Hi Jeff, I read about the cam chain noise but don't think the noise on my bike is the cam chain. At times it's a severe clattering. If I pull in the clutch, rev it just a bit the sound either goes away or subsides somewhat. It'll remain quiet until I shut it off and restart when hot or let it idle for a prolonged time.
It sounds to me like a tappet(s) that's leaking down? Wouldn't the cam chain always make noise if the tensioner were bad? Thanks for your thoughts. On Mar 9, 6:07 am, Jeff <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
