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Can anyone help me diagnose this??

1437 Views 26 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Ruddroo
https://www.reddit.com/r/klr650/comments/xkrbd6
I have been scratching my head on this and cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong. I was hoping to go on a ten day trip in a week or so but if it's not just a simple fix I'm overlooking it'll have to wait to save the pig. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
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...Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
What is "this"? You're going to have to explain because whatever reddit you're linking to is problematic because it is using too many resources. Otherrs may be able to see it, but I can't.
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Apologies, Tom. I tried to attach a video of the engine running and it was too big for a direct attachment so I tried putting the link to Reddit where I was able to post it. I have a higher pitched knock and the engine doesn't sound right. It's hard to describe without the video. Is there another way to attach the video? What's the length requirement on videos?
Apologies, Tom. I tried to attach a video of the engine running and it was too big for a direct attachment so I tried putting the link to Reddit where I was able to post it. I have a higher pitched knock and the engine doesn't sound right. It's hard to describe without the video. Is there another way to attach the video? What's the length requirement on videos?
I just tried a different link and it auto embedded again so I deleted it.
See if this works better. That is a strange sound!

You should definitely stop running that engine till you get to the bottom of it. Never heard anything like that but does appear to be internal. @pdwestman will be along anytime now.
I say one of the two chain drives inside , cam or balance, is talking. Or is the bash plate secure and tight? Also check header pipe and muffler , secure and tight. Good luck, let us know what it was.
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I can't tell much from the YT video either. I hear more whine than knock.

But I'll ask if you had the LH engine cover & flywheel OFF just before the noise started? If so, the starter ring gear may be jammed & therefore spinning the starter motor WAY Faster than it will survive.

Normally when the starter stops turning, the starter clutch disengages from the flywheel and all 3 starter gears remain stationary along with the starter motor.
Flywheel tapers MUST BE installed Clean & DRY, otherwise they may slide further together than Normal, jamming against the washers and ring gear drive stub.
Thanks for the help tdf! I was also thinking that the cam or balance chain is really loose and rubbing against the inside somewhere so I checked the tensioner and it seemed to be working properly. I only took of the LH engine cover with the stator attached I did not take off the flywheel because I don't have the tools to do so. The noise started when I was doing part of the TAT a few months ago and I decided to come home because of it. It HAS felt/sounded like the bike has been running at a higher RPM than what the tach says, so how should I go about checking the starter ring gear? Also, properly checking the tension and condition of the two chains inside? I think I am going to put a new crush washer on the header pipe just to rule that out.
Thanks for the help tdf! I was also thinking that the cam or balance chain is really loose and rubbing against the inside somewhere so I checked the tensioner and it seemed to be working properly. I only took of the LH engine cover with the stator attached I did not take off the flywheel because I don't have the tools to do so. The noise started when I was doing part of the TAT a few months ago and I decided to come home because of it. It HAS felt/sounded like the bike has been running at a higher RPM than what the tach says, so how should I go about checking the starter ring gear? Also, properly checking the tension and condition of the two chains inside? I think I am going to put a new crush washer on the header pipe just to rule that out.
That’s not an exhaust noise.
You only revved it while you were on the left side. Did you notice if it seemed to be coming from left ie. was the right side quieter when revving?

Clutch is working normally?

Not overheating?
Have you replaced the doo yet? If not, then you have a good reason to pull off the left side cover, and replace it while you're in there. It sounds to me like the sound is coming from there anyway.
The noise started when I was doing part of the TAT a few months ago and I decided to come home because of it. It HAS felt/sounded like the bike has been running at a higher RPM than what the tach says, so how should I go about checking the starter ring gear?
If the noise began when you were riding it & you road it home it is Probably NOT the starter clutch ring gear turning the starter motor. The starter motor would NOT have been able to survive the rpm created by highway speeds, imo.
If one uses a 19mm socket on the flywheel bolt & turns the engine in normal direction of rotation (CCW) one SHOULDN'T hear any starter noise.
But if one turns the engine backwards (CW) one will normally hear the whirr of the starter gears & starter motor being spun by the starter clutch & ring gear. Shifted into 2nd or 3rd gear and rolled backwards should make the same noise. And no starter noise when rolled forward.

But if your engine still has the OEM extension spring in the balancer tensioning system you may have an issue with that system.

Did you disturb the Cam Chain Tensioner in any manner just before your trip? If Not, then it probably is not the source of your current noise either. That tensioner has been Very Reliable when Properly removed & reinstalled.
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So the clutch side does make some noise but its not abnormal. It does get quite hot to the touch though.

I have not personally done the doo but im pretty confident the original owner did because it has the torsion spring on it and not the stock. Also, I do not hear any starter noise when turning the engine CCW with a socket.

The only thing I did before my previous trip was check the tensioner and did the adjuster. I was thinking of taking it back apart and seeing if I could see any indication that the chain was rubbing or slapping against something. Would it be possible that the woodruff key could have been bent or something causing anything to be off balance? I'm completely stumped here.
Would it be possible that the woodruff key could have been bent or something causing anything to be off balance?
Only if the installer of the doo & torsion spring did something WRONG!
Do you think trying a manual chain tensioner would be a bad idea? Maybe the spring in the automatic isn't giving it enough tension anymore? Causing it to slap and rub things on the inside?
Do you think trying a manual chain tensioner would be a bad idea? Maybe the spring in the automatic isn't giving it enough tension anymore? Causing it to slap and rub things on the inside?
I doubt it, that spring is strong.
I would open it and find the issue.
One can remove the top cap plug & spring from the cam chain tensioner & insert a screwdriver. Hold a little pressure on the screwdriver & start the bike. If the tensioner is/was functioning properly the screwdriver may barely move In & Out, or not at all. It works on sliding ratchet teeth to keep it from re-extending.

If not functioning properly the screwdriver will chatter back & forth a Fair bit.
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So I took the tensioner out and extended it one click, then reinstalled so that it gave a little more tension on the chain. It quieted the left side up alot and helped with the whine. I will try the screwdriver method and look for any chatter. Has anybody had experience with a manual tensioner? Or should I replace the spring on the stock? It seems like it wasn't giving it enough pressure to take up all the slack.
Ruddroo: did you remove the tensioner and release the spring according to the manual? You are supposed to compress the tensioner ratchet, then install the tensioner body first, then install the spring into it. If you did that, I don’t understand how you “extended it one click, then reinstalled.”

Stuffing the spring back into the tensioner requires a fair amount of force, and it has a tendency to try to push out sideways. If it seems too flimsy, measure it’s free length and post that here.

Paul or Tom or anyone: do you know what the spec is for free length? (I don’t have my manual handy).
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