metallic knocking noise

[guest1819]

hi all im im wondering if you could help me please i have honda slr 650 runs fine but recently it's started making a sort of metallic knocking noise in the lower gears 1 2 and 3 i think it coming from the left-hand side it's as if something is spinning round and hitting something and it's coming from inside the engine i just hope it's not to big a job to fix cos i really love the bike  thanks for any help you can give

[themoudie]

Aye stee,

This may be of use!

Link to manual download: SLR650_manual

Also: Exploded_diagrams_prices

Wemoto, David Silver or your local friendly Honda dealer should have fiches and parts still for this beastie.

Check oil and filter for bits of steel, with a magnet.  if you have been 'plonking' the motor, you may have stripped teeth on the gearbox pinions, hence the knocking noises as the gears spin and don't engage with missing or chipped teeth.

Check that the alternator (generator) nut is not slack and the rotor is not slopping about on the taper with the woodruff key alone preventing it spinning. The woodruff key will let go and the taper will resemble the rough side of the moon! 

Check that the balancer weight and its drive are all secure. Check timing of balancer weight.

Check that the clutch centre nut and the nut retaining the primary drive gear on the end of the crankshaft, are all tight and tourqued to the correct value. Any slack here could result in catastrophic failure of the primary drive.

Whatever may be the trouble, STOP RUNNING THE MOTOR UNTIL YOU FIND THE FAULT!!!!!! If it locks up whilst you are riding it, it could be curtains!     

Sorry not to be more specific, but only you can hear the knocking.

I hope this helps. My regards, Bill.

[Steve Lake]

hey Bill.... the depth of your knowledge is bottomless!!
enjoy our best weather for a while this weekend
pip pip

[SRXweb]

This is a perfect "check-up before flight" list ...

[themoudie]

Aye SteveL and Bonjour SRXweb,

Thank you for your compliments. 

I just hope stee has a wee looksee afore riding again.

Will post separate blether.

My regards, Bill.

[guest1819]

thanks bill your a star these are grate links i you hit the nail on the head with gears but i been plonking it i don't think when i got bike i was told they didn't like the low revs so have tried not to labour it to much what ever it is making the noise it sounds lightweight and the knocking dose not go to the speed of the engine if you get what i mean it's more to the speed of the gearing and it's not constant it's like i set of and it starts knocking about 2 knocks per second i don't have a rev counter but i would say it starts knocking from about 2000 up to about 4 or 5000 then it stops i will start the strip down this week and keep you posted on the outcome in the mean time iv got my xjr to play on but it's not as much fun as the wee slr is on the twisty b roads and i definitely can't take it up the forest tracks thanks again bill top man

[guest1819]

as for local friendly honda dealer it's fifty miles away in carlisle and not so friendly unless your spending lots of dosh lol

[themoudie]

Aye stee,

Carlisle, 50 miles! Lakes, Pennines or over the Border? Being nosy and happy to be told to "S** off"! 

Spent a fair bit of time in the region and still do, with work and touring about. Grand place for a 650 single. As for the forest roads, my employer might not look favourably, but I'm going to say nowt. 

All the best with the strip down and investigation. I'm not going to make any predictions as to what you might find, but your description doesn't gladden my heart. I have never entered the 'guts' of a RVFC Honda motor, so they are a 'closed shop' to me. However, there are other members on the forum who have a wealth of experience inside XBR and Dominator engines and could be willing to advise.

I'll keep a watch.

My regards, Bill.

[guest1819]

hi bill nowt wrong in being nosy i live about 20 mile west of dumfries near a place called sandy hills if your ever over this way give us a shout n al get kettle on and as for the forest tracks i think it would be such a waste not to play on them and i hate waste specially when it's taken so much trouble to make the tracks hehe

[themoudie]

Aye stee,
Usually ploughing up and down the A75 to Newton Stewart, but visit Mabie now and again. Also worked in the block south of Auchencairn, just off the A711. Probably spending some time at Ae later this summer. I'll speak with some colleagues, who might have alternative local knowledge for engine building etc.
Thank you for your kind offer.
My regards, Bill.

[themoudie]

Aye stee,
Spoke with my 2 friends from the Castle Douglas area, both into various bits of exotica and also some mundane stuff. The advice that I was given, was to go and have a chat with Mckean Precision Engineering in Dumfries. At least one of the Mckean's is "into" his bikes, and a face 2 face would do no harm. Here are their contact details:

John Mckean
Precision Engineers in Dumfries
66-70  Annan Road
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
DG1 3EQ
Tel: 01387 253 091

I cannot give any warranty for them, but worth a try.

I hope this helps, with the rebuild.

My regards, Bill.