GS1100GK engine rattle at low revs

[DevonAndy]

Hi from a newby and my first post. I have a 1100GK that has been stood a few years that I am recommissioning.
The bike is very tidy and has 20k miles on the clock which looks genuine. I have changed the oil, filter, plugs and flushed the carbs with clean fuel to start the bike. Everything appears in good order except a loud rattle (probably made worse by the fairing amplifying the noise). The rattle disappears as the revs build. Any suggestions what the problem might be? I am thinking its the cam chain and maybe the tensioner is sticking after the long stand up? Is there a way of checking without starting to strip down the top end engine? The engine ticks over fine and picks up ok but it might also be the carbs need balancing.

[Charlie G]

All I might offer is that you review the how the Cam Chain tensioner is set. Most GS's I've looked at have been set wrong. Somehow people haven't learned to look up setting them properly. If you don't have a manual look here to download one.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/ or ask the hooligans here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/uksuzukigsowners/

I was in Dorset last year in July and Damn it was hot!! Welcome and Cheers on the great bike!

[gustovh]

Hi and welcome, the first thing that I would do is check all the basic stuff. Check the valve clearance and at the same time you can check the timing chain and see if it is set properly. This allows you to get an eye on the top end and se it,s condition. With the valve cover off it makes it easy to check the oil pump action, just pull the plugs and crank the engine over and watch the flow. After all that check the sync by the manual. If everything is in good order, your bike will run like silk and hav gobs of power.

Cheers

V

[Redman]

DA, Welcome to TheGSR.

Just how low of rpm idle are you talking about?

CAm chain tensioner can be checked and reset without any tear down.
(am not finding good link to any procedure at the moment).

Do introduce youself some more.
Pic of GK would be nice.

.

[850 Combat]

I have had carbs so out of synch that the primary gears rattled a lot. Charlie, my cam chains are probably messed up. Hey, there is a knob...Why not try twisting it?

[DevonAndy]

image.jpg

Thanks for all the advice.
Here is a picture of the bike I purchased about a year ago, it's an American machine and I need to get it MOT Tested to go through the import registration process. The picture flatters the bikes condition a little, the seat cover has a couple of small tears the tank has some small dents and marks, the forks don't hold air and all the usual things like perished tyres from a long lay up. I intend to get the bike in good roadworthy condition and then put a few miles on her with the fairing to see how I get on with it. In truth I won't be doing many long tours so I suspect I will remove the fairing and put a small screen on to off load all the fairing weight from the front wheel and make the bike less top heavy.
Charliee G, I live in the county next to Dorset,we had a great summer last year and I am hoping there is a repeat this year. Thanks for the links, they are really helpful
After listening and looking at the engine again my intuition is the primary gears are clattering at low revs due to the carbs being out of sync, the two right hand exhaust headers are much hotter then the left hand side.
I will put a few gently miles in on it and then adjust the carbs and valves which will hopefully smooth things out.

[DevonAndy]

image.jpg

Here is is a picture of the bike that started it all. I bought this in 84, fitted a Vetter type fairing and toured all across Europe and Turkey. The most comfortable reliable bike I have ever owned. I have an identical bike that has been laid up for a while that I will get back on the road for the summer.

[Charlie G]

https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=57182&d=1548576093[/IMG]

Charliee G, I live in the county next to Dorset,we had a great summer last year and I am hoping there is a repeat this year. Thanks for the links, they are really helpful
After listening and looking at the engine again my intuition is the primary gears are clattering at low revs due to the carbs being out of sync, the two right hand exhaust headers are much hotter then the left hand side.
I will put a few gently miles in on it and then adjust the carbs and valves which will hopefully smooth things out.

I came to Bournemouth hoping to see "ole Blighty" , not San Diego without air con. I had a grand time to the east of you. Sounds like you are headed in the right direction with the sync. Cheers!

[Admiral Beez]

Hi from a newby and my first post. I have a 1100GK that has been stood a few years that I am recommissioning.
The bike is very tidy and has 20k miles on the clock which looks genuine. I have changed the oil, filter, plugs and flushed the carbs with clean fuel to start the bike. Everything appears in good order except a loud rattle (probably made worse by the fairing amplifying the noise). The rattle disappears as the revs build. Any suggestions what the problem might be? I am thinking its the cam chain and maybe the tensioner is sticking after the long stand up? Is there a way of checking without starting to strip down the top end engine? The engine ticks over fine and picks up ok but it might also be the carbs need balancing.

I had a similar issue, see vids of my rattle here https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...48#post2498748

So I took the bike in to my local expert mechanic specialized in older Japanese bikes, and had the carbs synched, valves adjusted and the cam chain inspected and tension adjusted. And the bike still makes the clicking sound, but significantly less so. My mechanic says I need new carb boots, as he says when you spray a flammable aerosol onto the boots the engine picks up a little, suggesting an air leak that may be interfering with clean engine ops at low revs. Anyway, he says just to leave it and ride it.

[wymple]

Cam walk is an option. Not a problem, just a minor annoyance. My 70K 850 has it, and for a long time now. Goes away right off idle.

[zuluwiz]

I've had 2 gs1100e's and they both had that rattle. I always put it down to detonation, and once tried a colder plug for that. It did some good, didn't eliminate the noise altogether.

[rustybronco]

I'd remove and check the cam tensioner.

[bobgroger]

No one has mentioned the clutch basket? the GK has the same basket as the 1100e, they rattle all the time. First be sure the nut is tight, Then check for wear in the splines where the friction discs ride and loose\broken springs behind the basket.

[Nessism]

Another possibility is a rusted baffle in the muffler system. A friends 850 has that issue.

[DevonAndy]

A quick update on the rattle, after riding it a couple of miles to a garage for a UK MOT test the rattle has quitened a little. It seems to be around the clutch/primary gear area and is only audible at tick over. I am inclined to put a couple of hundred miles on the bike while keeping a close check on it making sure it doesn't get worse. The bike appears to have been stood for a few years so I expect it will take a while to settle down. thanks