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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: wymple on July 04, 2016, 09:13:14 PM

Title: Annoying rattle
Post by: wymple on July 04, 2016, 09:13:14 PM
So, I'm getting an annoying rattle up front. It sounds like something loose is rattling around, but I come up empty trying to find it, and believe me, I've been looking. So it dawns on me that the bike, 1984 Call II, has the original timing chain and tensioner. Would that tensioner make such a tinny sounding rattle? It's most noticeable under a low rpm load, seems to go with the speed of the engine, but it's a little hard to say for sure as it's erratic. I've ruled out octane as a cause, as well as my mini alternator I fabbed in last year. Never having this problem on a Guzzi, I have no idea what a lame tensioner sounds like.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: flangeman_70 on July 04, 2016, 09:45:43 PM
Because you say Otis tinny, I'd be checking the exhaust headers to forward engine mount clearances first.
Classic to make contact at a specific RPM range and only when everything is at operating temperature.

Good luck.

Adam
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: John A on July 05, 2016, 06:36:27 AM
Kickstand springs come to mind, as well as fender.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: Cam3512 on July 05, 2016, 06:37:11 AM
The tensioner might have gone Tango Uniform, leaving too much slack in the chain.  Happened to my Eldo with a similar rattle.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: John A on July 05, 2016, 07:15:03 AM
The horn grills can rattle too but it sounds like you have a louder rattle.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: fotoguzzi on July 05, 2016, 07:33:35 AM
the chain would be hitting inside the case at about 5 o'clock (looking from front).. put a screw driver there and to your ear to hear it.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: sib on July 05, 2016, 07:46:30 AM
Since you describe it as coming from "up front", and it's not obvious from visual inspection, I would suspect something loose inside the headlight housing.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: John A on July 05, 2016, 07:55:05 AM
Since you describe it as coming from "up front", and it's not obvious from visual inspection, I would suspect something loose inside the headlight housing.
Good one!
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: rtbickel on July 05, 2016, 08:03:38 AM
I had a rattle like that which sounded like it was coming from the front of the engine, but turned out to be the license plate buzzing against the big euro-sized mount at only  a certain rpm. 
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: wymple on July 05, 2016, 08:35:02 AM
I actually thought it might be the horn grill, so I stuck some RTV in there to mute that. It wasn't. Headlight is aftermarket, and I don't think anything in there can rattle, but that would be nice to find when I check it. Front fender area checks out. I'm not used to hearing anything up there, so it's really bugging me, as little things tend to lead to bigger things, and Elkader is this weekend.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on July 05, 2016, 10:46:57 AM
I actually thought it might be the horn grill, so I stuck some RTV in there to mute that. It wasn't. Headlight is aftermarket, and I don't think anything in there can rattle, but that would be nice to find when I check it. Front fender area checks out. I'm not used to hearing anything up there, so it's really bugging me, as little things tend to lead to bigger things, and Elkader is this weekend.

Agreed, but the worst thing I can think of in your situation is a loose timing chain, and it will happily grind on the case for thousands of miles without failure. All the others are just an annoyance. Take candy to throw to the kids in the parade.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: wymple on July 05, 2016, 11:32:22 AM
Agreed, but the worst thing I can think of in your situation is a loose timing chain, and it will happily grind on the case for thousands of miles without failure. All the others are just an annoyance. Take candy to throw to the kids in the parade.  :smiley:

It's only just started this little annoyance, so I'm glad to hear it's not likely to explode real soon. I'm hoping my dealer will have a chain and tensioner in stock as it looks like an easy fix anyway.
Title: Re: Annoying rattle
Post by: wymple on July 05, 2016, 11:50:04 AM
HAH !!  I found it. No loose bolts, but the fender was rattling against the chrome rear rail on the lower left side. I found it by tapping on it. I stuck a piece of rubber in there to test and all's well. Weird it never did it before and nothing's out of place. I can tweak the fender in where it passes the rail, I guess. Thanks for the ideas, John A gets the biggest kudo today!