Ticking engine noise - normal?

[Mistic107]

Hey all, I picked up a 2012 with 28k miles a few weeks ago and have noticed a ticking noise with it. It had a CCT rattle on start so I replaced the CCT with a OEM auto one which fixed that start rattle. I just changed the oil to yamalube 10-50, so that’s fresh. I normally wear ear plugs but didn’t this time and the ticking seems louder to me.

Going to post video link below once it uploads.

April 14, 2022

youtube.com

 

[Sierra1]

When is the first valve adjust supposed to happen?

 

[Fennellg]

Sounds ok to me. Any start issues? Sierra1 makes a point. These things are noisy. When was your last oil change. I have found fresh oil and filter quiets things. Hows your oil level? That can make these things sound off.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Hey all, I picked up a 2012 with 28k miles a few weeks ago and have noticed a ticking noise with it. It had a CCT rattle on start so I replaced the CCT with a OEM auto one which fixed that start rattle. I just changed the oil to yamalube 10-50, so that’s fresh. I normally wear ear plugs but didn’t this time and the ticking seems louder to me.

Going to post video link below once it uploads.

April 14, 2022

youtube.com

The last 1 second sounds like cam chain "to me"... Im not sure if anyone is able to put the CCT gasket on backwards... I wonder if the gasket is backwards and not letting oil in or out of that stock CCT?
Obviously it was "re set" when the new one was installed ? Right ?


Second thought might be vales? Has it had its first check ? When ? If so, someone could have "adjusted" them and actually messed them up.... Ive fixed this issue before.

 

[Fennellg]

If Tobasco is concerned I would be very concerned.

 

[Mistic107]

Thanks for the reply guys, not sure on the valve check. I have to assume the original owner did not have it done so it is due now. I am not really that comfortable with that so will probably end up taking it in to get that done.

I actually re-used the gasket on the CCT and I am 95% sure I put it on in the same orientation as it came off the old one. Not sure what you mean by re-set but I did compress the new CCT and install it, scary thing was I had the chain secured via a block on the tensioner slide, a zip tip on the bottom gear looped around the chain to hold tension and also another block on the right side tensioner slide. When I pulled the left block out I heard a "chain noise". I was pretty sure it was the CCT popping out and hitting the chain because I didnt see any other way it would have moved and there was now tension on the slide that wasn't there.

It's kinda weird because it only seems to be really clicky when the engine is hot. The video below is from a cold start, bike has been sitting about 4 hours and the click noise isn't there.

April 14, 2022

youtube.com

 

[~TABASCO~]

Thanks for the reply guys, not sure on the valve check. I have to assume the original owner did not have it done so it is due now. I am not really that comfortable with that so will probably end up taking it in to get that done.

I actually re-used the gasket on the CCT and I am 95% sure I put it on in the same orientation as it came off the old one. Not sure what you mean by re-set but I did compress the new CCT and install it, scary thing was I had the chain secured via a block on the tensioner slide, a zip tip on the bottom gear looped around the chain to hold tension and also another block on the right side tensioner slide. When I pulled the left block out I heard a "chain noise". I was pretty sure it was the CCT popping out and hitting the chain because I didnt see any other way it would have moved and there was now tension on the slide that wasn't there.

It's kinda weird because it only seems to be really clicky when the engine is hot. The video below is from a cold start, bike has been sitting about 4 hours and the click noise isn't there.

April 14, 2022

youtube.com

This video sounds "normal" to me.... Your probably OK with everything...

There has been some super geeked out engineering talk going on in the past about the possibility of the CCT acting / sounding a 'certain' ways with different weight (and possibly brands) of motor oil run through the CCT oil orifice. You might want to try a different brand or possible weight with the next oil change and see if you notice a difference...... If you need a reputable person to look at your valves Im available.... I can also eye-ball many things on this bike and let you know if anything else is going on, Etc.

 

[Mistic107]

Thanks Tabasco, I appreciate the input. You think I would be better off ditching the auto CCT and getting a manual? I was going to get a manual originally but was hesitant with not getting the adjustment just right, but if the auto could be causing these problems maybe I am better off.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Thanks Tabasco, I appreciate the input. You think I would be better off ditching the auto CCT and getting a manual? I was going to get a manual originally but was hesitant with not getting the adjustment just right, but if the auto could be causing these problems maybe I am better off.

I’ve personally been down this road. I would say yes, go manual with a Graves brand manual CCT.
Myself or others can walk you through the set up. Like most things- once you know how “it’s not hard”.

 

[jbrown]

I agree with Tabasco. It is easier to install a manual adjuster than the auto guy. But there is that bit of not knowing for sure if you have it adjusted right. I liked the spring loaded adjusters with a locking bolt old bikes used to have. You could turn the engine to the correct spot to have the chain slack on the adjuster side, loosen the lock bolt, and the spring applied the correct tension, then tighten the lock bolt. Can't do that on the Tenere because there is no place where the chain is slack only at the adjuster side.

 

[DamMechanic]

Just run it, it’s fine, they are just noisy motors.

That one little brief rattle sounds like the backlash in the transmission gears from a slight odd fire. Probably even more noticeable with the early clutch basket withe the slop in it.

If you had your camera over on the cam chain side and heard that then yes it could have been a tensioner issue.

When you get around to having the valves checked, have them change the plugs synchronize the throttle body since they will be right there also.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Sounds normal. Glad you caught the start-up rattle a fixed that.

 

[Mistic107]

Well, I had some extra time and found a very handy video on YT (Thanks Marco!) so I decided to tear into the bike and the valves are a bit out of spec @ 28K. I really didn't want to have to pull the cams but looks like I will be doing some extra work.

Edit: Can someone confirm the shim sizes needed to correct this? Just so I can double check my math. Oops, nevermind, I haven't pulled out the current shims so I dont think this part is possible yet.

 

[sandro1973]

I'm still getting used to all the noises this bike makes....ticking,rattling, harmonic vibrations and who knows what more....i have the reassurance of a recente valve check / tune, TB synch, compression check and new spark-plugs....but still noisy.

It has a Arrow endcan, which seems to be getting louder with time, using the DB-Killer on longer runs at highway speed helps quite a bit. Not using it will have my ears ringing and focused on "noises"...

Video of my bike ( 2015 ES model ), after a 10 minute, no DB-Killer.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I'm still getting used to all the noises this bike makes....ticking,rattling, harmonic vibrations and who knows what more....i have the reassurance of a recente valve check / tune, TB synch, compression check and new spark-plugs....but still noisy.

It has a Arrow endcan, which seems to be getting louder with time, using the DB-Killer on longer runs at highway speed helps quite a bit. Not using it will have my ears ringing and focused on "noises"...

Video of my bike ( 2015 ES model ), after a 10 minute, no DB-Killer.

This video sounds like a bit of chain chatter... ???

 

[Sierra1]

I'm still getting used to all the noises this bike makes....ticking,rattling, harmonic vibrations and who knows what more....i have the reassurance of a recente valve check / tune, TB synch, compression check and new spark-plugs....but still noisy.

It has a Arrow endcan, which seems to be getting louder with time, using the DB-Killer on longer runs at highway speed helps quite a bit. Not using it will have my ears ringing and focused on "noises"...

Video of my bike ( 2015 ES model ), after a 10 minute, no DB-Killer.

I suddenly realized . . . . WW II tank. I love the bike's sound, it's purposeful . . . . to me anyway.

 

[sandro1973]

This video sounds like a bit of chain chatter... ???

It had a new chain in and the CCT was reset ( well reputed shop and chief mechanic ).

Sometimes, mostly when rolling off the throttle, i "think" i hear some chain chatter...but there is so much noise going on...

The most noise i hear is from the clutch side, but so far, i haven't noticed any slip.

 

[~TABASCO~]

It had a new chain in and the CCT was reset ( well reputed shop and chief mechanic ).

Sometimes, mostly when rolling off the throttle, i "think" i hear some chain chatter...but there is so much noise going on...

The most noise i hear is from the clutch side, but so far, i haven't noticed any slip.

Just for safety sake, I might suggest stopping into another Yamaha shop or another "good" shop and have someone listen to that in person. It sounds loose to me with your video but its only a video and it might be OK.... It might be worth stopping in another shop for a second opinion. I certainly would not want anything bad happen to your motorcycle, or you.

 

[sandro1973]

Just for safety sake, I might suggest stopping into another Yamaha shop or another "good" shop and have someone listen to that in person. It sounds loose to me with your video but its only a video and it might be OK.... It might be worth stopping in another shop for a second opinion. I certainly would not want anything bad happen to your motorcycle, or you.

I know videos will sound different depending on the camera, the distance you're filming, the angle, position, and the place where the bike sits. Not the best diagnostic tool, unless it's something really obvious ( example below, from a conrod failure on a 1991 ZX7 bike i had ).

I had the same worries on a previous Super-Tenere 750, went to quite a few shops and had trouble finding a decent and trustworthy mechanic. You will never know if they did what they were supposed to do ( or said they did ) and went down that road where i went to multiple places, spent a lot of money to have the same thing checked. Doubt is a problem and sets in really fast....i ended up selling that bike, couldn't trust it. I was listening to all the "valve and chain" sounds, all the time.

I do find the bike a bit noisier while riding ( just a couple of days ago i put the DB-Killer in ) and it made a difference. Could be exhaust leak on the headers ( i will change the gaskets since the bike is getting close to 48.000 miles ) or even the exhaust packing being used up. Or just me, tunning in on the noises....

It had all the things done i referred to about 2.500 miles ago ( valves, TB, new camchain ). It runs better than it did before ( never had a valve check by the previous owners ). All 8 valves were tight.



It also starts fine, cold or warm, no rattle indicating something loose getting stretched. Any particular signs apart from noise i should look for ?

There seems to be a tendency from most of us, to freak out with all the noise this bikes makes, while some don't give a crap and say everything is normal.

These threads pretty much sum this up

Bad engine noise

Hi guys I bought a new xtz1200 for about 5 months Let's go to the point: since it had about 800 km in release and only in the rev range that goes from 2500 to about 1900 I feel a very annoying vibration, it seems to come from the engine. It is clearly a mechanical noise and not of creaking or...

www.yamahasupertenere.com

Engine noise

Is this the normal sound of the s10 2012?

www.yamahasupertenere.com

 

[sandro1973]

Took the advice some gave to minimize noise, just took the bike out for a short ride and regardless of still being a noisy engine, i heard more engine and more exhaust than the ressonance it usually made itself noticed when revving higher or decceleration. Which i believe is partially induced by vibration reflected by the bashplate.