XBR Rattle

[Rich_xbr500]

Hi everyone , just brought a D reg XBR500 so immediately joined the Thumper Club !!
The bike is far from perfect but I only paid a few hundred quid for it so am very pleased with it overall. It starts fine , pulls like a train and everything works .
The question I have is about a rattle that it has , when you start it from cold there is a distinctive  metallic rattling which I thought was from the top end , mysteriously the noise disappears once the bike warms up !
I have removed the rocker cover and all seems well , the rocker gear all seems nice and tight and the cam chain and tensioner are all solid.
I have changed the filter , drained the oil and replaced with Magnetec semi-synthetic . Interestingly when I first started it after changing the oil the rattle was gone but it started again after about 20 seconds ............. so does anyone have any ideas or experience that might be able to help me out please ?
Thanks in advance
Rich , Devon

[themoudie]

Welcome to the 'Madhouse' Rich, 

I've no experience of XBR's, so I shall make way for the plethora of experience from other quarters.

Being south of the Bristol Channel may have certain advantages when joining this contingent, as you will no doubt observe from perusing this site!   

There maybe enquiries about your fondness of Land Rovers, camping stoves, weather presenters and other general flim flam, go cannie and good health. 

My regards, Bill.

[JOOLZ]

It may just be the piston rattling in the bore before everything expands.

[blew]

My XBR does the same.I presume its the camchain,but since it gets quieter when hot,I haven't changed it yet.The piston in mine is tight (careful!) so it isn't the rings etc..

[Rich_xbr500]

Hi ,
Thanks for the suggestions , much appreciated.
I have looked at the cam chain (rocker cover off) and its all tight so don't think it's that .
As far as the piston goes is this a common problem with the XBR ? . I have had piston noise on 2 strokes but this was when I had broken rings and it never went away 
Anyone had rattles  from the starter gears / starter clutch ,this seems a complex set up to me so could this be the issue.

Thanks in Advance
Rich
Devon

[JOOLZ]

I think the piston has to expand in that big bore, mine was always a bit noisy when cold but fine when warmed up

[pete]

Hi Rich,
        Welcome to the mad house! Sad to see my old girl go but nice to see the effort you've put in so far to put her right.As for the top end rattle......SOLD AS SEEN!!! 
        I would go with Joolz with the piston rattle when cold, as on warmer days it always started a bit quieter. At least your MZ is still seeing a bit of action between projects. Enjoy....I certainly did!


                                                                                                                 Pete Walker

[guest1423]

Hello and welcome to the club.
 I run a SRX 600 single, the pistons like a small tuna tin, 3 3/4"= 95mm across. It takes time for it and the cylinder to expand and take up the slack. I`ve had brit singles that did the same. It sounds pritty terminal at first but you soon get used to it. As long as it disapears when up to working tempriture.

[themoudie]

Aye scarrottie,

Welcome, just keep an eye on your castenets! Oval bores, hardening seals due to age, within the oil pump, can also be the cause of your rattle.

As you suggest, clean oil, clean filter and a allow to warm through before thrashing, will all prolong the life of the piston. Big bore kits can also be a source of trouble if not bored correctly or the ring end gaps are incorrectly adjusted when assembled.

Good health for 2012 and safe journeys.

My regards, Bill.

[tommy]

hi rich i have 2 xbr s and they both rattle a bit when cold and have been left sitting for a while but its never been a problem ,they are great bikes and once you change the oil regular your bike will last i have put up 120,000 and 130 ,000 miles on courier xbr,s years ago  with no problems  ALWAYS CHECK your oil level before you go out on the bike  ALWAYS. the main bits they use are back brake shoes swinging arm bushes and use a good quality chain   ........tommy

[Rich_xbr500]

Hello again ,
Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions so far.
A bit more information which may help with a diagnosis ......
... I have fitted Honda VF500 clipons (which give me a much more up right riding position), consequently the bike has been sitting for over a week whilst I did this along with the brakes and a couple of new control cables .When I started it it was rattle free  BUT after about 5 minutes it started rattling again !!!!!! 
So do you think this rules out the piston expanding and would indicate something else , the oil pump maybe as was mentioned by 'themoudie' .
Your thoughts are most appreciated .
Rich
Devon

[SteveC#222]

Maybe a daft question, but are you sure the rattle is  definitely from the engine? the reason I ask is that mine developed a rattle once which sounded top end but on investigation turned out to be the tax disc holder vibrating against the fork leg ( fixed to the headlamp bolt). Just a thought before you start ripping things apart especially as you've been fiddling with bars n'things.

[richardeblack]

Hello again ,
Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions so far.
A bit more information which may help with a diagnosis ......
... I have fitted Honda VF500 clipons (which give me a much more up right riding position), consequently the bike has been sitting for over a week whilst I did this along with the brakes and a couple of new control cables .When I started it it was rattle free  BUT after about 5 minutes it started rattling again !!!!!! 
So do you think this rules out the piston expanding and would indicate something else , the oil pump maybe as was mentioned by 'themoudie' .
Your thoughts are most appreciated .
Rich
Devon

Hello Rich,
That is interesting.  My XBR rattles when cold, but not straight away.  It is quiet for about 5 minutes then rattles dreadfully but after another 5 minutes is quiet.  I am sure, however, that it is cam chain in my case and I can't spare the time or energy to do anything about it.  As long as it carries on running quietly when warm, I am not going to bother with it.  I had one which rattled like a can of bolts when cold but I finally stopped using it only when the spark plug broke off in the head after about 145,000 miles.  I wouldn't worry about it until something breaks.  I must add that I am speaking from the luxury of having about 5 engines in various states of completeness.
I would be interested to know if anyone has suggestions about why it should be quiet to start with.
Enjoy riding it.  keep topping it up with oil and oil changes and it will last nearly forever.
Cheers,
Richard.