engine noise

[b1pig]

ok. guys.....
how much "noise" is too much? really. i adjusted the valves on Lori's bike thinking the valves were out of adjustment. well. the racket is still there. its not a "knock". its just a VERY loud ticking, which 'to me' sounds like its coming from the top end. i've been thinking of tearing the top end down and doing a thorough inspection of it. i hate to even consider it due to my job and time.

i think what i'm gonna wind up doing is shooting a vid of it and posting it here for ya'll's opinions. as my memory serves me, the engine has always been a little noisy to me... but... maybe i'm just being so picky. next to my KLR, the GZ sounds like nuts in a can. ofcourse the KLR is quiet as a mouse. the ZX7 i just sold however had the typical noisy topend of a early ninja.

<----- frustrated....

provided i dont forget, tomorrow, i'll shoot a video and post it. opinions appreciated.

[jonathan180iq]

We will be able to tell more with a vid. Good call.

These aren't the quietest engine but they aren't "nuts-in-a-can" loud either. When healthy, they don't even vibrate that much for a thumper. Just a good, solid , purrrrrrrrrr

[b1pig]

doesn't look like i'll have a pic up tonite.

looks like i've got to take the carb off again. float needle sticking open. i did manage to shoot a short video dispite a rough/rich running engine.... but NOW, the sd card doesnt want to work in the computer.....

[b1pig]

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.ph ... 6607089001 (https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=4936607089001)

[tudorv]

Mine sounds pretty much the same. And I too was worried about the noise and have been to several mechanics. Bottom line was that it's just a loud engine.
I have this rule now: If I hear a noise and I'm not sure what it is, I ignore it. It's either going to go away, or get worse and become a problem. :)

[Water Warrior 2]

Sounds like an air cooled single cylinder to me. The cooling fins can help broadcast the internal sounds. I wouldn't get to excited just yet.

[b1pig]

been a long time since i messed with an aircooled single. for comparison... my KLR650 is nearly silent compared to her GZ... lol

thanks. :)

[G1of5]

good day!

i just ran into this post... relating to a similar noise in my 2009.... it looks like there wasn't really an answer here?

The ticking sounds like it is coming from the top end... maybe near the exhaust valve? it is not a horrible sound but concerns me.... more annoying than anything and just want to make sure it wont lead to a serious problem.

running fuel treatment through it with higher octane fuel... hoping it is just some build up that i can burn off... :)

ideas??

[jonathan180iq]

These engines are kind of noisy. How long have you had the bike?

[raul10141964]

sound like sowing machine is normal

[G1of5]

bought the bike, new; off of the floor; 2 years ago.

[5th_bike]

sound like sowing machine is normal

More like a lawn mower I think

[RuffRoad]

I just bought a 2007 GZ250 a few days ago. The top end noise was unbelieveably loud, however, I thought "It's just badly adjusted valve tappets". I measured the existing clearances and found: 0.005" intake, and 0.008" exhaust. So, I adjusted them (when cold) to : 0.002" intake, and 0.003" exhaust. Thought to myself, "This is really gonna solve the noise problem". Went for a gentle test drive, not exceeding 40 mph. The noise was still just as bad - even after the engine was brought up to full operating temperature.
Next day, I decided to pull the gas tank and get a closer look at the valve cover assembly. All the bolts were there, so I gently, gently, tightened them, just "a tad". Lo and behold, I discovered that one of the bolts refused to tighten - it just spun around uselessly. Obviously someone had sheared the bolt, and left the hex head and shank in place, making it appear as though nothing was amiss.
So, sigh, pull the valve cover assembly. Sure enough, the broken bolt was one of the bolts holding down the camshaft journal bearing. Only ONE bolt, on one side of the camshaft journal bearing was actually keeping the camshaft bolted in place.
MORAL OF THE STORY: If you are having intractable top end noise, and valve adjustment has no beneficial effect, trying gently cinching up the camshaft bearing bolts - you may find that one has been broken in half by an overzealous, wrench-bearing, ham-fisted amateur.

[RuffRoad]

Here is a tip that may help during valve adjustment: Most of us do not have a feeler gage 0.001" thick (minimum clearance specified on the intake valves). Here is a way to approximate that small of a clearance measurement.

The valve adjuster screw on the GZ250 (at least on my 2007 model) has the following thread measurements:
Major diameter of valve adjuster screw = 4.81 to 4.83 mm (as measured by digital calipers).
Thread pitch of valve adjuster screw = 0.50 mm (as measured by standard thread pitch gage).

Doing the conversion math: 0.50 mm = 0.019685 inches. So, every full revolution of the valve adjuster screw will advance the screw 0.019 ". It follows that:

TURNS OF MOVEMENT
ADJUSTER OF SCREW (inches)
SCREW
1 0.019 68
1/2 0.009 84
1/4 0.004 92
1/8 0.002 46
1/16 0.001 23

Therefore, adjusting the intake valve to very light contact, followed by backing off the screw 1/16 of a turn will approximate a 0.001" clearance.

[raul10141964]

do not trust MRGZ250 he is spanning all the treads

[isaac]

I had "noise" in my top end and discovered a valve seat was so loose it could be taken out by hand. It likely had been dancing around in there every time the valve opened. That's a matter of miles before the seat cocks sideways, snaps a valve head and causes total engine failure. I caught it just in time.

And in case perusing these forums hasn't been example enough, these engines have a proclivity toward snapping valves in half and replacement heads are ludicrously expensive and very hard to find used. You'll be doing yourself a favor if you bite the bullet and spend the $30 worth of gaskets to open it up.

[Water Warrior 2]

I had "noise" in my top end and discovered a valve seat was so loose it could be taken out by hand. It likely had been dancing around in there every time the valve opened. That's a matter of miles before the seat cocks sideways, snaps a valve head and causes total engine failure. I caught it just in time.

And in case perusing these forums hasn't been example enough, these engines have a proclivity toward snapping valves in half and replacement heads are ludicrously expensive and very hard to find used. You'll be doing yourself a favor if you bite the bullet and spend the $30 worth of gaskets to open it up.
BRR! That made my blood run cold just trying to visualize that scenario. Over the years I have noticed the bikes that have valve failures are the bikes that spend their time at higher revs and speeds. Might be the 1st owner doing this and the next owner buys a potential problem that will eventually bite him/her.
All in all you made a good call and saved yourself a lot of grief.

[OldNTired]

I had "noise" in my top end and discovered a valve seat was so loose it could be taken out by hand. It likely had been dancing around in there every time the valve opened. That's a matter of miles before the seat cocks sideways, snaps a valve head and causes total engine failure. I caught it just in time.

And in case perusing these forums hasn't been example enough, these engines have a proclivity toward snapping valves in half and replacement heads are ludicrously expensive and very hard to find used. You'll be doing yourself a favor if you bite the bullet and spend the $30 worth of gaskets to open it up.
BRR! That made my blood run cold just trying to visualize that scenario. Over the years I have noticed the bikes that have valve failures are the bikes that spend their time at higher revs and speeds. Might be the 1st owner doing this and the next owner buys a potential problem that will eventually bite him/her.
All in all you made a good call and saved yourself a lot of grief.


High revs, higher speed (you forgot high temps) - is someone playing my theme song?
Luckily, mine is still running fine! :)