Bottom End Engine Knock?

[Bucko]

I've been doing some more research and it's starting to sound like the reported noises that are from the rubber damper in the balance shaft going bad...

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1999-kawasaki-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500j-crankshaft/o/m149609sch80855

Part #92160 & 92160A ...there are 8 of them and if they go bad/get hard that's when you hear the noise according to other forums...

The manual basically says it's a full tear down to replace so I'm done thinking about it...if it grenades then so be it...thanks for the advice...

Frank

Stumbled upon this tread by accident and commenting only for future reference......

Replacing the balancer dampers definitely does NOT require a full tear down.  All that's required is pulling a few engine covers to access the dampers.

[cptarmy2002]

I've been doing some more research and it's starting to sound like the reported noises that are from the rubber damper in the balance shaft going bad...

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1999-kawasaki-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500j-crankshaft/o/m149609sch80855

Part #92160 & 92160A ...there are 8 of them and if they go bad/get hard that's when you hear the noise according to other forums...

The manual basically says it's a full tear down to replace so I'm done thinking about it...if it grenades then so be it...thanks for the advice...

Frank

[pcarrell]

Mine always makes a little more noise when it comes time for an oil change.

[cptarmy2002]

It's idling at 1050 right now...I'm not overly concerned but my mechanics ear notices "the presence of the abnormal or the absence of the normal" so to speak...at this point, I only paid $2K for the bike and prolly have another $1.5K into it for tires, cosmetic touches, progressive suspension (front & back), the PCIII and the seat & leather trim...It's a nice bike but if the bottom end grenades, then it's game over...I don't have the time with a 6 month old to rebuild it myself and I'd be underwater if I had a bike shop do it for $3K ish...? Thoughts?

[Troll]

Idle speed should be 1,000 rpm. They make some funny noises if they are idling too low. I suspect it might be decompressor spring noises you are hearing.

[cptarmy2002]

Hey - Things are fine but I've started to notice different sounds from the bike.

1999 w/ 39K - bought at 24K 2 years ago so I've done all the PM and more; K&N, longshots, Pwr Cmdr.

Did the cam chain extenders early last summer and I've started to notice a strange difference this last few months.

1) At idle, in neutral it seems like the bike shakes a little more and it's almost like a "knock sound "coming from the bike...I've got it set at a decent idle so it's not that it's dying out from a slow idle. Once I put the bike in gear and get moving there is no change to the performance and or sound of the bike...

I do a fair amount of low speed driving since I'm in Washington DC, and I'm hoping that this is not a symptom of crank bearings going bad...?

Thoughts?

Frank