1982 KZ440-A engine noise at RPM

Hello everyone. I have a 1982 Kawasaki 440 LTD that I picked up for $250 from a friend. The friend owned it for 6 years and rode it for the first two years he owned it, then the battery died and he stored it. I purchased the bike, cleaned it up, new battery, rebuilt the carbs, cleaned the tank, and prettied it up a bit expecting the bike to be able to start and go with minimal work. However, now that it's running it's knocking like crazy and has a slight chain noise at the rear of the engine (I assume the final drive chain). Here is a link to a private YouTube clip of the engine running for 14 seconds with revving to around 3500 rpm. I would love some opinions of what it is and what I should look for if I end up tearing it down, or if I should just find a cheap engine to replace it with. I appreciate any help that can be given.

Sounds like a rod. Check your valve clearance and cam chain tensioner first to eliminate those possibilities.
You could swap another engine. But that would be taking a chance on another bad engine. I would rebuild
what I had and then I know what I have. What pipe do you install on the bike?


.

BTW, that chain noise is not the final drive chain, your bike is belt drive. Could be cam chain, The crankshaft has a chain drive balancer and the starter is chain drive. They will make quite a clatter if the carbs and valves are not adjusted properly.

The primary is chain driven.


.

Nebr_Rex wrote: Sounds like a rod. Check your valve clearance and cam chain tensioner first to eliminate those possibilities.
You could swap another engine. But that would be taking a chance on another bad engine. I would rebuild
what I had and then I know what I have. What pipe do you install on the bike?


.

The pipes were on it when I bought it, I rattled them black.

The tensioner is automatic on this bike and the chain seems taught and the valves are in spec.

I'm thinking I may rebuild it so like you said I know what's in it.

The stock exhaust would have a muffler on both sides.
If you need some info on what can be done to the 440
look at the link in my signature.


.

I had a starter clutch come loose on my KZ1000. I'm sure it was similar to the one on your bike (even though yours is a chain driven starter). When that thing comes loose off the big magnetic flywheel on the end of the crank, it can make some ugly noises. Its more of a rattle than a knock though. You can get a pretty good look at the rods if you remove the oil pan. (saves the top end gaskets if its not a con-rod issue. alittle Side-to-side play is normal but in-out play is bad.