I continue to have an annoying tapping noise from the engine on my 2004 R1150RT.
I have adjusted the valves twice and rocker end play once and it hasn’t improved. I’ve changed the engine oil/filter, trans oil and final drive oil. The noise is nonexistent at cold idle, barely noticeable below 3000 RPM until at full operating temp and varies under load and/or throttle position (not really sure which and maybe a combination of both). It is more prevalent with the engine at full operating temperature. Sounds more to me like it is coming from the right side of the engine when sitting on the bike.
At first I thought it was valves out of adjustment, and then I thought perhaps a cam chain issue, but it it’s more of a hard tapping noise rather than a noise consistent with chain slap.
Anyone going to be at breakfast on Saturday morning this coming weekend who has a good ear, and perhaps some experience diagnosing noises in an oilhead?
The bike runs fine and seems to have plenty of power, but the noise has me concerned, especially since I plan to ride 2-up with my youngest daughter to Vintage Motorcycle Days at Barber in October…
Jeff
Well, It appears to be not so simple as throttle body shaft bushings… I pulled off the bodywork this morning and did a little investigating. I can put my finger on the throttle cable pulley on either throttle body and the noise does not change.
Here is a link to a video from each side where you can hear the knocking sound.
Left Side
https://youtu.be/oc5j2VBtwAs
Right Side
https://youtu.be/yofsvEc9DxQ
It also sounds like I may have some type of vacuum leak on the right side somewhere, so I’ll have to do a bit of digging on that.
The bike has 54,200 miles on it. The Cam Chain tensioners were replaced with the new style at 43,250 miles, so I am guessing that is not the problem.
I am beginning to wonder now if I might possibly have a bad pushrod. I know that the pushrod design involves a round end that is pressed into each end of the pushrod and that they can come loose and cause considerable noise.
Any other ideas from listening to these video clips?
Jeff
Pretty sure the suggestions about throttle body bushing/shaft wear are spot on. Found a YouTube video from Chris Harris showing the symptoms and the noise in that video matches the noise I’m hearing. I can’t believe how loud it is. I may end up ordering the rebuild kit from Beemer Boneyard or maybe a low milage used throttle body for a quicker fix.
Before I do either, I’ll pull off the right side body panel and see if putting my finger on the throttle shaft changes or eliminates the noise. Hopefully that’s all there is to the noise, as that would be a pretty simple fix…
sounds like throttle body noise, there’s a bushing at each end of the shaft that the butterfly is attached to, they wear and rattle. there;s a kit to rebuild them but very fiddly to do. i recently purchased a low mileage set of matching bodies off ebay for $35 each, came with injectors and airtubes. has a cam chain not a belt, only way to replace cam chain is to split the case, has an alternator belt though.
John
I would consider throttle bodies, put a screwdriver handle to your ear and touch the end of the driver to different parts of the motor, much like a stethoscope.
Then touch it to the throttle bodies. I have a 2002 R1150GS. The operation of the bike didn’t seem to be affected, just a noise and a pain in the ass.
I had replaced mine at 75,000 miles with some I got from Beemer bone yard, then had mine rebuilt.
The noise went away.
A part inside the throttle body wares and start making noise. Bing will have some answers for you.
You need to get someone who still owns an 1150 to listen to it. It may be normal. Do you hear it with helmet on, or with ear plugs? The absence of valve noise in some of the older boxers, could mean the valves were too tight.
Has cam belt ever been replaced? If so, how many miles since?
If very worried, may be time to open pocket book and ask dealer to inspect and advise.
Bob Conley
Alternator belt has been replaced not very long ago. Rattle can be heard with helmet on, earplugs in and music playing (custom earplugs with speakers) at low volume. I can turn up the music and ignore it, but that’s probably not advisable.
Unlikely to take it to the dealer. Would rather just tear it down and rebuild it myself, but if someone has experienced the same and can identify the source, it could save me some time…