Engine clunking, knocking under load.

Seattle_Chris · October 25th, 2011, 06:14 AM

Yep, I STILL suck at searching. I'm sure I've seen this before, so if you could just point me to the right link I'd very appreciative. Or, we could just start a new thread.

Ok, so I just verified this week. Yesterday and today to be exact. I have a pretty hefty Clunking coming from my engine when I abuse it with too much load. Such as starting up a very steep incline from a full stop. Or compression breaking at too low of RPM's (3k) or so. Along with the sound there is jerking. Feels kind of like it's running on 1 cylinder when it happens.

I'm thinking time to read up on Valve clearances/adjusting. Thinking a valve may be too tight/loose. But could it be something else? At first I was thinking fried valve, but it's only under heavy load. On the freeway it's fine. Though I THINK I can hear it tapping under heavy load around the town, so it's probably happening sometimes on the freeway too I suppose.

Anyway, any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

Seattle_Chris · October 25th, 2011, 06:36 AM

Oh yeah, 2009, about 9.5k miles. Had factory maintenance at 7.Xk including valves. I think it was pretty close to 8k. Nothing changed on it lately except for a couple months ago, I cleaned and adjusted the chain.

Hmmm, wait a minute. I DID put in some Stabil with my last fill up a week or three ago. Didn't really measure. Just put in 2 doses from the funky dose meter thing. Would too much Stabil do this?

Alex · October 25th, 2011, 05:04 PM

I wouldn't think Stabil would be related to clunking, but

.

Jiggyfly · October 27th, 2011, 11:36 PM

I'd check that chain, almost sounds like a chain skipping teeth, or even a sprocket missing teeth.....yes, I've seen it. Even on a brand new sprocket with 2 track days on it. (NOT mine!)

LoD575 · October 28th, 2011, 08:02 PM

Verify the engine mounts are torqued to spec. They may not be severely loose but enough for the engine to shift around when under load.

I have seen it happen in cars during my time as a mechanic.

DaBlue1 · November 3rd, 2011, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle_Chris

Yep, I STILL suck at searching. I'm sure I've seen this before, so if you could just point me to the right link I'd very appreciative. Or, we could just start a new thread.

Ok, so I just verified this week. Yesterday and today to be exact. I have a pretty hefty Clunking coming from my engine when I abuse it with too much load. Such as starting up a very steep incline from a full stop. Or compression breaking at too low of RPM's (3k) or so. Along with the sound there is jerking. Feels kind of like it's running on 1 cylinder when it happens.

I'm thinking time to read up on Valve clearances/adjusting. Thinking a valve may be too tight/loose. But could it be something else? At first I was thinking fried valve, but it's only under heavy load. On the freeway it's fine. Though I THINK I can hear it tapping under heavy load around the town, so it's probably happening sometimes on the freeway too I suppose.

Anyway, any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

What do you mean "under heavy load" ? At what rpms are you getting clunking and what gear are you in? The Ninja does not posses a lot of power down low and really hates rpms under 4k. You can not crack the throttle on the Ninja at low rpms and get high torque. Engine clunking and chain clunking sound really different and should be easy to identify. Check your proper chain tension. Also if you were running on one cylinder you would be able to tell it at idle.

DarC · November 4th, 2011, 01:33 AM

Give it more gas/clutch/rpm and stop lugging it....jus sayin.

October 25th, 2011, 06:14 AM	#1
Seattle_Chris Newb since 10/2009 Name: Chris Location: Seattle Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 SE. Slowly morphing to ADV bike. :D Posts: 182	Engine clunking, knocking under load. Yep, I STILL suck at searching. I'm sure I've seen this before, so if you could just point me to the right link I'd very appreciative. Or, we could just start a new thread. Ok, so I just verified this week. Yesterday and today to be exact. I have a pretty hefty Clunking coming from my engine when I abuse it with too much load. Such as starting up a very steep incline from a full stop. Or compression breaking at too low of RPM's (3k) or so. Along with the sound there is jerking. Feels kind of like it's running on 1 cylinder when it happens. I'm thinking time to read up on Valve clearances/adjusting. Thinking a valve may be too tight/loose. But could it be something else? At first I was thinking fried valve, but it's only under heavy load. On the freeway it's fine. Though I THINK I can hear it tapping under heavy load around the town, so it's probably happening sometimes on the freeway too I suppose. Anyway, any ideas? Thanks in advance!

October 25th, 2011, 05:04 PM	#3
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	I wouldn't think Stabil would be related to clunking, but . __________________________________________________ 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)

November 4th, 2011, 01:33 AM	#7
DarC DUCEATR Name: Dan Location: El Paso, Texas Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): RVT1000R Posts: 628	Give it more gas/clutch/rpm and stop lugging it....jus sayin. __________________________________________________ 2001 SP1 RC51- #62 -Akrapovic Ti, PCIII, Colin Edward's first baby tooth, Honda Racing sticker, some Japanese doods best attempt at Engrish scribbled on my engine block, little touch of soul.

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October 25th, 2011, 06:36 AM	#2
Seattle_Chris Newb since 10/2009 Name: Chris Location: Seattle Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 SE. Slowly morphing to ADV bike. :D Posts: 182	Oh yeah, 2009, about 9.5k miles. Had factory maintenance at 7.Xk including valves. I think it was pretty close to 8k. Nothing changed on it lately except for a couple months ago, I cleaned and adjusted the chain. Hmmm, wait a minute. I DID put in some Stabil with my last fill up a week or three ago. Didn't really measure. Just put in 2 doses from the funky dose meter thing. Would too much Stabil do this?

October 27th, 2011, 11:36 PM	#4
Jiggyfly ninjette.org member Name: Shon Location: Columbia, sc Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 132	I'd check that chain, almost sounds like a chain skipping teeth, or even a sprocket missing teeth.....yes, I've seen it. Even on a brand new sprocket with 2 track days on it. (NOT mine!)

October 28th, 2011, 08:02 PM	#5
LoD575 ninjette.org sage Name: Steve Location: Valdosta GA, US Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 2006 Ninja ZX6R-636 Posts: 661	Verify the engine mounts are torqued to spec. They may not be severely loose but enough for the engine to shift around when under load. I have seen it happen in cars during my time as a mechanic.