Clacking noise - HELP!!!

[leesic66]

Hey so I am NEW to this forum and motorcycles period. I used to mess around with mopeds and stuff. (I had a modded out Honda Ruckus) So I bought this 2005 Ninja 250 with 15k miles for supercheap (for HI anyways) and PO let it sit from January to April. So I took it home and the first thing I did was take it to the Kawi dealer and had the 12k mile service done and had them clean the carbs. I also put in a bottle of engine cleaner for good measure. And now it runs ok I guess but there is a clacking noise at idle. When I rev the engine it goes away but when I let off it comes back. The mechanic at the dealer said that it was either the valves or the bottom end went bad. Now I wasnt born yesterday and I dont believe everything that paid mechanics tell me but Im HOPING HOPING HOPING its not the bottom end!!! Any ideas or feedback would be much appreciated!! Thank U!

[kkim]

When was the last time the valves were checked/adjusted? Also, the pre gens sometimes have issues with the chain tensioner for the timing chain.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Cam_cha...er_maintenance

[leesic66]

ummm.... IDk when the valves were adjusted. I dont think the PO did ANY service on it Do U think it would be bad if I left it that way for a month or so??? I am going thru some cashflow problems right now

[kkim]

at 15K, I believe the bikes valves should have been checked/adjusted 3 times by now.

with any new used bike I purchase, I go through the bike's service schedule and bring whatever needs to be done up to date. Until then, you have no idea of the bike's reliability. If you ride it now, you takes your chances.

perhaps the dealer did a valve adjustment at the 12k service? should be written on the receipt.

[leesic66]

no he didnt. In fact he said that they might need adjusting. but he didnt do it....I think he wants to juice me out of more money....

[backinthesaddleagain]

Ithink FWIW a bottom end issue would be louder than a clacking and get worse as revs increase. I had a bottom end bearing fail on a dirt bike and the piston hit the roof of the cylinder head.the whole thing happened in a couple minutes and sounded like a hammer.
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[HotWheels]

personally I would go back to that dealer and make it quite easy for him to see how pissed off I was that the valves weren't touched. I would MAKE SURE it was done at no extra charge asap from them. Unless you paid for some other kind of service to be done other than valves. Every service I am familiar with, the valves are included.

If you are hearing a clacking noise it sounds like it is the valves for sure. I would go ahead and have those adjusted first and if the problem persists then it is the cam chain tensioner.

When my tensioner was going out it was not a clacking sound that I was hearing, but more like a aluminum can full of marbles being swooshed around.

This clacking sound usually presents itself when the valves are either way to tight and out of spec and or when you run them on the loosest end and being in spec for a bit. I am sure it is the first one.

*follow up post*
A bad cam chain tensioner would be producing the sound more so on the right hand side of the bike btw which is noticeable.

[leesic66]

thank U for the feedback! Now I jus gotta get the $$$ together to do this.....lol