Engine Rattle

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by P.T., May 4, 2021.

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  1. P.T.

    P.T. New Member

    May 4, 2021
    15
    3
    Norway
    #1 P.T., May 4, 2021
    Last edited: May 4, 2021
    Hello
    I'm new to this forum and Triumph in general and I need some advice about engine rattle on my Street Twin.

    I bought it last year with 2 000 km on the clock from private person not a dealer. Its a MY 2019
    It was late october so I haven't drove it much and it went straight to winter storage.

    But long story short it has around 4 000 km now and I've noticed a pronounced rattle on when engineis cold. I think it was there last year when I bought it but since I've haven't drove it much so it is difficult to say.

    Rattle starts on cold start and lasts about 2-3 minutes until engine gets some temperature. Then goes away and everything is fine until next morning or cold start.

    Here is how it sounds (metalic knocking in the background)





    It seems like its coming from the top of the engine.

    As I mentioned I'm new to Triumph and I'm not a mechanic but I have more than average knowledge about how the engine works and something is telling me that it not right.
    Anny ideas or suggestions?
    Piston slap , valves , chain tensioner ? or it is just a Triumph thing and do not worry ?
    Thanks
     
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  2. joe mc donald

    Dec 26, 2014
    13,874
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    P.T.
    Do check you don't have a blow on the headers. I don't hear anything I would worry about and cold starting does labour the engine till it warms up and settles.
    Joe.
     
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  3. Iceman

    Iceman Crème de la Crème

    Apr 19, 2020
    1,980
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    Hi PT I agree entirely with what Joe says, the engine sound in number 2 video sounds normal, from listening it very much sounds like "blowing" and the header pipes may be the cause, it doesn't take much for an exhaust to leak gasses, mix up a solution of washing up liquid and pour some on each header in turn, if leaking the liquid will start blowing bubbles/froth, but make sure you get rid of all traces of the washing up liquid as it does negatively affect the finish.
     
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  4. P.T.

    P.T. New Member

    May 4, 2021
    15
    3
    Norway
    Thanks for tips guys. I will check it but I think it is just a video. There is no
    whistling around headers whatsoever. Bike i parcked under carpot and I think it is reflecting sound a bit.
     
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  5. Ducatitotriumph

    Ducatitotriumph Crème de la Crème

    Apr 25, 2019
    2,181
    1,000
    Rothwell
    Cam chain tensioner?
    I'm not sure of the engine layout but they rattle about a bit when cold/starting up etc.
     
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  6. Fábio Marques

    Fábio Marques New Member

    Sep 4, 2021
    12
    3
    Portugal
    Hello! Did you solve this problem? Mine is doing the exact same noise and people say that's a triumph thing.

    Thanks!
     
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  7. P.T.

    P.T. New Member

    May 4, 2021
    15
    3
    Norway
    I've delivered bike to a local dealer for winter storage and few day ago I've got message that thay found problem. It appeared to be a valve clearance on one of cylinders. Thay addressed issue and claim that it is OK now an it sounds like I should be. I've haven't hear it myself so I have to wait until spring next year to confirm so we will see.
     
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  8. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,936
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    I couldn't hear anything unusual in either video. I've just reshimmed the valves on my Street Scrambler (same engine) and all but 2 were below spec with no clearance at all on one inlet. Can't honestly say it was making any rude noises though, other than the harmless short cam chain rattle on start up that these engines seem to give.
     
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  9. P.T.

    P.T. New Member

    May 4, 2021
    15
    3
    Norway
    Well I've had a chance to compare it with several other ST at cold start and none off them rattled as mine. That made me believe tha something is going on.
     
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  10. Fábio Marques

    Fábio Marques New Member

    Sep 4, 2021
    12
    3
    Portugal


    @P.T. thanks for your reply.

    @Pegscraper what do you think about mine? This ticking noise on the background is very annoying. A couple weeks I went to the dealer to get a number plate that I ordered and I was planing to show them the noise. BUT, I got stuck in the traffic and bike warmed up a little. When I got there, the noise has just disappeared... When I came back home, the noise came back!!!
     
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  11. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,936
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    It's hard to judge from a recording but it doesn't sound any different to mine, other than maybe a small amount of tappet noise but I wouldn't call slight tappet noise a problem. Interestingly, mine seem to have have quietened after the re-shim which is strange as most were either too tight or at the lower end of the adjustment spec. I've tried using a mechanics stethascope to diagnose engine problems in the past but you need to be very familiar with an engine to know whats normal and what could be a problem as it can sound like the engine is falling to bits!
     
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  12. Fábio Marques

    Fábio Marques New Member

    Sep 4, 2021
    12
    3
    Portugal
    Thank you for your feedback! I'll investigate it a little bit more. Most of the people says that it's a "Triumph thing"... :D:D:D
     
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  13. Lewis3800

    Lewis3800 New Member

    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    3
    Devon
    Hi fabio
    Mine has returned from the garage after having that rattle checked. They adjusted the valves and said everything sounds normal. They gave it a clean bill of health apparently. Mine sounds worse than yours so if you do get it sorted please let us know what it was
     
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  14. Fábio Marques

    Fábio Marques New Member

    Sep 4, 2021
    12
    3
    Portugal
    This is what I got from a guy that said he was experienced with triumph engines for 25 years:

    "...Gears in transmission rocking agents each other. It normal some more so then others. It will quiet down after oil change. Use 10w 50 oil"

    You can check it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/385416414997562/posts/1597033817169143

    Next spring I'll go to the local triumph for service and I hope I can get more info about it. I will let you guys know about it.
     
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  15. nickjaxe

    nickjaxe Active Member

    Sep 2, 2020
    45
    28
    Cheshire UK
    #15 nickjaxe, Nov 1, 2021
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2021
    PT I have exactly the same rattle on my 900cc 2020 T100 Bonnie.

    Thank god I have found somebody with the same noise.....

    Took my bike to the dealer I bought it from new....said dont know what it is but dont worry as it goes when the engine warms up.

    To me that's crap.

    Please let me know how you go on.

    You garages story of it being a valve clearance I hope its that but......if it was why is it not there soon as the engine starts when cold.....

    Seems your rattle is just like mine only makes its self know after around 1 minute after a cold start.

    Lasting around 1 or 2 mins then slowly goes till the next cold start.

    I will post my email address.....could I ask if you could contact me so we can swap note on this problem.....nickjaxe at ntlworld.com

    I am in the UK.

    Nick.
     
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  16. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,936
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    #16 Pegscraper, Nov 1, 2021
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2021
    I forget how many noises I've stressed over on numerous bikes I've owned over the last 40 years which turned out to be nothing at all. I had a ZX10, in '88, that developed excessive top end noise which ended up having new valve train components under warranty but the noise was unmistakable. It's very easy to become paranoid and fret over the slightest tick or rattle which seems to get worse the more you worry about it! Nowadays, if I hear such a noise, I just think, feck it, I'll ride the thing, keep an eye (ear!) on it and see if it develops.
     
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  17. P.T.

    P.T. New Member

    May 4, 2021
    15
    3
    Norway
    That's a healthy approach
     
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  18. P.T.

    P.T. New Member

    May 4, 2021
    15
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  19. Fábio Marques

    Fábio Marques New Member

    Sep 4, 2021
    12
    3
    Portugal
    Hello @P.T.

    Thank you for your feedback. I just left mine at the mechanic to check the valves and I hope the problem gets solved!
     
  20. Fábio Marques

    Fábio Marques New Member

    Sep 4, 2021
    12
    3
    Portugal
    Hello to all!

    Unfortunately, the valve clearence is ok! The mechanic says that the noise is coming from the top of the gear box, just below the starter motor. He says from his own experience, that this can be normal and accepted, since some engines create "parasitic noises" (Very common expression we use here in Portugal for noises on cars or motorcycles that we can't explain). He also said, that several motorcycle models develop strange noises, especially in the clutch and that are very hard to remove. He contacted some friends he has in the triumph world and there isn't any reports about this.

    If I get more information, I'll post here!

    Regards

    IMG-20220517-WA0005.jpg
     
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