You’re riding along on your 2001 Honda CBR F4i, you’re up to operating temperature and you’ve been pootling on for about 10 miles.
You pull up at the lights and you suddenly become aware of a very very slight knocking sound - you pull the clutch in and it seems to go away! or at least not be so pronounced.
You do the same trip the following day and all is OK - doesn’t put a foot wrong. A week goes by and it happens again!
Basically, is it normal to have these hiccups? there seems to be no reason why it comes on and no reason as to why it disappears. I’ve since read up on others that have the same problem, but way way worse it seems and I’m wondering if I’m heading the same way? Are there any tests I can do EASILY!! to start eliminating possibilities?
To be honest, the noise is so slight and sporadic that I’m probably going to have to wait until it gets worse before its noticeable - or it might have gone away - Havent heard anything for ages now so it could have been just “one of those things”…i’ve always been a bit of a worrier!!!
46,000 miles - All services done via major dealer.
Last serviced approximately 1,000 miles ago - about 4months ago.
Dont know much else about the history of the bike as I only bought it a while ago - service stamps look genuine enough and guy i bought it off was genuine good guy.
I must admit, thats the first thing I thought about - its well known that CBR’s arent too great with their cam chain tensioners.
I was wondering how they work though - do they take up the slack? and if so, do they do it like a handbrake does in that it gets to a certain point and then it clicks into the next cog along and tightens up? That would explain why I havent heard it in a while - self adjusting to a point.
Hang on, i seem to remember seeing something somewhere which showed you how to adjust them so i guess they cant do it by themselves.
Know anyone cheap that can tighten/replace it CHEAP!!!
if my memory serves me the cbr has an automatic tensioner so fixing it won’t be on the cards. I replaced it on my old 2000 cbr and it got rid of the noise but came back after 1000 or so miles if you want it replaced shouldn’t be much more than £100.
F**K me I hope it is the tensioner, imagine how miffed i’ll be if I change it and the sound hasnt gone!!
Anyone out there with a workshop looking for some pocket money? Cant say i’ll be replacing it anytime soon but its worth taking names and numbers in readiness.
OK - Brilliant - the rattle does go when i pull in the clutch - so how much we talking?
I thought something was up with the clutch when i popped it up on the centrestand to lube the chain - had it in idle and in neutral but the rear still turned slightly!!! Until I adsjusted the clutch lever that is.
You should hear the noise Yamahas make when the clutch plates rattle in the basket…
Usually happens from cold and goes away when the engine oil warms up…Nothing to worry about and most bikes make a clutch rattle noise.
It’s even a selling point on Ducatis with their school dinner lady style dry clutch ting a ling…Sounds like its falling apart and if it’s not a late model Duc…
Bugger - does that mean it is the cam chain tensioner after all? why does it disappear when i pull in the clutch? Presumably because i’ve taken the load off?
As a rule cam chains rattle when the tensioners go, and so do clutches. I’d be inclined to get someone to have a listen to it before spending any money on it:cool:
Thats half the problem - its so sporadic that I never know when its going to do it. I’ll have to wait until its pretty much constant and then nip into the nearest garage. If i do this 3 or 4 times then i should start to get a consensus on what it is.
