noise from right side

[ray82609]

I have an 03 r1150r and I have a tapping sound or the right side after the engine is warm. It's a clack, clack sound not a clock, clock sound. I don't suspect a wrist pin because of the sound. I thought it was a lifter but I adjusted the valves and it's still there. It's only after it's warmed up. There is some slop in the throttle body but this is a different sound. Anybody have any ideas what it may be?
-Ray

[towerworker]

My first guess would be possibly the cam chain tensioner?

Boxermania and CycleRob---------------where art thou? We need your words of wisdom!

[CycleRob]

ray82609,

If it is a weak camchain tensioner there is an easy test.

1--With a hot engine at idle, slowly increase the RPM's to 4,000 revs in a span of about 5 seconds. As you slowly increase the RPM's, listen to the clattering noises. If it gets louder and quieter in waves 2 or 3 times before 4.000, occurring at the same observed RPM, it's the tensioner. You can repeat the test a few times to reveal and confirm that the sound is changing from loud to quiet 2 or 3 times in the 5 second timespan.

2--If the RPM increase from idle to 4.000 RPM's produces a steady noise of uniform volume, it is in the valve train. The problem will be a galled cam bearing, cam lobe or lifter (extremely rare in Boxer motors) caused by lack of lubrication or severe overheating.

Other possibilities are a worn connecting rod bearing. Rod bearing knocks are loudest at higher speeds (over 2500 RPM). Feathering the throttle on/off will result in a distinctive knocking sound between 2500 and 3500 RPMs and only heard when the engine is under the light power load required to increase it's RPM's.

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