Engine rattle/tapping on startup

[Kompressor]

Its like a whirring noise at 2krpm, I think its separate from the tapping.

[skittles6969]

Sorry to ressurect an old thread, but I'd like to know the outcome of the problem. My 06 busa has had the same rattle from new. Had it back to dealers half a dozen times, they couldn't hear it. I've noticed that it goes away(nearly) after a damn good thrashing, but returns when left to cool overnight. I've had the mechanics stethoscope on the top end, thinking along the lines of CCT, but the rattle is loudest at the starter idler casing. Any ideas about the cause/remedy?

[Astro]

If oil level is even just slightly low, it takes longer to lubricate the upper engine parts.

If the oil level is ok, do as I have suggested in other discussions, warm the bike up for 20 to 30 seconds at above 2,000 revs. ( per the handbook ).

Yup... what Ray said. If mine does the cold-start-tapping I know I need to either top up or do an oil change. It rarely happens but its a reliable indicator.

[Volvi]

I reckon its the cam chain tensioner that gives that rattle sound on cold start up. I reckon most bikes have that as norm, probably goes quieter when it moves up one ratchet. But to date I have never heard of any failure of this item since the recall back in 2000. Mine rattles a bit when still cold, hasnt worried me......ermm this is the continuous "whirlee" sound not the tapping as suggested above. and I still havent done my shims yet....ever lol. maybe at a 100k.

[Steve46]

Hi,
When I had the 04 it had the same noise from 15000k until I sold it at 30 000k. Had it checked, put on a new cam chian tensioner just because I could, checked valve clearance all good had injectors cleaned nothing there. Tried different oils, same noise remained, yeah sounded as if was near the starter cover, so removed all of these to check, all was fine. Never got around to trying oil additives. At the end of the day put it down to the nature of the beast. The bike was still going strong until the day I traded up.

[Hutch99]

Hi

My '05 busa has 19000 k's on it. It's been serviced at 1k, 6k, 12k. When I start it in the mornings it taps and rattles until it gets warm, upon which it sounds perfectly quiet/normal.

Is this normal? It sounds fairly noisy to begin with! The oil is fine, and its going in for a minor (which just does the oil really) soon.

Thanks for any help!

mine does the same!!!
while on the stand the wheel is moving(not in gear), and as soon as the bike warms up the rattle/tapping goes away and the wheel stops moving...

checking the oil level, it looks cloudy... what does this mean???????????
after a ride the oil looks fine.

[BUSGO]

Without too much diagnosis, it sounds like your oil is frothing a bit when cold.
However, cloudiness could also mean a bit of coolant getting in there but don't panic about that without further investigation.
It may have a detergent characteristic too it.
Frothing can be caused by overfilling the sump as well.
I recommend Mineral oil and a bit less than 4 litres when filling.
(Motul 3100 gold is my prefered - not pure mineral but sem synthetic)

I have tried synthetics and I find that mineral oil runs quieter than synthetics.

[Hutch99]

Without too much diagnosis, it sounds like your oil is frothing a bit when cold.
However, cloudiness could also mean a bit of coolant getting in there but don't panic about that without further investigation.
It may have a detergent characteristic too it.
Frothing can be caused by overfilling the sump as well.
I recommend Mineral oil and a bit less than 4 litres when filling.
(Motul 3100 gold is my prefered - not pure mineral but sem synthetic)

I have tried synthetics and I find that mineral oil runs quieter than synthetics.

coolant getting in... thats what i thought! thought a gasket was about to shit itself.
i had a service 500ks ago... hhhmmmmm.
next time someones having a garage sesh(not with the bong), im in.

[Gnarbunkle99]

A bit of cloudiness in the sight glass is probably just condensation, a milkshake in the sump is somehing to worry about.

[Hutch99]

BIG THANKS GUYS!

[skittles6969]

Hi,
When I had the 04 it had the same noise from 15000k until I sold it at 30 000k. Had it checked, put on a new cam chian tensioner just because I could, checked valve clearance all good had injectors cleaned nothing there. Tried different oils, same noise remained, yeah sounded as if was near the starter cover, so removed all of these to check, all was fine. Never got around to trying oil additives. At the end of the day put it down to the nature of the beast. The bike was still going strong until the day I traded up.

I was thinking of removing the cover for a look. There's a wave washer under there, on the idler shaft, that presumably stops the idler gear from rattling or vibrating. I was hoping it was either weak or missing. I'm hoping it's not starter clutch related.

---

Just to clarify, it's more of a whirring noise than the cold engine tapping noise they all make. Either a whirring or resonance vibration rattle. Between 2000-3000 rpm. It doesn't affect performance, but I'm very mechanically sympathetic, and would like to silence it once and for all.

[kevin]

The cam chian is strech did you gev it a floging not had if your max out mabey a bulit stell tansioner might help

[Simonhn]

Had same problem with my 04-when cold there was a whirring/rattling sound which disappeared when the bike was warmed up.I pointed this out every time a service came up and nothing was ever found(or so I was told).In the end I just thought it must be normal.

[kevin]

is it the clutch

[CeeJay07]

The cam chian is strech did you gev it a floging not had if your max out mabey a bulit stell tansioner might help

What????