dfinitlydisturbd

Easy fix. Run heavier oil and Lucas Oil Stabilizer. Several good reasons:
1. thicker oil cushions the parts better than thin oil.
2. because it is harder to squeeze out from between parts it lubricates them better
3. thicker oil comes up to pressure faster on start up and runs at a higher pressure at idle
4. a good stabilizer to the oil will cause the oil adhere to parts reducing wear at start up
All of these things add up to reduced mechanical noise and longer engine life. The stabilizer also helps prolong the life of the oil. This isn't good because you can wait longer to change your oil, you shouldn't. Instead it is better to look at it as oil that is in better condition when it's due to be changed means the engine is still getting the best protection it can get from the oil when it's due for a change. A lot of folks say that their oil is in too good a condition when it's due so they can drive farther between changes...they're missing the point.

Grambo

The timing chains in these bikes stretch over time. Some members on this board have gone to the expense of replacing the timing chain - expensive. My 2003 Volusia had the same noise as your bike. It was producing this noise for about two years. I thought it may be the timing chain, but the bike has been paid off for a few years now so I just kept the thought of replacing the cam chain on the back burner untill the feeling went away. Well this summer, late July to first week of August my wife and I rode it two up from Kingston Ontario through New York, Vermont, New Hamshire, and Maine ending up in New Brunswick. Prior to leaving on the trip I changed the oil using a quality oil. The bike made the same noise untill after the second day of the trip. I think that using quality oil and riding up and a very steep road (Route 17 in Vermont - Appelation Pass) and down the other side fixed the problem. No rear cylinder knocking since that day. It is now my opinion that the timing chain tensioner was gummed up with sludge from cheap oil and the combination of good oil (castrol) and working the engine hard freed up the tensioner. To fix you rear cylinder knock I would suggest pouring some crank case cleaner such as Sea Foam into your crank case and running the engine a few miles prior to and oil change. Change the oil with a quality oil, then ride the bike through some hard accelerations and decelerations by driving the bike in third gear and accelerating full throttle to a reasonable speed (safe) then let off the throttle and allow the bike to decellerate, then repeat a few times. Hopefully you don't crash, get pulled over or blow your timing chain, but the noise on you bike may be due to a sludged up timing chain tensioner. Good luck.

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Againstallodds

Thicker Oil or synthetic oil? My bikes less than 8000 miles so shudnt thinner oil be better? There have been 4 oil changes since new. I doubt that the timing chain is stuck.


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dfinitlydisturbd

Mileage has nothing to do with how heavy an oil to use....well with the exception of high mileage engines which really need heavier oil.

Look at it this way, the better you prevent wear and the better you cushion the parts the longer they last.
Once an engine has wear it can't be undone so the sooner you start protecting it's parts from undo wear the longer it's service life will be before it starts needing repairs. There is no such thing as good wear in an engine.

johbren1

I thouhgt I read somewhere that if you get chain noise in the engine that you can tighten the tensioner by going slow say in fourth or fifth gear pulling in the clutch,rev the engine and dump the clutch and this will ratchet the tensioner a notch and take up the slack. Basicaly what Grambo did by riding two up going up hills. This put more stress on the engine and caused the tensioner to tighten up. What say you?

saskvolusiarider

Hi guys.

I stored my bike in October and just went down to add some fuel stabilizer and store it for winter. Added the stabilizer and then started it up. Thing is, it eventually started, but took a while. Once it was going I noticed that the valves starting making some noise, and I mean really really loud. I shut the bike off and let it sit for a bit and checked the oil level, which is just fine.

Started it again and the noise was still there. I did not want to let it run too long with the noise it was making so I turned it off. My question is if the engine was damaged by not being started for two months, or if the problem is just the valves, which now need a really good adjustment.

The bike has about 16,000 Kms on it and I had the normal maintenance done on it in the spring, and it ran fine all summer and fall. Was planning on getting the 16k maintenance done in the spring.

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Grambo

This noise is likely not the valves. It is most likey timing chain slap. Your timing chain would not likey be worn at 16000KM. Take your bike in to the fixer, have the valves assessed. If your valves are fine then your problem is a sludge up timing chain tensioner. A possible fix would be to run some engine flush in the crank case for a few KMs to flush out the slude, then replace the motor oil with a quality oil. May be you should try a synthetic motorcycle oil. If this does not fix the noise you may have to have your fixer break the case and fix the cam chain tensioner or replace it and the cam chain. This noise started at about 25000KM on my 2003 Volusia, and I put up with it for years because it goes away after the motor is warmed up. It was always worse when the weather was cooler. Since it resolved on its own during my summer trip at about 58000KM I am pretty convinced that the noise was just a sludged up tensioner.
As for slow starting after storage, my non-fuel injected Volusia is always slow to get started in the spring. So is my Suzuki ATV. Possibly the fuel injected bikes are slow to start after storage as well. You would have to find that out from someone who owns a fuel injected C50 that is stored for a few weeks.

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cza888

As far as starting the engine after sitting for a while, the valves won't just go outta adjustment. I'm betting on the chain adjuster. I agree with running a high quality oil - I use rotella t6 myself.

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2009 M50

Againstallodds

I managed to reduce the noise. Now it makes the angry sewing machine sound. Its more like click click than tap tap.

I came down to 40 kmph on the 4 th gear, then pulled full throttle till i reached 130 kmph. There was alot of clutch sIppage and it took me a good 10 seconds to reach there. Did that 3 times on a clear road. No more sound while riding. Guess no more babying for the bike and more driving like i stole it.

When i start the bike. It comes for a minute. Then angry sewing machine again.
Changing the oil soon. Its been less than 1000 kmph but the oil is really crappy. Gonna go for mobil1 now


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zzzpip

Hi guys i was also worried about excessive noise when i first got mine, had the valve clearances checked and adjusted and no change in noise, mine is very quiet when cold and noisier when warm. my volusia buddies told me it was normal and stop being paranoid, they said get some jardine slash cuts and the noise goes away, guess what, i did and now i only get paranoid about the police stopping me for scaring the local dogs, he he. this might not be much help to you guys but it sure worked for me. if in doubt ask an expert