Bike is running like an absolute bag of spanners.

[Scott221]

I have had a L9 (2001) now for around 7 weeks and its running terrible. It appears that the bike has had abit of a sketchy past, i took some stickers off the frame that were hiding some scratches, and its had a whole new front unit, as its not the correct paint scheme. Its started out as vibration at around the 6000 rev mark, and it has slowly crept up the rev range. Just been out on it today for the first time in about 4 days and its developed a slight knocking sound, which is not coming from the clutch, even though that is extremely loud also. At around the 7000 rev mark the bike begins to sound terrible, and if the power is held there, the bike will lurch, like the power is coming in boxes. Ive had the carbs balance from a fellow owner, and changed the oil and filter, i have a new chain on its way. I also have a problem with gear changes, if i was to accelrate hard in first, then into 2nd, it sometimes wont engage, and when i try to click it in it make that horrible noise, something else that has happend on more than one occasion is its not engaged into 2nd, and just continued to make that clickclickclickclick noise as if the gear is half way stuck between first and second, when this happens the neautral light comes on, then i have to go back into first and wait for revs to come down abit before it will click in. This only ever happens in the higher rev range. Could this be gearbox oil?

The bike has only got 12500 miles on the clocks. Any ideas?

Scott.

[Jamz]

The gearbox and engine both use the same oil.

Everybody gets the odd buggered gearchange between first and second, just because Neutral lives there! I wouldn't worry about that unless you're having a big problem getting it into second every time. It could be your shoddy gearchanging but it's happened on every single bike I've had, so I wouldn't worry about that unless the gear engages, drives, and then jumps out into neutral.

My gut feeling on the other stuff is that it may be electrical - a dodgy connection cutting the power?

The obvious one is fuelling though, but if the carbs are balanced, but did you check/change your fuel filter as well as the air filter?

The knocking is hard to comment on without hearing it, but bear in mind that often when something is wrong, you'll suddenly notice other funny noises that have actually always been there before!

I'd start with the fuel filter, as that's the cheapest to fix! And also check the 30amp fuse on the starter solenoid is nice and spotless!

[Bestie]

ello mate

im no mechanic or spanner monkey, but im pretty sure i had a similar episode with my bike, ive got an L9 2000 model but dont let that make yer think its common...

i think it sounds like yer cam chain tensioner? mine went about 7/8k miles (only done less than 12k now!) and it wouldnt knock up a gear and made a real rat a tat tat noise very similar to what you describe.

hopefully an 'in the know bod' on here will either

A - agree with me and slap me heartily on the back for passing on sound knowledge in a time of need OR

B - flame me for being a prat when is something so simple like a beer matt flapping on yer spokes!!

but im pretty sure thats it!

Bestie

[Scott221]

Cheers for your ideas lads, i seriously doubt electrical issues but i'll have a look. Im gona pump some redex through it and see what that does. Possibly cam chain, of which i know sweet FA about.

[Caz]

sounds like you have problems! Can you describe the sound better
- is it a rattle?
- is it a loud banging sound?
- is it constant with engine speed?

Can you pin point where the sound is coming from? Get a long stick and press it up to the engine and right up to your ear - move the stick around the engine and this will help you to understand where the noise is coming from

I dont want to send you chasing all sorts of possible causes without understanding the problem

Better still - can you stick a video on you tube??? *this will really help*

getting an oil sample analysed could also help - but I guess you dont have the old oil still?

/Caz

[Scott221]

kk, im pretty sure it is the valves. The sound is like a light tapping noise. It is only at low revs (2000 and below) regardless of it being in gear or not. The best way i can describe it is it sounds like a piston when it nips.

Could this be the tensioner aswel? How hard is it to do the valves? Will i be looking at dropping the engine?

Ill try and get a video tomoz as the batterys are dead in my cam.

[rover220]

zxr's are slightly noisy at the top end anyway so im told.

[Jamz]

zxr's are slightly noisy at the top end anyway so im told.

They're pretty noisy all over the shop!

I thought the cam chain is either working or your engine dies a spectacular death?

I mean, it wouldn't be responsible for a patchy power (or arriving in boxes I think your words were?) - if it was loose or on it's way out it would be noisy but still doing it's job? So yes, it could explain the noise... but my understanding is it wouldn't do anything else until it actually fails?

Valves I don't really know about...

[Scott221]

The bike still runs, its just not smooth at all, and this knocking noise has arrisen. Ive always had the gut feeling that something isnt right. My 'uncle' is a mechanic but only works on cars, so might have a word with him. Other than that im stuck in the mud really until something goes bang.

[Gemini]

engines are engines so im sure your uncle can sort it

gem

[masterofinsanity]

At around the 7000 rev mark the bike begins to sound terrible, and if the power is held there, the bike will lurch, like the power is coming in boxes. Ive had the carbs balance from a fellow owner, and changed the oil and filter, i have a new chain on its way.
Scott.

sounds to me like fuel starvation, as said previously check the fuel filter, for what they are worth i would just replace it, drain the float bowl or even better remove them as no doubt they will be full of sandy deposits from the fuel which could be sucked into the jets at certain revs.had this with mine so we stripped the carbs and cleaned all the bowls & blasted carb cleaner through every orifice, you'll be amazed the difference it makes.

whereabouts in brum are you mate??

[Scott221]

Shirley, near the Colebrook pub. Suprised i havn't seen you as im out redditch way often, mint roads out there by stratford.

Cheers for the input, ill have a look at the fuel filter.

[Xphyral]

check your fuel filter, possibly change plugs and battery. i've seen battaries that were on their way out cause no end of running problems.

knocks and rattles are fairly standard, especially when the weather gets colder, cam chain hiss is pretty obvious though hard to describe, the same with valve tapping, if there was a serious problem you'd know.

Gear changes, you need to be positive changing gear at high rpm try adjusting your lever to sit a little further down so you get the maximum amount of movement on the lever from the foot, i've had your problem with my 400 and 750 when wearing my boots as i cant move my foot as far as when i'm in trainers, both bikes have found neutral poisitions between higher gears too until i adjusted the selector lever to suit me better.

adressing your running problem again, dont overlook carb icing i've had it a few times in the last few weeks on the 750 to the point where it felt like it had cut out on two cylinders and the exhaust sounded like a sports twin.

[Gemini]

i lived in shirley till i was 21, used to drink in the colebrook a LOT!

my parents in law live in hall green by baldwins supermarket

gem

[masterofinsanity]

we'll have to get together then mate, meet me,gem & jamz for a beer at our local haunt the Oast House!!