Hello Tim, I too am new to the Nighthawk thing, just picked up a very clean 84 650 off Craigslist last month. Mine makes a bit of noise as well between 2000 and 2500 RPM. Please don't consider me to be an expert, but I have read that these bikes are prone to the spring in the cam chain tensioner weakening, causing the chain to 'chatter' at certain RPM's. I have also read that although the noise is a bit of a nuisance, it is not prone to failure.
Regards, Jeff. On Mar 8, 10:35 pm, Tim Harrison <[email protected]> wrote: > After twenty some years on the side lines I'm back riding. Found a one > owner 83 Nighthawk on Craigslist, 15,000 miles, I thought was a good > deal. Now I'm not so sure. > > Anyway, there is an intermittent clattering noise coming from the > engine. Maybe the top of the engine? The clattering gets louder and > faster with more RPMs. The funny thing is the noise eventually > subsides and the bike hums right along. It sounds to me like a valve > or valve(s) need adjusting but I thought these bikes had "hydraulic > valve adjusters"? > > The noise is sporadic...usually the noise is most evident when > starting the bike up after it's already hot or it's been idling for > several minutes when hot. > > I've changed the oil and filter a couple times already making sure > it's at the correct level. After reading about Sea Foam on this forum > ran some of it through the crankcase (and gas tank). Couldn't really > tell the Sea Foam did anything to help reduce the clattering. I've put > about 800 miles on the bike now and the noise still persists. > > Any ideas what might be the problem? Thanks for your help. > -- > Tim > > 1983 650 Nighthawk --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
