Rattling noise from the engine..

paterick4o8 · September 30th, 2011, 05:05 PM

I have a slight guess as to what it might be, but any ideas? Kinda worried here..

ninja250 · October 1st, 2011, 06:33 AM

Has the sound just started?
It almost sounds like a normal Kawi engine to me. Let me listen again..

What's the prognosis? How many miles? Have you done your valve adjustment?
Is it a loose header? (exh leak?)

paterick4o8 · October 1st, 2011, 12:40 PM

it seems to me like the sound just started, I don't recall it being like that but then again the exhaust kind of masks the rattling sound and I put on my ear plugs pretty shortly after I start her up.

valves were adjusted at 16K in August 2010; I'm now at 20.5K

Havent checked to see if it's the header but I'll check later on before I ride again.

Kanestar · October 2nd, 2011, 02:55 PM

i had the same prob, took it to the dealer and they are toying with my ass. They said they are sending a oil sample to kawa then get permission to get it broken down. I've been w/o my baby for almost a month =(. I think it has something to do with the valves

leed · October 2nd, 2011, 06:02 PM

If not an exhaust leak.. Bad rod journal bearing? Maybe piston slap from a jammed valve?

CZroe · October 4th, 2011, 01:10 PM

Mine's making the same noise. Oil sample? My oil always smells like gas too. It's not nearly as bad after I ride a while.

Kanestar · October 6th, 2011, 04:49 PM

Mech said that my crank rod or something with my valve went nuts. My bike sounded just like the one in the video but a little louder. Noise was coming from the bottom right. I only have 1200 miles on it and its a 2010.

It all happened when I was on the freeway, usually i go maybe 45-50mph but this day i wanted to take it on the freeway so i did 90ish and then when i went off my exit it just started making that loud ass noise. I noticed a big drop in power and both of my lights came on. I pulled over and called progressive and got it towed. Now i have to wait for them to rebuild my engine while kawasaki analyzes my oil to find out what happened.

paterick4o8 · October 6th, 2011, 04:54 PM

yikes!

sorry to hear.

I hope mine's not that serious

lunerkid · October 7th, 2011, 09:04 AM

Hey Paterick,

I get the same exact sound. At first I thought it was my valves, but when I hit my 15k and did my values it was the same thing.

I was always under the impression that that sound was the kawi tick.
You can listen to my bike to next time we meet haha.

paterick4o8 · October 7th, 2011, 12:20 PM

iiiiinteresting. yeah Ed we need to meet up

anyhoot, just a small update: I havent noticed any change in performance from my bike. after the engine's properly warmed up I can still ride it hard and go WOT without feeling like it's lost something

lunerkid · October 7th, 2011, 12:36 PM

Yup no loss in power. Just that tapping noise.

CZroe · October 7th, 2011, 10:39 PM

Here's mine, cold and then slightly warm:

Link to original page on YouTube.

CmichRider · October 7th, 2011, 10:49 PM

So, is this normal or no? My bike makes the same ticking noise and it's a 2000. I haven't noticed a drop in power, tho I don't ride the bike up to 90 mph ever.

Kanestar · October 8th, 2011, 01:33 PM

czroe's bike sounds normal. Mine sounded like someone put nails in a coffee can and shook it like like crazy

JuJu · February 9th, 2021, 11:35 AM

Did you ever figure this out mine makes the same noise. Sometimes at idle it stops but then comes right back. It reminds me of a vacuum that has somthing stuck in it, like somthing is jumping around in there and every so often it gets caught on somthing then the air grabs it again and starts tossing it around again. I thought at first it was loose plastics somewhere cuz that’s what it sounds like the most to me it sounds like plastic flapping around but haven’t found that to be true. Please let me know if you have figured this out or if and when you do. Thanks

GAU-8 · February 9th, 2021, 08:16 PM

( edit: response is for JUJU)

I'm wondering if it could be your coolant pumps impeller? Maybe there are a few spots of air in system, and/or maybe low on coolant?

Mine had a similar "random" plastic-ish spinning/ticking sound. I found out my coolant resevior had developed a tiny crack, along the mold line seam, near the bottom. This let my coolant get really low. After replacing the resevior, and doing a complete flush, and fill of coolant, haven't had the issue/noise again. Just a thought. These bikes are getting older, and stock plastics are bound to fail.

My leak was really hard to find. ( but the resevior kept getting wet at the bottom. Anyways, i'd say double check, or completely re-do your coolant, if low, or bike is "new" to you.

September 30th, 2011, 05:05 PM	#1
paterick4o8 ninjette.org sage Name: patricK Location: San Jose, CA--BAY AREA! Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 blue 250R [sold]. '09 lime ZX-6R [stolen :( ]. '06 blue 636. Posts: 918	Rattling noise from the engine.. I have a slight guess as to what it might be, but any ideas? Kinda worried here.. Link to original page on YouTube.

October 1st, 2011, 06:33 AM	#2
ninja250 You are sleeping Name: Casey Location: LMFAO!!! Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.	Has the sound just started? It almost sounds like a normal Kawi engine to me. Let me listen again.. What's the prognosis? How many miles? Have you done your valve adjustment? Is it a loose header? (exh leak?) __________________________________________________ <Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce

February 9th, 2021, 08:16 PM	#16
GAU-8 Socially inept. Yet FUN! Name: C Location: Houston Tx Join Date: Oct 2015 Motorcycle(s): Current machines- 1992 SECA II 600, 2006 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: 231	( edit: response is for JUJU) I'm wondering if it could be your coolant pumps impeller? Maybe there are a few spots of air in system, and/or maybe low on coolant? Mine had a similar "random" plastic-ish spinning/ticking sound. I found out my coolant resevior had developed a tiny crack, along the mold line seam, near the bottom. This let my coolant get really low. After replacing the resevior, and doing a complete flush, and fill of coolant, haven't had the issue/noise again. Just a thought. These bikes are getting older, and stock plastics are bound to fail. My leak was really hard to find. ( but the resevior kept getting wet at the bottom. Anyways, i'd say double check, or completely re-do your coolant, if low, or bike is "new" to you. Last futzed with by GAU-8; February 9th, 2021 at 09:46 PM.

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October 1st, 2011, 12:40 PM	#3
paterick4o8 ninjette.org sage Name: patricK Location: San Jose, CA--BAY AREA! Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 blue 250R [sold]. '09 lime ZX-6R [stolen :( ]. '06 blue 636. Posts: 918	it seems to me like the sound just started, I don't recall it being like that but then again the exhaust kind of masks the rattling sound and I put on my ear plugs pretty shortly after I start her up. valves were adjusted at 16K in August 2010; I'm now at 20.5K Havent checked to see if it's the header but I'll check later on before I ride again.

October 2nd, 2011, 02:55 PM	#4
Kanestar ninjette.org member Name: Kane Location: Las Vegas Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 40	i had the same prob, took it to the dealer and they are toying with my ass. They said they are sending a oil sample to kawa then get permission to get it broken down. I've been w/o my baby for almost a month =(. I think it has something to do with the valves

October 2nd, 2011, 06:02 PM	#5
leed ninjette.org sage Name: David Location: Loves Park, IL Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): Time will tell Posts: 969	If not an exhaust leak.. Bad rod journal bearing? Maybe piston slap from a jammed valve?

October 4th, 2011, 01:10 PM	#6
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Mine's making the same noise. Oil sample? My oil always smells like gas too. It's not nearly as bad after I ride a while.

October 6th, 2011, 04:49 PM	#7
Kanestar ninjette.org member Name: Kane Location: Las Vegas Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 40	Mech said that my crank rod or something with my valve went nuts. My bike sounded just like the one in the video but a little louder. Noise was coming from the bottom right. I only have 1200 miles on it and its a 2010. It all happened when I was on the freeway, usually i go maybe 45-50mph but this day i wanted to take it on the freeway so i did 90ish and then when i went off my exit it just started making that loud ass noise. I noticed a big drop in power and both of my lights came on. I pulled over and called progressive and got it towed. Now i have to wait for them to rebuild my engine while kawasaki analyzes my oil to find out what happened.

October 6th, 2011, 04:54 PM	#8
paterick4o8 ninjette.org sage Name: patricK Location: San Jose, CA--BAY AREA! Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 blue 250R [sold]. '09 lime ZX-6R [stolen :( ]. '06 blue 636. Posts: 918	yikes! sorry to hear. I hope mine's not that serious

October 7th, 2011, 09:04 AM	#9
lunerkid ninjette.org member Name: Ed Location: East Bay Area Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 Posts: 36	Hey Paterick, I get the same exact sound. At first I thought it was my valves, but when I hit my 15k and did my values it was the same thing. I was always under the impression that that sound was the kawi tick. You can listen to my bike to next time we meet haha.

October 7th, 2011, 12:20 PM	#10
paterick4o8 ninjette.org sage Name: patricK Location: San Jose, CA--BAY AREA! Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 blue 250R [sold]. '09 lime ZX-6R [stolen :( ]. '06 blue 636. Posts: 918	iiiiinteresting. yeah Ed we need to meet up anyhoot, just a small update: I havent noticed any change in performance from my bike. after the engine's properly warmed up I can still ride it hard and go WOT without feeling like it's lost something

October 7th, 2011, 12:36 PM	#11
lunerkid ninjette.org member Name: Ed Location: East Bay Area Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 Posts: 36	Yup no loss in power. Just that tapping noise.

October 7th, 2011, 10:39 PM	#12
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Here's mine, cold and then slightly warm: Link to original page on YouTube.

October 7th, 2011, 10:49 PM	#13
CmichRider ninjette.org member Name: Jacob Location: Michigan Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2000 Ninja 250 Posts: 227	So, is this normal or no? My bike makes the same ticking noise and it's a 2000. I haven't noticed a drop in power, tho I don't ride the bike up to 90 mph ever.

October 8th, 2011, 01:33 PM	#14
Kanestar ninjette.org member Name: Kane Location: Las Vegas Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 40	czroe's bike sounds normal. Mine sounded like someone put nails in a coffee can and shook it like like crazy

February 9th, 2021, 11:35 AM	#15
JuJu ninjette.org newbie Name: Joseph Location: Portland Oregon Join Date: Nov 2020 Motorcycle(s): 1998 Kawasaki ninja 250r Posts: 1	Did you ever figure this out mine makes the same noise. Sometimes at idle it stops but then comes right back. It reminds me of a vacuum that has somthing stuck in it, like somthing is jumping around in there and every so often it gets caught on somthing then the air grabs it again and starts tossing it around again. I thought at first it was loose plastics somewhere cuz that’s what it sounds like the most to me it sounds like plastic flapping around but haven’t found that to be true. Please let me know if you have figured this out or if and when you do. Thanks