Possible Cam Chain or engine noise? Please help

557 Views 13 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Slorg442, May 14, 2022

creedspeed

Discussion Starter · May 13, 2022

Hello, 2008 zx6r, this has about 17k miles on it, bought this bike, sounded good, put a quieter exhaust on it and now I can hear some noise. if someone wants to just settle my mind and tell me these noises are fine, or tell me I should take it to a shop.
I was googling this, it may be a cam chain tensioner noise and people suggested putting the bike in 5/6th gear, turning bike off, and rolling it 6 feet back and then dropping the clutch?
Don't think I need to do this but just looking for advice, here are the video links

2008 zx6r noise when cold

youtube.com

when bike was cold

2008 zx6r after warmed up
after a little ride

any advice is helpful!

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92Ninjas

· #2 · May 13, 2022

creedspeed said:
Hello, 2008 zx6r, this has about 17k miles on it, bought this bike, sounded good, put a quieter exhaust on it and now I can hear some noise. if someone wants to just settle my mind and tell me these noises are fine, or tell me I should take it to a shop.
I was googling this, it may be a cam chain tensioner noise and people suggested putting the bike in 5/6th gear, turning bike off, and rolling it 6 feet back and then dropping the clutch?
Don't think I need to do this but just looking for advice, here are the video links

2008 zx6r noise when cold

youtube.com

when bike was cold

2008 zx6r after warmed up
after a little ride

any advice is helpful!

Make sure you guys listen to this with headphones on. Couldn't hear what sounds like the cam chain rattling through laptop or smartphone speaker.

You could try that 5th/6th gear trick. Personally, I would take the CCT out. Reset it to zero(loosen the middle bolt until it allows you to bottom the shaft against it's base). Reinstall it (leaving the middle bolt loose still). Then tighten down the middle bolt. It's what I did on my 93 zx7. The automatic CCT is no different in design between these two bikes.

OR

You could just replace the automatic CCT with a manual CCT from a company like APE. You'll need to add checking/adjusting the CCT into your regular maintenance whenever servicing your bike. But, you wouldn't have the unexpected annoyance of having to manually adjust an automatic CCT when it doesn't automatically adjust. Oh, the irony.

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Slorg442

· #3 · May 13, 2022

Might be the valves. When was the last valve train maintenance? Loose cam chain noises don't go away after warming up, and from what I have heard on my bikes, chains are louder and have a slapping sound. This sounds like tapping.

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creedspeed

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 13, 2022

Slorg442 said:
Might be the valves. When was the last valve train maintenance? Loose cam chain noises don't go away after warming up, and from what I have heard on my bikes, chains are louder and have a slapping sound. This sounds like tapping.

I have no idea if anything has been maintained tbh on this bike, it's new to me, does it sound like a valve noise or just a loud radiator fan?

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Slorg442

· #5 · May 13, 2022 (Edited)

creedspeed said:
I have no idea if anything has been maintained tbh on this bike, it's new to me, does it sound like a valve noise or just a loud radiator fan?

Unplug the radiator fan and listen to a cold start ~~and while hot. Don't cook your engine.~~ Most fans don't kick on until a certain temp.

Edit: Your noise goes away at operating temp. So a cold start should be enough to eliminate the fan.

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creedspeed

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 13, 2022

creedspeed said:
I have no idea if anything has been maintained tbh on this bike, it's new to me, does it sound like a valve noise or just a loud radiator fan?

I’ll try this later, I took it to a shop and just had them listen to it, the guy said it was normal lifter tick and not to worry. Sound about right for these bikes?

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Slorg442

· #7 · May 13, 2022

creedspeed said:
I’ll try this later, I took it to a shop and just had them listen to it, the guy said it was normal lifter tick and not to worry. Sound about right for these bikes?

If the noise stayed the same regardless of the temperature, then I would agree. However, your bike has 17k miles, and when the metal expands, the noise goes away. I am not an engine builder like a few of the guys on here, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

I would consider some maintenance just for piece of mind at 14k+ rpm. Valvetrain shims, cam chain guides, clutch, brake pads, fluids, any of the wear items. I tear down every used bike I buy to a certain degree, just so I know what degree of sketch I am dealing with.

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creedspeed

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 13, 2022

Slorg442 said:
If the noise stayed the same regardless of the temperature, then I would agree. However, your bike has 17k miles, and when the metal expands, the noise goes away. I am not an engine builder like a few of the guys on here, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

I would consider some maintenance just for piece of mind at 14k+ rpm. Valvetrain shims, cam chain guides, clutch, brake pads, fluids, any of the wear items. I tear down every used bike I buy to a certain degree, just so I know what degree of sketch I am dealing with.

I honestly hear the sound the same amount when the bike was warmed up? I’d be down to taking it down to that, I’m comfortable with doing sprockets and axles myself but not anything cam shafty at this point,
But yeah I hear it also when the bike was warmed up, same sounds and all

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creedspeed

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 13, 2022

Like I brought it to the shop warmed up and he heard it then; maybe I’m missing a different sound you’re hearing?

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92Ninjas

· #10 · May 13, 2022

creedspeed said:
I’ll try this later, I took it to a shop and just had them listen to it, the guy said it was normal lifter tick and not to worry. Sound about right for these bikes?

What lifter? I looked at a parts fische and watched a YT video on checking valve clearance for this bike. I don't see a lifter anywhere. Your motor has the same design as my motor. Shim under bucket design with the cams being held in place by brackets. On an older motor; like early to mid 90s; yes, some of those motors had a followers. These newer motors do not. I'm with @Slorg442 on this one. Valves should be checked and adjusted accordingly. Personally, I would replace the OEM CCT with the aftermarket APE Manual CCT. 2 birds, 1 stone.

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Slorg442

· #11 · May 13, 2022

creedspeed said:
I honestly hear the sound the same amount when the bike was warmed up? I’d be down to taking it down to that, I’m comfortable with doing sprockets and axles myself but not anything cam shafty at this point,
But yeah I hear it also when the bike was warmed up, same sounds and all

The second video you posted does not have the same sounds. But you were not recording as close or in the same place. A comparison needs to be as similar as possible, especially for some random guy on the internet like me trying to provide an opinion.

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creedspeed

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 13, 2022

Didn’t really specify which lifter; maybe he was talking out of his ass. but yeah the second video the tick is a lot quieter because of my camera location

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creedspeed

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 14, 2022

Slorg442 said:
The second video you posted does not have the same sounds. But you were not recording as close or in the same place. A comparison needs to be as similar as possible, especially for some random guy on the internet like me trying to provide an opinion.

Hey so I realized it’s only like $300 to have a shop do this for me; any suggestion of what else they should do with the engine open? The manual cct? Anything else?

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Slorg442

· #14 · May 14, 2022

creedspeed said:
Hey so I realized it’s only like $300 to have a shop do this for me; any suggestion of what else they should do with the engine open? The manual cct? Anything else?

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 599cc (2007-2012) Maintenance

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 599cc (2007-2012) Maintenance Schedule and scheduled service intervals. Including valve checks and other regular services.

maintenanceschedule.net

Slorg442 said:
I would consider some maintenance just for piece of mind at 14k+ rpm. Valvetrain shims, cam chain guides, clutch, brake pads, fluids, any of the wear items. I tear down every used bike I buy to a certain degree, just so I know what degree of sketch I am dealing with.

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