2012 NINJA 250 Engine Knocking/rattling?

drosvil · July 24th, 2014, 11:13 AM

Was riding down the highway at about 80mph and then out of nowhere i started losing power. Was hard to maintain highway speeds. Pulled off and then i started hearing loud rattling noises. Most of the power was gone. It starts up fine and idles fine, but as soon as you hit the throttle the knocking/rattling begins. Could really use some help thank you. Im going to insert a video of the bike and noise.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Alex · July 24th, 2014, 11:24 AM

subxero · July 24th, 2014, 11:33 AM

is sound coming from cam chain area?

Pull your Cam Chain Tensioner (CCT) and see if it is shot in the ass.

But it kinda sounds to me like the Cam Chain might be slapping around inside but hard to say, not entirely sure why that would cause loss of power on its own though? Something else would have had to happen......I think

Oh and quit running the bike

cuong-nutz · July 24th, 2014, 02:17 PM

Taking a stab....cam jumped a tooth and valves are smacking the piston. Might as well doing a valve check/adjustment since it's almost due.

Stop riding it and leave it off until it's resolved.

Racer x · July 24th, 2014, 04:19 PM

Ya I would look at the cam chain tensioner for sure.

jkv45 · July 24th, 2014, 04:29 PM

Is the oil at the correct level?

Ninjinsky · July 24th, 2014, 05:18 PM

Cam chain slipped a cog and a valve tapping piston can sound like that.
so check the camshaft timing marks and tensioners
(Easy)
Also a problem with the balancer shaft bearings or drive
(You don't want to go there unless you have to

)

Although it sounds mechanical check there isnt a loose exhaust header though that wouldn't cause a power drop

This is a fairly new bike so it is a puzzle and 80 is nowhere near its limits

drosvil · July 28th, 2014, 12:13 PM

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. You guys are great. I'll be taking the bike to the shop tomorrow so when i find out what the problem is ill let you guys know. Just a little more info on the bike: The oil was changed less than a month ago and spark plugs are new.

July 24th, 2014, 11:13 AM	#1
drosvil ninjette.org newbie Name: Dros Location: Miami Join Date: Jul 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	2012 NINJA 250 Engine Knocking/rattling? Was riding down the highway at about 80mph and then out of nowhere i started losing power. Was hard to maintain highway speeds. Pulled off and then i started hearing loud rattling noises. Most of the power was gone. It starts up fine and idles fine, but as soon as you hit the throttle the knocking/rattling begins. Could really use some help thank you. Im going to insert a video of the bike and noise. Link to original page on YouTube.

July 24th, 2014, 11:24 AM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	__________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

July 24th, 2014, 11:33 AM	#3
subxero dirty boy Name: Joe Location: Johnstown, PA Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): I don't even know anymore?? Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '14	is sound coming from cam chain area? Pull your Cam Chain Tensioner (CCT) and see if it is shot in the ass. But it kinda sounds to me like the Cam Chain might be slapping around inside but hard to say, not entirely sure why that would cause loss of power on its own though? Something else would have had to happen......I think Oh and quit running the bike __________________________________________________ I love the smell of burning pre-mix in the morning I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you thought that I think that I thought I was once.

July 24th, 2014, 02:17 PM	#4
cuong-nutz RIP Alex Name: Cuong Location: Houston, TX Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 2	Taking a stab....cam jumped a tooth and valves are smacking the piston. Might as well doing a valve check/adjustment since it's almost due. Stop riding it and leave it off until it's resolved. __________________________________________________ HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days

July 24th, 2014, 04:19 PM	#5
Racer x ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Eric Location: Iowa City Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawmeracchi 350 2010 Project X Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 54 MOTM - Sep '18, Feb '16	Ya I would look at the cam chain tensioner for sure. __________________________________________________ Top speed 123.369mph. Ohio mile Worlds fastest 250 ninja

July 24th, 2014, 04:29 PM	#6
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	Is the oil at the correct level?

July 24th, 2014, 05:18 PM	#7
Ninjinsky ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Paul Location: UK Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250, Yamaha RS200 (classic) Posts: A lot.	Cam chain slipped a cog and a valve tapping piston can sound like that. so check the camshaft timing marks and tensioners (Easy) Also a problem with the balancer shaft bearings or drive (You don't want to go there unless you have to ) Although it sounds mechanical check there isnt a loose exhaust header though that wouldn't cause a power drop This is a fairly new bike so it is a puzzle and 80 is nowhere near its limits

July 28th, 2014, 12:13 PM	#8
drosvil ninjette.org newbie Name: Dros Location: Miami Join Date: Jul 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. You guys are great. I'll be taking the bike to the shop tomorrow so when i find out what the problem is ill let you guys know. Just a little more info on the bike: The oil was changed less than a month ago and spark plugs are new.

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