Engine Noise Revisited

[clayton]

Morning guys n gals
Not to beat a dead horse....
As some of you know I have been dealing with some noise coming from
my engine on my 2008 1600.
Up until today I was not able to record what I would consider
a good reproduction of this "noise"
I have uploaded a video to YouTube and I would ask if some
of you would please go there and listen.
I am planning on dropping the engine within the next month
and from the research and input from this forum I am looking at doing the following:
1: replace the oil filters in the rocker arm area.
2: Inspect and/or replace the HLA's.
3: Inspect the cam chains and other areas that will
be within view once I remove the rocker arm assembly.

Some history: I did the cam chain extender job at about 25000 miles and
this noise has been evident "prior" to the job.
As of today the bike turned over 50000 miles :)
This noise has gotten worse over the last month and is now
more pronounced as it gets colder.
As mentioned in other posts after a short warm up session the noise
typically reduced 80 to 90% however in the last month I
have not been so fortunate.
Overall short of this noise the engine sounds fine, runs fine and
simply just works fine.

In the video I start out at idle and then crank up the RPMs to
let you hear what I am hearing.
At idle other than the normal NOMAD noise it sounds fine however
once I increase the RPM's you will hear a faster more evident... tat tat tat.

Here is the link and again thanks for your help.

[Silent Sam]

...I'v got a 2002 1500fi Nomad...that said...(my hearing isnt much good anymore) , But it seems your "noise" is greater on the right side (passenger side)
I'd bet..the noise increased, after you modified your air cleaner system ? ..If so at least some of the noise might be the little --doo hicky'z,-- "pot's", .. inside the air cleaner intake area..(I added a few inches of plastic fuel line pressed over the tubes..and tucked the ends inside the cross over air tube...made mine quit a bit quieter !)

Just a guess...maybe you already addressed that issue.. ! ? GOOD LUCK

[clayton]

Yea I removed the cold idle solenoids a few years ago. :)

[Silent Sam]

..Seems to "boil down" to a possible oil flow to the upper cyl area being restricted.. ?
You say "it quiet's after warm up"...meaning the oil in the upper cyl isnt damping the clatter..but finally get's around to it..after the oil pumps up-warms up !
Perhaps its your oil filter type..(bypass valve etc)...oil type and weight.. ?

My 02 Nomad enjoys a 5 minute warm up, on first start of the day...even at warm temps !
(I'm running Shell Rotella T 15/40 ..(and a qt of friction modifier's..dont do it just cause I do !) ...And my upper cyl clatter is still way more than I would like. Good Luck .

[clayton]

Sam
Yes that used to be the case however it seems it is getting more noisy over the last month or so and in most cases now the noise will not go away now.
Yesterday for example I rode around for over an hour and the noise just remained only getting about 20% better than normal.
I use the same oil as you.
I feel unless someone pops in with something else I may be ordering the cylinder head oil filters (14043-1056) and replace those and see what happens.

[Silent Sam]

I think I saw a post somewhere here that shows how to "back flush" those little filters, and re-use them !

[clayton]

Sam
I know that the manual shows how to re-prime them and check them.
If what you are referring to is not the same I would be interested in seeing this post.

[cnc]

I am guessing it is lifter noise from not pumping up properly. It might be those filters, but it might be the lifter it's self sticky or dirt in it. What weight of oil do you use?

[clayton]

CNC
I use the Rotella T6 5W 40
I have done the Seafoam clean several times.
I put some more thought into this and when it started happening.
Within a year after I bought the bike the water pump started to leak.
During this time I did notice what seemed to be a slight amount of oil in the mixture.
So I immediately replaced the mechanical seal however during the post I seen someone mention adding a little bit of Lucas to my oil to help seal the inner bearing in the event it too was leaking.
Afterwards was about the time this noise started.
Not sure if it was just coincidence but since then I have never put anymore Lucas in my oil.
Maybe the Lucas became "gummy" and has cause the HLA's to not be as smooth in their function.

[fish]

I'll have to go out an check mine, but it sounds normal to me then again my hearing isn't to good, right Norm.

There is a saying "drive it till it breaks" I'm not being a smart-ass

[fish]

another video about noise

[cnc]

Originally Posted by fish

I'll have to go out an check mine, but it sounds normal to me then again my hearing isn't to good, right Norm.

There is a saying "drive it till it breaks" I'm not being a smart-ass

Pardon? I didn't hear you Lar!

Clayton,
There used to be ways to get a lifter to pump up, no nesesarily our Nomad design lifters, but in general. If there is dirt in them I have had success on cars draining some oil out and adding diesel fuel, then cranking with the ignition disabled for a few minutes then draining the oil and adding freash.
Another trick I have heard of was with a hot motor drain some oil and replace with a quart of 50 weight oil to help them pump up and seal.
Not sure either will work in your case but, sure less trouble to try first than pulling the motor.

[clayton]

Norm
I may try the heavier weight option, I have an oil change coming up soon
so might as well try that and if it does not make much difference
than I will drop the engine.
I am planning a new clutch spring also and might as well get that
out of the way at the same time.
50000 miles and no slips, better jump on it now instead of waiting on slips. :)

[ubernomad]

If the bike/engine runs fine without any other problems, who cares? Valvetrain noise, injector noise, etc are normal for a V-twin that sits right below your manjunk.

[cnc]

Originally Posted by clayton

Norm
I may try the heavier weight option, I have an oil change coming up soon
so might as well try that and if it does not make much difference
than I will drop the engine.
I am planning a new clutch spring also and might as well get that
out of the way at the same time.
50000 miles and no slips, better jump on it now instead of waiting on slips. :)

Clayton Then you have nothing to lose trying the quart of heavier oil before the oil change.
You might consider going to a 10/40 oil instead of 5/40 when you do do the oil change.