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Opinion: Will Cam bearings soften top end lifter noise?
- Z1Driver
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A friend of mine said not to worry because I'm used to hearing the more modern water cooled motorcycle engine. But I don't remember either the 74 or 7 900's I owned back in the day being so obnoxious. I grew up around mechanical lifters in various different motors from lawn mowers and tractors to high performance muscle cars. I Know mechanical makes more noise than hydraulic lifters. Hearing the different vids of running motors here doesn't compare to my noise.
This thing has been noisy ever since I bought in 2002. But now it's bothering me as I putt around town. So I was wondering if I bought new cam bearings if this would make it a little less sounding like a rod wants to come out. I want opinions before spending big bucks on something that won't help. If I was smart I would post up a video but I would have to go buy something that records both picture and sound.
I suppose at next valve check, I could check the bearing clearance with plastic gauge. When the cams were out, the bearings all looked similar with none of the half's appearing like it was excessively worn. Tim
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- Warren3200gt
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Could the noise be cam walk? I tend to doubt it's the came bearings but you never know.
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Carb's..I bought a complete set off flea bay. The guy I bought them from said the bowls had never been off. I figured I could probably get the "B" to work if nothing else. I got the carbs and found the main and pilot jets were unmolested by a screw driver. Looked like they had just come out of the package. The carbs were stored dry so I blew carb cleaner though the passages using the chart for a VM 28. I did a clear tube test and adjusted the B and C carbs to raise the fuel level slightly.
arbs in stalled on fairly fresh boots and then the original air box. The carbs were synced with a Moran Carb Tune. Pilot air was then set. Plugs burning an acceptable color bot too rich and not too lean. Gets me 45 miles per gallon going up hill or down. I sent the guy an email and thanked him for a nice set of carbs. He emailed back and said he has a red 75 900 and in 77 he decided to put bigger carbs on the bike. He took the original set off and they sat on the shelf until I bought them.
Went out and started the bike while cold. I can hear the noise at idle and then just above idle. At about 3k the noise can no longer be heard. COLD. I will have to check it hot and get back. But I'm thinking since I hear it just around town at no where near 3K it probably does it hot too. At Highway speeds I don't hear any ticking for some reason. Runs good.
When the head was off, it got 4 new unbent intake valves all new guides and seals, springs and keepers. Doesn't sound like a loose cam chain either.
Thanks guys.. Maybe elimination will help. Tim
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The motor or head has not been bead blasted. Not that I haven't thought about it. I don't recall seeing a bucket without a good supply of oil with the valve cover off. If one was dry or had little oil I would more than likely be drawn to that. Turning the motor over usually ends up with a mess. But next time the cover is off I will make a note to specifically look at the oil in the buckets. Tim
Good point. Pit Stop Performance originally rebuilt my engine, it was a complete destruction, but one of the issues was cylinder head oil galleys plugged solid with blasting media. Several cam bearings had no oil feed at all.
Try this.... Get a mechanic's stethoscope (I'm sure you can get one for under $20). Instead of using the metal probe, remove it, and move the stethoscope around the engine with just the open tubing facing the engine. This is a good method to narrow down the location of a noise.
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My 1975 Z 1 B 900 Project
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/605133...ears-deep-sleep-mode
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