noisy lifters?

moto · August 04, 2018, 14:49:53 PM

yeah, it is my Drifter nominal noise, hydraulic lifters clicking at cold but when these warming up, motor run smooth.
This ticking present almost 5-6 years and I am already quite accustomed to it

OR Seedman · August 04, 2018, 07:08:34 AM

my 1500 has 34K. the only known issue was the front bevel gear bearing, which I fixed....other than that, nothing out of the ordinary..

Pilgrim · August 03, 2018, 21:46:50 PM

How many miles do you have on your bike? May be the timing chain slappin'

Bucko · August 03, 2018, 21:36:16 PM

My ticking got noticeably worse after a spring start up a couple of seasons ago - it's quite loud at this point - way louder than it used to be. I don't have the Drifter out this year - but probably will next year at which point I'll post some audio - pretty sure it's not normal.

Troll · August 03, 2018, 10:05:12 AM

Mine is the same as it's always been. Same noises, etc. Going on 120,000 by the end of the month.

moto · August 03, 2018, 07:59:13 AM

There is no any worried about these ticking noises. Put new oil in motor and just drive hard! It' is my opinion.

Bucko · August 02, 2018, 20:34:40 PM

Quote from: OR Seedman on July 28, 2018, 07:52:21 AM
......but that's not really the noise I am talking about. There is always a background "ticking" on both cylinders even after warm up...and there is a low "knocking" sound that I can hear behind the air box at idle....I have spent a lot of time working on automobile engines and it almost sounds like a rod knocking....almost but not quite...just weird. Doesn't seem to have any effect on performance...even at low speed and in high gear the bike still pulls like a mother...and when the engine rpms get slightly over idle, it seems to go away....

This is my experience as well.

My ticking has gotten worse as the bike ages. Like I mentioned before, at this point, my theory is I have something wrong with the KACR unit. Have to pull the motor to take a look at this so not currently high on my list of priorities.

The 'knocking' (which as you mentioned sounds like a rod bearing) didn't used to be there but is there now - after a lot of research - could be something goofy with the vibration dampers which other 1500 owners have had problems with) I've got a new set of damper rubbers to go in but have been too busy with other bikes to get around to it.

RockinRollin · August 02, 2018, 09:53:24 AM

Engine sounds just like mine, I have aftermarket pipes so they are a little louder but nice to know that other engines sound the same like marbles bouncing around in there!

OR Seedman · July 30, 2018, 21:05:13 PM

mine might be a little louder than yours, but not much..I do have the aftermarket Thunder Air System, which seems to let some engine noise through, especially under acceleration ..I only had the 800 to compare it against, and the 1500 engine is way louder...Until I put the Roadburner exhaust on it, you could hardly tell the 800 was even running.....really a quiet engine....

moto · July 30, 2018, 05:02:57 AM

Here is my ticking noise when engine is gold:

https://youtu.be/VfYYe_urtTc

and here is video when engine is warm:

https://youtu.be/M614NwEccnI

I leave this what it is and I don't open my engine.

indue · July 28, 2018, 19:26:07 PM

I notice little noise at start up but I am wearing ear plugs. Do any of you guys use earplugs? I do. How often do you change the oil? Because, how clean the oil channels in the lifters are, could mean that the valves aren't getting enough oil. I just did a ride and the bike worked flawlessly from 75deg to 110deg (air temperature that is). And this motor is one of the quietest motors that I have ever had. I am working on my old Moto Guzzi and that has opposing cylinders set up in a transverse fashion with solid lifters. The bike is great but it is very noisy when cold. After it warms up it is a lot quieter...

Troll · July 28, 2018, 18:13:58 PM

ticking from the hydraulic units...common problem. http://www.vulcangadgets.com/files/newbie.html#expect
noises from the bottom end when the idle is too low..also normal. Mine ticks on and off when hot, and always from one rear hydraulic when the temps are below 70 degrees when I start it....It is, as the others have said, the way it is. As far as longevity, well...how's this?

OR Seedman · July 28, 2018, 12:20:42 PM

well...of it does crap out on me, I am only into it about $2k total with all the stuff I added to it...so I will just get another motor (maybe a 1600) and slide that in....other than the noise, it runs really strong, no oil burning or smoke and after 5k oil change (using Rotella synthetic) it still looks good and is quite clean....flushed the motor and nothing in the pre-filter screen either...So I'll take your advice since I practically did steal it...LOL

Old Drifter · July 28, 2018, 08:31:55 AM

I have the same noises. The light "ticking" (HLAs) seems to go away after warm up. The "knocking" seems to be noticeable only at lower idle RPMs. I have the stock exhaust so I can hear the noises quite clearly. I don't worry about the noises and just accept it as the "nature if the beast. As they say..."ride it like you stole it" and enjoy it.

OR Seedman · July 28, 2018, 07:52:21 AM

I can hear the idle soleniods at start up quite clearly as I have a Thunder tear drop air box with a K&N filter....but that's not really the noise I am talking about. There is always a background "ticking" on both cylinders even after warm up...and there is a low "knocking" sound that I can hear behind the air box at idle....I have spent a lot of time working on automobile engines and it almost sounds like a rod knocking....almost but not quite...just weird. Doesn't seem to have any effect on performance...even at low speed and in high gear the bike still pulls like a mother...and when the engine rpms get slightly over idle, it seems to go away....

Having had both models (800 and 1500), I have to say the for someone my size, the 1500 performance far exceeds the 800 in terms of low end grunt, hill climbing and passing ease. Still handles a bit like a tank in traffic compared to the smaller model, but that, to me, is a minor trade-off...

I just worry that the noise indicates I could be out on a nice long ride and my engine is going to take a major dump on me....I just don't know how well the previous owner took care of the maintenance....

Troll · July 27, 2018, 16:17:52 PM

The idle solenoids are in the right side airbox. They shut off after the engine has run a bit and started to warm up

moto · July 27, 2018, 09:39:01 AM

Quote from: chief on July 22, 2018, 11:30:10 AM
the cold idle solenoids make a racket. Many remove them as part of an airbox mod.

Hmm, good point. I think about it that solenoids is the point, because sound is coming
from the left side of the bike, near airbox.

Then if solenoids make these noises, is it dangerous to the bike?

chief · July 22, 2018, 11:30:10 AM

the cold idle solenoids make a racket. Many remove them as part of an airbox mod.

testpilot · July 20, 2018, 08:38:37 AM

The more I listen to mine when cold the more I think it's coming from the piston skirts slapping in the cylinders. When the pistons warm up, they expand, reducing the clearance between the skirts and the cylinder walls. It's not unusual for pistons to be machined slightly out of round by design. Once warmed, they expand to a round shape. Normal oil film on the cylinder walls acts as a cushion and prevents wear and damage. It seems to take about a minute for the noise to diminish to an 'acceptable' level. I've gotten used to it and have learned to love the sound as unique and as a sign that I'm about to get out on the open road.

moto · May 12, 2018, 10:26:10 AM

My Drifter 1500 sounds ticking noises also cold but when I drive little, sound disappear.
I think it is a hydraulic lifters.

I make a motor cleaner every oil change at autumn, so lifters don't jam so easily next summer.

Jobi · May 11, 2018, 16:10:58 PM

Same. All weird and funky noises go away once warm.

RockinRollin · May 11, 2018, 07:55:21 AM

Mine does the same. Sounds a little rough when cold but not too bad when warm. PM me your email regarding back rack when you get the chance?

OR Seedman · May 10, 2018, 20:07:37 PM

What i notice most is the noise I hear through the Thunder air cleaner....the lifters do quiet down a lot when it is warm, but I hear a noise at idle that almost sounds like a knocking (but not quite) behind the air cleaner ...and it goes away when the rpms go up over 1200

rawv · May 10, 2018, 18:55:34 PM

I've got a 99 1500 with 45,000 miles on it and yes when its cold its much louder but when it warms up it quites down a bit .

Bucko · March 31, 2018, 19:46:05 PM

My 1500 has been embarrassingly noisy since new, especially when cold, but the, 'all manner' of tapping, never really goes away even when hot. Seriously, Kawasaki should have done a better job and keeping the motor a bit quieter. The noise level seems to have gone up as the bike get's older - to the point where I'm thinking something is wrong in the head and my suspicion is the KACR is broken or