929 valve noise

oconnor · 04-01-2007, 9:49 PM

I just started my 929 after the winter and I think Im hearing a new noise out of the valve train. Bike has 50000kms and I have never adjusted the valves. Do any other people hear any valve noise on there 929s. Mine sounds like it coming from the stator side of the engine and it is not really that loud. It might have always been there and maybe im just listening to hard.

CBR929RE · 04-01-2007, 11:15 PM

929/954s have fairly noisey valvetrains anyway. but at 50000kms have you ever had the valves checked?

lilrippy · 04-01-2007, 11:29 PM

make sure it is coming from the valves, timing chain is known to go on them

oconnor · 04-02-2007, 12:07 AM

I had the tensioner go on my 750 gix and the noise wasnt rythmic like a valve noise, it was eratic. But you never know Ill check that out. Where is the chain on the 929?

oconnor · 04-02-2007, 12:09 AM

I never had the valves checked. I bought the bike with 22000 and am unsure if the previous owner did them.

Travis94ZX · 05-14-2007, 5:10 PM

The chain is on the Clutch side of the engine. I am experiencing the same noise after i had an engine built. I had a new tensioner and guide put in the bike. DID NOT FIX IT! The sound on mine is also coming from the stator side of the motor up toward the head.

machinehead · 05-14-2007, 7:11 PM

don't they all rattle a bit?

oconnor · 05-14-2007, 8:43 PM

From what I hear they all rattle a bit but mine went away after a few good runs this season.

*ratchetman* · 05-14-2007, 9:23 PM

mine has a tick

Travis94ZX · 05-14-2007, 11:34 PM

IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! TAKE THIS AS MY (ALMOST) CATISTROPHIC SACRAFICE TO ALL OF YOU FIREBLADE OWNERS!!!

I want to share this story with all motorcycle owners that have OHC bikes.

I had a motor built from 929 one month ago. I noticed the second I got the engine back in the bike it had a very distinct tick/tapping noise. The dealership said it was a cam chain problem. After spending $200 on trying to trial and error the problem (not suggestive) this was not the case.

Further speculation lead me to believe it was a noise coming from the head. After pulling the valve cover off for the 5th time and finally removing the cams. We found that the #1 valve on #4 cylinder was about to drop into the cylinder due to a back valve retainer and cotter holds.

DO NOT take valve train noise lightly. It could cause something catastrophic such as my situation.

I feel that I am the luckiest person in the world to have caught this before something SERIOUS could have happened.

Let this be a lesson all motorcyclist especially myself that motorcycles are very high performance but at the same time VERY VERY VERY intricate and delicate peices of machinery.

machinehead · 05-15-2007, 9:10 AM

Honda's do not drop valves often, do they?!
(says he on his 4th Honda & total miles well in excess of 60,000 miles)

Suzuki's gsxr1000 on the other hand do if raced!!

Travis94ZX · 05-22-2007, 12:38 PM

No...the only reason a bike would drop a valve is if the valve was not inserted right (my situation) or if a valve check is not done at the appropriate time. If anything, Hondas maintain their valve clearance ranges longer than the suggested maintnance interval. It depends on several different factors (i.e. what type of oil you use, how hard the bike has been ridin, etc.)

A friend of mine has a 2004 CBR 1000 RR that he races and he did a valve check on it and they were perfect! Just make sure you are doing the valve checks...THEY ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!