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Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Troubleshooting (Poor Starting/Running/Handling/Ride Issues) » Archive through August 08, 2007 » Funny little rattle « Previous Next »

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Surewin
Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

O.k. so any time I'm cruising, anywhere from 3000 to 4000 rpms, and I crack the throttle, I hear a funny little rattle or squeek for a few seconds. It sounds like it is coming from engine or airbox area (xb12s). It sounds like metal on metal sliding, or vibration.
Any clues. All I can guess for a starting point is that its top end. Rocker arm or valves or something that suddenly doesn't have enough oil. . . until pressure builds from the higher rpms. But I would think that at 3000 rpms it should have plenty of pressure.
I'm taking it in to have my tps zeroed, and timing checked anyway, so I'll ask their opinion. However, I'm not currently happy with any Buell dealerships level of service (hense the taking the bike in again now even though I had some service done over winter and they forgot those two details) and you good folks seem more knowledgeable.
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Sparky
Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 12:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Does the sound of the exhaust pipe seem to get louder when this noise occurs? If so I'm thinking that the noise you are concerned with might be the exhaust servo mechanism that is located on top of the inner airbox cover. I believe there is a cable that goes from the servo to the muffler.

Maybe you could lube its cable or if others are more familiar with this system they could chime in with their experience? I'm not too familiar with this device, but if it seems to be working properly, then I would not take the bike to a dealer to investigate this noise.
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Cringblast
Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 12:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Could it be the exhaust valve opening or closing ?
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Surewin
Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 07:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sparky, thanks for the effort. And how were you to have known that my exhaust motor is in a box labeled "Buell Parts"?
Cring, could be. Any reason that is your first guess? Why not an intake? is the bigger exhaust (I think that one is bigger) more apt to get hung up and damaged from the piston?
Thanks for the input. Keep it coming.
Just to recap, possible bent valve stem. . . maybe. What about a bearing going out? Maybe its time to start from scratch (big bore it). j/k, I can at least wait till extended warranty is up.
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Blake
Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If the bike is running okay, just ride it and enjoy. The engine makes all kinds of strange noises. The exhaust and intake can hit a resonance at certain speeds and throttle conditions that will produce strange noises.

The primary chain can also produce intermittent noises if not properly adjusted.

Verify that all the fasteners and parts in the exhaust tract are tight and in good shape.

A loose part anywhere near the engine can produce a rattle, even your keys in the ignition switch. Don't laugh, I was once preoccupied by a pinging/ringing noise that turned out to be coming from my keys.

My advice after nine years of Buell ownership is to just ride it and enjoy. : )
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Court
Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 01:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A rattle, eh?

In a former life I used to construct lots of BIG (i.e. 300') lattice steel towers for powerlines.

I learned as a yute to fear the approach of Harold Hawkins, my Foreman, with a 3# hammer.

One swat on a leg of that tower and ANY loose bolt in the tower would ring like a high "E" on a Strat.

I'd suggest you not give your Buell a brisk stroke with a 3# sledge, but the principle works with a smaller rubber mallet. I use one that has 4 different screw on heads in varying hardnosity.

A rattle? . . hmmm . . . make sure there is not a baby trapped in the luggage?

:0
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Blake
Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 04:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Best post of the day. I totally dig it. : )
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Surewin
Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 06:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm not too worried about it. Just one of those things that drives me nuts. Especially when I'm in the scenerio where its about to happen. Yes, though, the bike does run fine, so likely pretty minor. Maybe turn the tunes up louder. If tapping it with a mallot doesn't work, maybe I should pick it up and shake it.
Thanks for the input
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Fookinbueller
Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 09:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sounds to me like it might just be pinging a bit... mine does that especially when running Hot... a tinny metallic rattle until the revs climb a little where the engine doesn't have to labor as much...
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Pragmatic
Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 06:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I noticed the same noise, slight metallic rattle when cruising at 3-4,000 with slight throttle, while demoing a Ulysses last month.

I've since bought a Lightning long and can hear the same noise. I think its throttle tip in pinging. I'm not worried about it.
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Jhanz
Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 10:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The rattle part being referred to seems like a normal thing, however the sqeaking/chirping could be an exhaust header gasket problem. I had it when I first got my bike and it got progressively worse. When the dealer checked it out at my insistence, the front exhaust gasket turned out to be mangled. When it was replaced, the chirping was gone, but the light metallic rattle was still there.
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Graphtricks
Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 02:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My '97 M2 was making a funky squeaky, metallic rattle, coming from the airbox. It only happened in a certain RPM range. I took the airbox off, and there was a bolt and the half moon bracket that holds the airbox onto the carb throat. Rattled right off. A little threadlock and a reinstall and the sounds is gone. It didn't affect the way the bike ran, so it was rather baffling at first.
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Bluzm2
Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 03:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You are VERY luck. The bolts have been known to get sucked into the motor.
Don't ask how I know that for positive...
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