"clattery" engine

phred · 01-15-2010, 05:55 PM

I just got the chance to really get out an ride my new to me '99 nomad. At around 40-50 MPH I started hearing a "clattering" or "rattling" sound. At first, I thought the windshield or gas tank was loose and vibrating, but everything was tight. I still haven't nailed down exactly where the noise was coming from, but it could have been from the top end of the engine. The bike never experienced any loss of power or anything like that. Does this sound like normal noise for these bikes?

redjay · 01-15-2010, 06:04 PM

Hi, It could be the valve timing chain hitting the spark plug tubes. There wont be a loss in power. If you remove the tube you will see if the chain is cutting through it. A cure is to replace the tube and install cam chain tensioner extensions. A guy on here sells them (chuckster ?). Go to www.ronayers.com and look at the online microfiche for a photo, part number and prices of the spark plug tube. Hopefully others in the forum will chime in.

Do a search of previous posts.

**ringadingh** · 01-15-2010, 06:08 PM

I agree with checking the cam chains. If your tensioners are at the maximum extension the engine will sound clattery.More tham likely your due for the extenders.

zoom45 · 01-15-2010, 11:03 PM

I had a bad rattle one time that I was sure was in the motor. It didn't seem to affect the power but it would get worse under a load. I finally figured out it was a loose clamp that held the heat shield on the right side exhaust. Simple fix.

Zoom45

caddman11 · 01-16-2010, 09:36 AM

Some had had a rattling sound from the shroud around the radiator.

**coacha** · 01-16-2010, 09:52 AM

I get one at high speed...it is my wife hitting me in the helmet to slow down.

**cnc** · 01-16-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachA

I get one at high speed...it is my wife hitting me in the helmet to slow down.

I had the same problem. A couple of cable ties on the passenger grips and it went away.

ells · 01-16-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachA

I get one at high speed...it is my wife hitting me in the helmet to slow down.

I had the same problem. A couple of cable ties on the passenger grips and it went away.

Somehow I think that was only a temporary solution, care to give us an update?

classic1 · 01-16-2010, 10:39 AM

I had a rattle coming from inside of the headlight bucket when I had my 01 1500 Classic. Had a heck of a time finding the noise. It was still under warranty so I took it to the dealer. They fixed it in about ten minutes. I think they new what it was when I got there and just moved the wiring harness inside the headlight.

**Cajunrider** · 01-16-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ells

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc

I had the same problem. A couple of cable ties on the passenger grips and it went away.

Somehow I think that was only a temporary solution, care to give us an update?

I had to add a piece of duct tape about 4" long with the cable ties. Can anybody guess where the duct tape went? ???

Hint: Things sure got quieter after the duct tape was added to the equation. ;)

Seriously, I had an rpm rattle and found one of the heat shields loose. Tightened the clamps and the rattle stopped. Another rattle started a few weeks later and after tightening everything up that was already tight, I finally figured out where it was coming from. The air vent on my helmet was rattling. Now I know why I could hear the rattle and my wife couldn't. Her hearing is several times better than mine but she couldn't hear that rattle for anything! :-[

**Kawhead** · 01-16-2010, 11:13 AM

I leave that rattle at the house with the vacuum.

My filosifee is "If she's got time to ride she's got time to clean".

Keep us updated phred.

**Top Cat** · 01-16-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawhead

I leave that rattle at the house with the vacuum.

My filosifee is "If she's got time to ride she's got time to clean".

Keep us updated phred.

Soooooooo, your wife dosen't read the post on here does she

**cnc** · 01-16-2010, 12:56 PM

Care to up date?

Um, let Me think..., I've gone through a lot of cable ties??

**Cajunrider** · 01-16-2010, 02:19 PM

Rule of thumb....Installing the cable ties first makes it much simpler to apply the duct tape.

ndbigfish · 01-16-2010, 02:20 PM

+1 on the cam chain tensioners and radiator cover shroud.
How many miles on the '99'?
Check the gaskets that hold the speedometer to dash board cluster. On my '99' I had to replace the grommets on the back of the speedometer and the gasket around the speedometer. I kept thinking it was something on the motor or front end.

01-15-2010, 05:55 PM	#1
phred Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 567	"clattery" engine I just got the chance to really get out an ride my new to me '99 nomad. At around 40-50 MPH I started hearing a "clattering" or "rattling" sound. At first, I thought the windshield or gas tank was loose and vibrating, but everything was tight. I still haven't nailed down exactly where the noise was coming from, but it could have been from the top end of the engine. The bike never experienced any loss of power or anything like that. Does this sound like normal noise for these bikes? Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-15-2010, 06:04 PM	#2
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,930	"clattery" engine Hi, It could be the valve timing chain hitting the spark plug tubes. There wont be a loss in power. If you remove the tube you will see if the chain is cutting through it. A cure is to replace the tube and install cam chain tensioner extensions. A guy on here sells them (chuckster ?). Go to www.ronayers.com and look at the online microfiche for a photo, part number and prices of the spark plug tube. Hopefully others in the forum will chime in. Do a search of previous posts.
	0

01-15-2010, 06:08 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	"clattery" engine I agree with checking the cam chains. If your tensioners are at the maximum extension the engine will sound clattery.More tham likely your due for the extenders. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

01-15-2010, 11:03 PM	#4
zoom45 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Terry, Mississippi Posts: 1,434	"clattery" engine I had a bad rattle one time that I was sure was in the motor. It didn't seem to affect the power but it would get worse under a load. I finally figured out it was a loose clamp that held the heat shield on the right side exhaust. Simple fix. Zoom45 __________________ Bobby Risher Terry, MS Kawanow member # 124 South Central Group 2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
	0

01-16-2010, 09:36 AM	#5
caddman11 Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 890	"clattery" engine Some had had a rattling sound from the shroud around the radiator. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-16-2010, 09:52 AM	#6
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	"clattery" engine I get one at high speed...it is my wife hitting me in the helmet to slow down. __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
	0

01-16-2010, 10:39 AM	#9
classic1 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: waynesboro, va Posts: 408	"clattery" engine I had a rattle coming from inside of the headlight bucket when I had my 01 1500 Classic. Had a heck of a time finding the noise. It was still under warranty so I took it to the dealer. They fixed it in about ten minutes. I think they new what it was when I got there and just moved the wiring harness inside the headlight.
	0

01-16-2010, 11:13 AM	#11
Kawhead Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 6th Floor up at the The Nervous Hospital up in East Central State, NC Posts: 7,454	"clattery" engine I leave that rattle at the house with the vacuum. My filosifee is "If she's got time to ride she's got time to clean". Keep us updated phred. __________________ ??-Mar.2,2012 "Rocky" My Beloved Dog RIP Mike Tripp VBA#767 '96 800 Vulcan Classic 06 1600 Nomad 07 1600 Nomad "The shoes you buy at the Salvation Army is already been broke in"- Aunt Kawhead
	0

01-16-2010, 12:56 PM	#13
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	"clattery" engine Care to up date? Um, let Me think..., I've gone through a lot of cable ties?? __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
	0

01-16-2010, 02:19 PM	#14
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	"clattery" engine Rule of thumb....Installing the cable ties first makes it much simpler to apply the duct tape. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

01-16-2010, 02:20 PM	#15
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	"clattery" engine +1 on the cam chain tensioners and radiator cover shroud. How many miles on the '99'? Check the gaskets that hold the speedometer to dash board cluster. On my '99' I had to replace the grommets on the back of the speedometer and the gasket around the speedometer. I kept thinking it was something on the motor or front end. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
seat "SOLD" and stock exhaust "SOLD"	papat	Parts & Accessories	2	11-11-2010 12:09 AM
Where is the "engine number"?	scott2007nomad	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	3	02-28-2010 09:43 PM
When does "empty" mean "zip-nada-zilch"?	bobhamlin	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	28	01-15-2009 03:18 PM
Services for Charles "Chuck" "txcwdancer" Burt	msharrelson	In Memoriam	13	07-24-2008 09:24 PM
"My Backyard" or "Where do you ride?"		Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	52	08-19-2007 11:44 PM