Engine Tapping Is Loud

[Varooom]

Sure it knocks after sitting for months and you hear it more than you would a car because the engine is between your knees.  I find earplugs work well!  Adjusting lifters is for the crotch rocket crowd and costs a bundle or an afternoon's worth of time every 6000 miles.
Varooom

[Meridious]

My Drifter 1500 (2002, 6,000 miles) scared the beheebies out of me after being parked on the kickstand for about 3 months. I leveled her up, started her up...and the knocking just about gave me a heart attack.

I shut it down and changed the engine oil and filter (being sure to load the filter with oil before installing it. It's messy, but it helps). The engine knock was still there...
It was a holiday, but thankfully my Kawasaki dealer/shop was open. By the time I got there, the knocking had disappeared.

He unofficially said a lot of the things I hear about these particular engines:

1. They make a LOT of engine noise
2. They will knock from a number of issues
3. It can be piston slap
4. It can be caused (usually for those who hear it only when the engine is strained or when you throttle it quickly) by low octane gas.

He could not tell me the cause for mine...but I still fear it might be the crankshaft bearings not having oil. He told me to "ride it." He said that many folks come in with a fear of that (or similar knocking that he usually cannot replicate in the shop) and that his advise is to keep on trucking.

I've been riding it for many months now, and only on the rare occasion do I hear that knock, and it never lasts long enough to take the bike to the shop to have them listen.

So...I just ride....

[kennhiser]

I only get that ticking at high speed and RPM (i.e. up hill in a head wind). Same issue you think?

[mikewagner]

My 2000 1500 was tapping pretty loud.  I read some of the forum posts and decided to try Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w-50w synthetic oil.  The post said you could get it at wal mart, but not here, I called around and no auto parts or motorcycle shop had it.  I finally found it at amazon. com.  I changed the oil and the noise stopped, it is much nicer to listen to.  Thumpty thumpty instead of tickety tickety.

[hap123]

Yes, sometimes its quiet and sometimes its loud. Seems more and more its becoming  loud . If the lifters aren't getting pump up with oil, what is the fix ? ? ?

Thanks Hap

[pcnorton]

Could be the hydraulic lifters aren't getting pumped up with oil. Does it go away sometimes?

Paul

[hap123]

Thanks for the reply, I do use high octane all of the time.  I will try and find others to get an opinion and the shop.
Thanks - hap

[chief]

Vulcan engines can get loud. You best bet is to take it to a KAWASAKI mechanic experienced with Vulcan engines and have them  listen to it... or get with a local group of Vulcan riders and get their opinion. Ensure you are using the proper octane fuel as well. Mine knocks pretty loud when I use lower octane (87) fuel.

[hap123]

Hello to all,
I had my 01 1500 Drifter for two years and it has 11K miles on it,  When purchase it had 5K miles on it. I have done regular maintenance including changing the oil. actually I have changed the oil at least 3 times.  I was riding this year and  the engine  tapping got loud.  Remind me of my mothers sewing machine.  I pulled over and had it towed to my mechanic's shop. He changed oil and filter again and said it OK.  Told me a story about how loud his Harley gets. Well the tapping is still to loud for me and that was over a 1K miles back. I recently had the clutch rebuild and the oil was changed again.  I changed the oil again and used 20-50W  someone suggested that it was might help to use a heavier oil . . . . Wrong ! !
If this was a car you would say the valves are tapping way to loud as if they where not getting any oil.  I am new to motorcycles, this my second year riding  and first bike.  Is it suppose to tap loud like that ? ?.  I have Vance and Hines Long Shots  and the valve tapping is almost as loud as the pipes, when I'm cruising, the pipes are quiet but the tapping is there.  Is this normal? ?
Thanks - Hap