Hey guys Recently my bike has a terrible metal grinding like noise/metal tapping screach at 10000rpm exactly. It's not a shallow engine whine it's definitely substantial and noticeable. Sounds like a grinder. More pronounced when laying off the throttle after revving to say 12000-13000rpm and the revs come back down to 10k. It's so painful to listen to =(. If I hold the throttle at 10k it's constantly there. Tapping grinding tapping grinding screaching tapping grinding. 11000rpm nothing there. 9000rpm nothing there. I'm really hoping it's just resonance from vibrations or maybe a loose bolt? I don't know where to start. Could it be valve clearances out of SPECK? never done a check and adjustment before. Bike is a 93'. 28500kms on the clock Cheers
Timing chain's can stretch and the timing chain tensioner's can go out of spec. Might be worth taking the rocker cover off and check for any grinding mark's inside the rocker cover.
Yep the zxr does not have a guide over the timing chain so if it is stretched or the tensioner is worn out the chain will rub against the cam cover. If you pull the cam cover off, make sure you inspect the chain guides down in the chain tunnel too.
Yep, if its that bad it means the cam chain is very loose. If it slips a few teeth kiss your engine goodbye. Get it sorted Asap !!
Cheers guys. Guess I'll have to take a look. Complete newbie here so if there are marks inside the cover what is the next step? Might be worth taking it to a mechanic as much as I'd like to avoid it... But if it's a pros job then I probably wouldn't trust myself.
Either the cam chain tensioner has gone out of spec or your cam chain has stretched. If it's rattling around that much I'd change both of them. Confirm exactly what's making the noise first. Could be something totally unrelated
Also check for things like loose bolts on heatshield of muffler. Sometimes a loose piece of bodywork can rattle at a certain revs.
Have had problems with a tensioner on a Balius before that was making rattling noise at idle this one is more at 10k and it's a high pitched grinding noise sounds like a metal grinder through a steel pipe. Almost sounds like I'm blaring the horn on the bike the whole time.. Guess I'll check the rocker cover and loose bolts . Cheers
Check that the horn isn't resonating, if that's the sound. But if it's grinding, there's good reason why everyone is suggesting the cam chain. Other checks might be the water pump, coil mounts on the frame or loose baffling in the muffler, as well as the suggestions above. But the cam chain is the place to start - I believe a chain or belt can get a wave pattern based on speed and sprocket diameter, meaning it might sprape in one place at one speed.
Bang on the money there Finally got around to getting it to a mechanic as I was, overseas at the time. Turns out it was some loose bits in the headers and exhaust.flanges. Basically took it apart to put it back together for an easy fix. No new parts required.