Noise When Cold

rivetts

New member
I'm just checking to see if my bike is normal. Does anyone else notice a very noticeable clatter sound that changes when you open and close the throttle? It goes away when the bike is warmed up in about 3 or 4 miles.
 

Thom Davis

Member
I'm just checking to see if my bike is normal. Does anyone else notice a very noticeable clatter sound that changes when you open and close the throttle? It goes away when the bike is warmed up in about 3 or 4 miles.

My bike has that noise. Sounds just like mechanical tappets in OHV engines in older model cars.
 

rivetts

New member
My bike has that noise. Sounds just like mechanical tappets in OHV engines in older model cars.

So do you think that is normal? I thought something wasn't getting lubed when the oil was cold and once the oil warmed up and thinned out it did?
 

Thom Davis

Member
I dunno. If it is mechanical tappets, they start out with too big a gap and as the engine heats, the gap becomes correct. It doesn't hurt anything during the warmup period, you just run a little rich. But again, I dunno whether or not the engine actually has mechanical tappets.
 

rivetts

New member
I talked to a motorhead and he thinks it is the oil. I use the recommended 15x50 from BMW and I changed my oil a couple of weeks ago. The oil I used I had sitting on the shelf for three or four years never opened so I wonder if the oil can go bad and that is why they recommend changing after so many miles or so much time? I think I will change the oil again.
 

Thom Davis

Member
If it is sitting on the shelf, never opened, it is just like new. They recommend oil changes for distance traveled assuming the oil gets hot and hot oil will degrade. They recommend oil changes for time between oil changes for folks who do frequent short trips which means the oil got hot, then cooled off, then got hot; which also degrades the slipperiness .. If you do long distances infrequently, then you don't need to change the oil on time interval and should go to the mileage. Oil doesn't degrade in non use.

Since my bike makes that clatter, I am pretty confident it isn't an oil issue.
 

Thom Davis

Member
If it is sitting on the shelf, never opened, it is just like new. They recommend oil changes for distance traveled assuming the oil gets hot and hot oil will degrade. They recommend oil changes for time between oil changes for folks who do frequent short trips which means the oil got hot, then cooled off, then got hot; which also degrades the slipperiness .. If you do long distances infrequently, then you don't need to change the oil on time interval and should go to the mileage. Oil doesn't degrade in non use.

Since my bike makes that clatter, I am pretty confident it isn't an oil issue.
 

mike55

New member
I had this noise when cold and letting off the throttle. Turned out to be a faulty cam chain tensioner. Dealer fitter a revised hydraulic one and solved the problem.
 

mike55

New member
Hello
The recall is interesting but it was for 2012 to 2014 bikes, this was prior to the mk2 revised model. My scooter is a mk 2 2016 model that should have been built with the revised tensioner. Either it was built with the old style tensioner or there is another issue with the 1st revised one. My dealer told me they had fitted a revised hydraulic tensioner. This unit solved the issue of tappet noise.
I am not sure if the recall tensioner was the same revision as the one that has just been fitted to my scooter. If not they appear to have another problem.
On a seperate point I picked up the scooter from the dealer on Friday and yesterday found the tail light on. Thought it was the brake light and pulled the brake levers. At this point the electrics went haywire with lights and instruments flashing. Turned on and off ignition several times, started the engine all seemed ok. This morning found the bike hade electrically died overnight. Battery was flat and speedo showed 120 mph. Will have to se what happens once the battery is charged.
 

Thom Davis

Member
Hello
The recall is interesting but it was for 2012 to 2014 bikes, this was prior to the mk2 revised model. My scooter is a mk 2 2016 model that should have been built with the revised tensioner. Either it was built with the old style tensioner or there is another issue with the 1st revised one. My dealer told me they had fitted a revised hydraulic tensioner. This unit solved the issue of tappet noise.
I am not sure if the recall tensioner was the same revision as the one that has just been fitted to my scooter. If not they appear to have another problem.

I checked with my dealer (mine is a 2013 bike). The recall had the same design tensioner installed (basically a spring) but supposedly not as subject to failure. Mine was changed out. He told me that the spring tensioner is still available but not being made, but few are in the repair parts pool. He wanted to know if I wanted the hydraulic one installed which he said is a much better design. I declined saying that $1K to put in a better part in a bike that is only worth $5K is not a good deal. Besides, the noise is just like mechanical tappets...as the spring heats the spring tension changes and the noise goes away usually within the first mile. Bad news if it fails completely, but the original recall was supposedly due to faulty spring tensioners that could fail (ie, brittle spring steel) and the replacement supposedly is better steel so not as likely to fail. BMW could do a better job in QC for components as well as QA in the design team...but they didn't and they probably won't.
 

rivetts

New member
How much time is needed to change out the chain tensioner? I live over an hour away from the dealer so if mine has to be changed out I will have to bother someone for a ride. The dealer still has my trade so maybe he will let me take it as a loaner if needed.
 

rivetts

New member
I brought in my bike for the clatter noise to the dealer I bought it from and told them that I thought the problem was the chain tensioner. Today I got a call and they told me that the problem wasn't the chain tensioner but the guide rails were loose and had to be replaced and that they are wear items not covered under warranty. It's going to cost me $300. I only have 1400 miles on the bike, I've had it 6 mos. Does anyone believe this, I don't.
 

Chiro

Member
I brought in my bike for the clatter noise to the dealer I bought it from and told them that I thought the problem was the chain tensioner. Today I got a call and they told me that the problem wasn't the chain tensioner but the guide rails were loose and had to be replaced and that they are wear items not covered under warranty. It's going to cost me $300. I only have 1400 miles on the bike, I've had it 6 mos. Does anyone believe this, I don't.
You don't believe it? Me neither!
 

Skutorr

Active member
Loose tensioner wore-out the guide rails. Then it takes out your cylinder head, like happened to Jaime...
 

rivetts

New member
Here is my bill: "Unable to confirm complaint as described. Checked for relevant bulletins and none apply to this motorcycle. Noticed that 600 mile service had not been performed. Checked chain slack at final drive. Found to be out of spec. Replaced chain rail #1 with #3 tensioner rail". So I guess instead of $300 for the 600 mile service it cost me $215.92. They gave me a brake on the labor. As I drove off the clatter is still there loud and clear. So I went back and asked how much it would cost me to have them replace the chain tensioner with a hydraulic one and they said $770. I then asked them how much they would give me to buy the bike back. These are the same guys that sold me the bike for $8,000 6 months ago and only 1500 miles on it are offering me $3,500. This BMW dealer is an hour away and I don't have a closer one so I think I will be trading or selling it.
 

Chiro

Member
Here is my bill: "Unable to confirm complaint as described. Checked for relevant bulletins and none apply to this motorcycle. Noticed that 600 mile service had not been performed. Checked chain slack at final drive. Found to be out of spec. Replaced chain rail #1 with #3 tensioner rail". So I guess instead of $300 for the 600 mile service it cost me $215.92. They gave me a brake on the labor. As I drove off the clatter is still there loud and clear. So I went back and asked how much it would cost me to have them replace the chain tensioner with a hydraulic one and they said $770. I then asked them how much they would give me to buy the bike back. These are the same guys that sold me the bike for $8,000 6 months ago and only 1500 miles on it are offering me $3,500. This BMW dealer is an hour away and I don't have a closer one so I think I will be trading or selling it.

I just order the HYDRAULIC CHAIN TENSIONER from MAX BMW Motorcycles.
 
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