revs slowly drop off without load. But it's not preignition? How does the spark plug look?
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Who knows? I have new spark plugs sitting around, just havent bothered changing them since I haven't really seen much point. I'll probably change em out in the next day or two and see. I sort of doubt that it'll help, but my knowledge level is dismal. Learning everything as I go.
 
Every time I've heard a bike with a noisy timing chain, it has been an erratic rattly noise most evident right after a cold start and with the engine running at low to moderate revs in neutral, and the noise calms down somewhat as the engine warms up.

It sounds like your situation is happening within a rather narrow RPM range - which is consistent with a mechanical resonance of some sort. Sure it isn't a loose heat-shield or fairing panel or something of that sort?
 
Brian P said:
Every time I've heard a bike with a noisy timing chain, it has been an erratic rattly noise most evident right after a cold start and with the engine running at low to moderate revs in neutral, and the noise calms down somewhat as the engine warms up.

It sounds like your situation is happening within a rather narrow RPM range - which is consistent with a mechanical resonance of some sort. Sure it isn't a loose heat-shield or fairing panel or something of that sort?
Click to expand...

I might try tightening everything down too.

Tomorrow or friday, I'll try a couple things. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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