Kawasaki Concours Forum
Concours 1400 (C14) FAQ => C-14, aka Concours-14 GTR 1400 => C14 HOT Topics Index => Topic started by: connie14boy on April 12, 2012, 12:02:23 AM
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Hi, I'm the proud new owner of a 2009 Connie with just 5,500 miles. First thing in the morning, the bike makes a rod bearing rattle for 2 seconds before the oil hits. The oil and filter are new and proper amount in the window. The first owner says that it always did that when cold- I am a little rattled myself when I hear it. The dealer will probably say "they all do that". Any one else have this happen? Maybe I should try another filter brand, because the bike is losing the oil prime somehow after being parked overnite. The bike is out of warranty May 1st- Thanks for any suggestions
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Nothing to worry about. That is the cam chain tensioner. Takes a few seconds to wake up.
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Is this an auto hydraulic tensioner or does it need adjusting like on my other rides?
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Yep, it's hydraulic, no adj. needed.
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Sound is less if on the centerstand, my bike honestly barely does it at all however at 16k.
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I notice mine when I leave my bike in the parking lot (on the side stand) at work after sitting on a cold day. If I back it out of my garage and start it, I rarely even notice it. 44,000 on my 08.
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ZX14 guys that don't like the sound install a manual cam chain tensioner. Mine '10 has been making that noise from day one and its > 50,000 miles
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"they all do that"
LOL
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My 2010 does it also. I haven't noticed any difference side stand vs center stand. 99% of the time I get on the bike, stand it up and then start it so that should be equiv to the center stand. Still makes the rattle.
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It doesn't do it if you start it with the bike upside down.
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It doesn't do it if you start it with the bike upside down.
Or on it's side... ;)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01048-20120421-1648.jpg)
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:yikes:
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Or on it's side... ;)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01048-20120421-1648.jpg)
Here is mine on it's side also, except I am riding........................................... instead of trying to back down my driveway in flip flops after four beers. ;D
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m245/flygirl5485/126258-1.jpg)
Oh, and mine doesn't make any cam tensioner noise while on it's side.
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:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :thumbs: :thumbs:
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Hi, I'm the proud new owner of a 2009 Connie with just 5,500 miles. First thing in the morning, the bike makes a rod bearing rattle for 2 seconds before the oil hits. The oil and filter are new and proper amount in the window. The first owner says that it always did that when cold- I am a little rattled myself when I hear it. The dealer will probably say "they all do that". Any one else have this happen? Maybe I should try another filter brand, because the bike is losing the oil prime somehow after being parked overnite. The bike is out of warranty May 1st- Thanks for any suggestions
Hi all, I'm new here to this forum but not new to the C14. Back in 2008 I bought a demo bike with 350 miles on it. From that time until I traded it for a new 2012 this year it always rattled when it was cold, from there on during the day starting the bike I never heard the rattle again. My 2012 has never made that rattling noise ever so far. I just got done wiring a connecter so I can plug in a battery tender over the winter; the bike has not run for a few weeks so I started it up and NO RATTLE. Not sure what's made the rattle noise on my 08 but I glad I don't have it so far with my new one.
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I can honestly say it's the only thing that really pisses me off- mine does that rattle every time I start it- warm or cold, on the side or center stand, night or day. I get those stares from my riding buddies like WTF is that? Even the Harley guys snicker a little, and a BMW rider said "that sounds serious, you better look into that". I hate making excuses, so I guess I better get a manual one installed. Every bike I ever owned had it's quirks, and usually more than one. I just wish this one had a more "quiet" quirk.
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Some make it, some don't. Mine does for a few seconds. Sometimes not at all. Some say it does it more while on the side stand.. It's the cam chain tensioner. It's not harmful. Annoying to some but not to most. You might change oil brands or you can go to a manual tensioner. Up to you.
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Like I said mine did it only when I started it in the morning "cold start" there after never heard it again for the rest of the day. It's not a good sound, makes me wonder why my 08 did it and 12 hasn't so far. We shall see as the miles go on.
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I can honestly say it's the only thing that really pisses me off- mine does that rattle every time I start it- warm or cold, on the side or center stand, night or day. I get those stares from my riding buddies like WTF is that? Even the Harley guys snicker a little, and a BMW rider said "that sounds serious, you better look into that". I hate making excuses, so I guess I better get a manual one installed. Every bike I ever owned had it's quirks, and usually more than one. I just wish this one had a more "quiet" quirk.
If anyone snickers at me due to the rattle for a few seconds after start up, I would ask them how it sounds from the rear as I'm pulling away.
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It is not a con rod bearing and it is easy to fix considering how badly it appears to bother you: put in a manual CCT and never again have to listen to that rattle.
All documented here: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=14243.msg174886#msg174886 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=14243.msg174886#msg174886)
Brian
I can honestly say it's the only thing that really pisses me off- mine does that rattle every time I start it- warm or cold, on the side or center stand, night or day. I get those stares from my riding buddies like WTF is that? Even the Harley guys snicker a little, and a BMW rider said "that sounds serious, you better look into that". I hate making excuses, so I guess I better get a manual one installed. Every bike I ever owned had it's quirks, and usually more than one. I just wish this one had a more "quiet" quirk.
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Yeah, what he said... ;)
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If anyone snickers at me due to the rattle for a few seconds after start up, I would ask them how it sounds from the rear as I'm pulling away.
agree !
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THIS THREAD DESERVES A BUMP ;D
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THIS THREAD DESERVES A BUMP ;D
Well ok then. My bike no longer makes the start up death rattle. I installed one of these:
http://ape-store.com/shopsite/page6.html (http://ape-store.com/shopsite/page6.html)
Easy peasy no more noise, life is good. 8)
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Side stand leans the bike to the left, tensioner is on the right…
Other factors to consider but this is pretty simple to understand. Never occurred to me before this thread.
Bimmer folk, mostly K-Bike Bimmer folk - are SOO jealous of the Connie. It's ok. The chain rattle just distracts them from their whiny fuel pumps, questionable ABS pumps, hardly serviceable and highly problematic rear shock, and the nagging wonder of when the tranny, splines or rear-end are gonna cause a wreck or leave them stranded! Sorry BMW - you were the only game in town. Thank you Kawasaki!!
My K75s always smoked at start up because oil weeped past the valve cover when on the side stand. Try explaining that to people for 115,000 miles - the bike is fine, really, just not meant to be parked(!)
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Side stand leans the bike to the left, tensioner is on the right…
Other factors to consider but this is pretty simple to understand. Never occurred to me before this thread.
Bimmer folk, mostly K-Bike Bimmer folk - are SOO jealous of the Connie. It's ok. The chain rattle just distracts them from their whiny fuel pumps, questionable ABS pumps, hardly serviceable and highly problematic rear shock, and the nagging wonder of when the tranny, splines or rear-end are gonna cause a wreck or leave them stranded! Sorry BMW - you were the only game in town. Thank you Kawasaki!!
My K75s always smoked at start up because oil weeped past the valve cover when on the side stand. Try explaining that to people for 115,000 miles - the bike is fine, really, just not meant to be parked(!)
What about the Yamaha FJR, Triumph Sprint, Honda 1300, Ducati Multi-Strata, etc etc etc etc etc
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What about them? Are they bikes?
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i was replying to beemer being the only game in town
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Never!
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piston slap and bearing noise threads are a great merger candidate ;D
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FIFY.
Brian
piston slap and bearing noise threads are a great merger candidate .... into a thread about KiPass! ;D
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Twits.
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realists! ;D
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My K75s always smoked at start up because oil weeped past the valve cover when on the side stand. Try explaining that to people for 115,000 miles - the bike is fine, really, just not meant to be parked(!)
I had a K75c did the same thing, brings back the time I went to a well known popular Pub (Pohoi) with heaps of bikers mainly HD drinkers pub. Apparently when I took off, all the lads thought it was a great joke watching the BMW 2smoker heading off with a trail of blue smoke pouring out the back. I did not realise until my mate told me the next day. Apparanltly word got back to him by another friend that was at the Pub and saw it. Hah!
This post has been very helpful. I was wondering if I had a problem with my C14. But now I understand it is the timing chain.. phew!
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My GTR1400 started rattling on start up after about 3000kms,timing chain tensioner. Ran Motul 7100 10w60,guess what , no rattle on start up any more, even after bike is left for a month or more and all the oils drained back to the sump. I now run Amsoil 10w 40,still no rattle on start up after 10,000kms.
Suspected reason, the thicker oil pushed the tensioner to the next ratchet tooth on the tensioner, apparently the ratchet teeth are very fine, hence the timing chain tensioner is now placed firmer against the timing chain, no rattle on start up.
Try it.
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My GTR1400 started rattling on start up after about 3000kms,timing chain tensioner. Ran Motul 7100 10w60,guess what , no rattle on start up any more, even after bike is left for a month or more and all the oils drained back to the sump. I now run Amsoil 10w 40,still no rattle on start up after 10,000kms.
Suspected reason, the thicker oil pushed the tensioner to the next ratchet tooth on the tensioner, apparently the ratchet teeth are very fine, hence the timing chain tensioner is now placed firmer against the timing chain, no rattle on start up.
Try it.
It would be great if after all these years that Kawasaki could fix my only complaint. At 70,000 miles, now it rattles for about a minute on start up- I hope it breaks so I can finally use the extended warranty that I paid for.
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Oil type makes no difference on mine as I've used quite a few including Amsoil. It rattles for a few seconds on mine and then quietens down.
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It would be great if after all these years that Kawasaki could fix my only complaint. At 70,000 miles, now it rattles for about a minute on start up- I hope it breaks so I can finally use the extended warranty that I paid for.
Mine did that too so I spent the $50 or so for an Ape manual cam chain tensioner. Hasn't rattled since even on cold startup.
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Mine did that too so I spent the $50 or so for an Ape manual cam chain tensioner. Hasn't rattled since even on cold startup.
How many busted knuckles and beers to install?
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How many busted knuckles and beers to install?
Not too bad at all. You have to get under the right side fairing but I didn't have to actually remove the fairing. Once you get under the fairing it's trivial to remove the OEM and install the APE. Just 2 bolts and follow the instructions to adjust.
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I always wondered how often the APE tensioner needs adjustment or does it?
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I was wanting to know the part number of the adjustable timing chain tensioner ?
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I think this one is what you want....
http://ape-store.com/shopsite/page6.html (http://ape-store.com/shopsite/page6.html)
KTZX14
$59.95
Kawasaki ZX14 ('06-'09)
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I always wondered how often the APE tensioner needs adjustment or does it?
It's been about 10,000 miles and I haven't re-adjusted mine yet.
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Okay. Another dumb question. Do you wait until it makes noise or what? I have no idea. Thanks.
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I look at it this way, my GTR1400 has covered only 10,000kms,rattle has stopped but I am going to purchase a manual adjuster for future reference. There is a fair chance that later down the track the chain tensioner rattle will become a concern.
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Okay. Another dumb question. Do wait until it makes noise or what? I have no idea. Thanks.
I put about 55,000 miles on mine before I put the APE CCT on. It would alway rattle on startup but then it got to the point it would rattle at idle. Come to a stop light and the thing sounded like a diesel. That did it for me.
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It isn't supposed to do that after it starts. Maybe something wrong with the Kwackers adjuster or you're using the wrong oil in it. :popcorn:
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It isn't supposed to do that after it starts. Maybe something wrong with the Kwackers adjuster or you're using the wrong oil in it. :popcorn:
I thought about oil and tried different oils. No change. My theory is this: the Kwacker OEM CCT has way too much slop in the ratchet mechanism. Brian had a great post on this with pictures awhile ago. Each notch is at least 1/16" or more and the spring is in a slot that is almost 1/8" wide. Meaning there is almost 1/4" slop between ratchet or no ratchet. If you happen to have a bike that the cam chain is just the right length that under oil pressure the CCT almost but doesn't quite latch, then when oil pressure goes down it backs off almost 1/4". Bad design IMO. The teeth could be closer together and the slot could be thinner with almost no change in cost.
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I was kidding about the oil.... ;)
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I was kidding about the oil.... ;)
Actually I didn't think it was a bad suggestion. I'm one of those that use Rotella T6 5W40. And I thought maybe it was too thin. So I tried Mobil 1 4T 10W-40. Made no difference at all.
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Try Motul 10w 60 that will push the adjuster ratchet to the next position.
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Try Motul 10w 60 that will push the adjuster ratchet to the next position.
Maybe I should try STP ;D
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Right........
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:) Stop The Pistons
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:) Stop The Pistons
Scientifically Treated ****
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Stop Teasing Pollocks
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Stop Teasing Pollocks
I have observed that political correctness has killed a lot of ethnic jokes the last 30 years..
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Wow...way to jump to conclusions...maybe he was talking about the fish.
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Wow...way to jump to conclusions...maybe he was talking about the fish.
Nope, I'm Polish. :rotflmao:
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Better than being a fish. :)
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:offtopic: I'd like to keep the FAQ area to more on topic posts. Thanks.
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No problem, Jim. Do you want them deposted?
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Nope..