drz400 engine noise

[makem67]

The bike is a 2002 with 8500 miles on clock. Well looked after but engine seems noisy low down in the lump. When running the engine it seems to have a rattle noise low down in the engine casing. Not excessive but is noticeable.

As an aside to this I fitted a manual cam tensioner but this does not seem to have made a difference to the noise the timing chain gives off. Again not excessive noise but noticeable.
The power does not seem to have been affected in any way. It starts well, ticks over and runs well.

Any advise on these two issues would be welcome.

[Dave]

Is this a new noise that started recently or a characteristic of the bike you are unsure of?

[Beerbelly]

When was the cam chain replaced last?
What side is the noise coming from right hand side?
Or left?

[Beerbelly]

If it's the left check your starter idle gears... My ec400 (same engine) chewed through the main idle gear pin...

[makem67]

Hi Guys thanks for the replies. The bike has only 8500 miles and to my knowledge has not had a cam change. When should this be done?

The noise is at the bottom of the engine and seems to be maybe more on the right side (gear lever side). It is not excessive and I was wondered being a single cylinder if this was a characteristic of the engine. I know owners say they are noisy by nature.

[Beerbelly]

http://www.suzukicentral.com/forums/17- ... chain.html.

Right side is where the cam chain is...

[Beerbelly]

Check this too: http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/907036 ... cam-chain/

Where is your manual adjuster getting to? Do you have it wound in quite a bit?

[makem67]

The manual MCCT is wound in until the chain rattle stops. If I wind it in further it makes no difference to noise so I guess that is at correct adjustment. Am I right in thinking that there is always a noise you hear or should you not ever be able to hear the Cam chain at all?

[Beerbelly]

There will be a slight noise but not excessive. Normally you hear it at the top end not the bottom from my experience... Bigyellowtractor has a drz400 might be worth sending him a pm...

[big yellow tractor]

Bigyellowtractor has a drz400 might be worth sending him a pm...

Find a long screwdriver; put one end against your ear and investigate the engine noises with the other (an engine stethoscope is easier but a screwdriver works fine) You will be amazed that you can identify the sounds and picture what moving around bits you can hear.

I would expect the camchain to give noise at the top of the engine and to be honest, it'll sound like a chain rattling.

I have no experience of starter idle gear failure so don't know what that sounds like.

For info, dump the manual cam-chain tensioner and fit the latest auto one. I wrecked a perfectly good cam-chain by adjusting a manual one too tight.

[Beerbelly]

Bigyellowtractor has a drz400 might be worth sending him a pm...

Find a long screwdriver; put one end against your ear and investigate the engine noises with the other (an engine stethoscope is easier but a screwdriver works fine) You will be amazed that you can identify the sounds and picture what moving around bits you can hear.

I would expect the camchain to give noise at the top of the engine and to be honest, it'll sound like a chain rattling.

I have no experience of starter idle gear failure so don't know what that sounds like.

For info, dump the manual cam-chain tensioner and fit the latest auto one. I wrecked a perfectly good cam-chain by adjusting a manual one too tight.

If u need a stethoscope I have one you can borrow...