[donkey]

well, I have been welcome to he world fabulous engines noise paranoicals...
For 2000 miles I was in break-in period, driving slow at 30/40 mph and littles sprints at 50 mph when I was passed the first 1000 miles. Try to not overheated and running in larger speeds. Oil changed at 300 miles and 700 miles. Tappets checked with oil changes.
After this 2000 miles the engine is coming to feel more loose and free. But the engine noise is more high too. Tappets taps normally, but the piston sounds clonk, clonk in cold and hot. The bike starts always at first kick, cold or hot, fuel consumption is ok, really low. Oil consumption is about 300 ml for every 1000 km, so as I read, is normal.
I have no other Bullet for compare. ¿This engine noise is normal, is ok?
Thanks

[Peter]

It could be that you are hearing piston slap.
That's not good if you can still hear it when hot.
Piston slap can be due to several things, an undersize piston, a distorted piston, particularly after partial seizure.
No way to tell what you hear, but if it's a new noise it warrants investigation.
I'd pull the jug off and examine the piston and replace it with a good one.
Make sure that the bore is good or have it overbored.

But the first thing would be to find somebody who knows what piston slap is and who can confirm it.

Peter

[Kevin Mahoney]

We don't sell T-shirts that say "Loud Valves Saves Lives" for no reason. The engine is loud, period. for the most part in the US most of us don't really care, but in India general engine noise is not very well thought of. As to whether or not something is wrong it is difficult to tell. There is a lot to be said for the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". As long as it is full of oil, not making knocking sounds I don't think I would worry about it, especially if it is still under warranty. Noise can telegraph it's way around the engine also and tracking it down can be very frustrating.

[sqf]

I was amazed at how loud these valves are!  When I saw that shirt I identified with it immediately.  My valves get loudest when the bike warms up.  I broke 500 miles on the OD today! 

[Peter]

We don't sell T-shirts that say "Loud Valves Saves Lives" for no reason. The engine is loud, period. for the most part in the US most of us don't really care, but in India general engine noise is not very well thought of. As to whether or not something is wrong it is difficult to tell. There is a lot to be said for the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". As long as it is full of oil, not making knocking sounds I don't think I would worry about it, especially if it is still under warranty. Noise can telegraph it's way around the engine also and tracking it down can be very frustrating.

Problem is that he describes it as "clonk, clonk"and coming from the piston. There is really no better description of piston slap than that. Valves don't make that sound. But here is also where the internet fails: his "clonk,clonk" from the piston might be our "clickety-clack" from the valvetrain.

I try to be as conservative as possible when it comes to a recommendation for a teardown but let's say Donkey's report is spot on and it is really piston slap. In that case, he can avoid major damage by checking it out.

I certainly hope that you are right and it's just noise paranoia.
I'm just worried because he didn't describe as clicking or clacking (valvetrain) or knocking (crankshaft) but "clonking", which is how I would describe piston slap.

Peter


Edit: I didn't realize that the motorcycle is still under warranty. That obviously complicates things. In my book, this situation is an opportunity to learn something about the engine and improve a known weak spot. Taking the jug off and putting it all together again for the first time is kind of empowering and is a bonding experience (and you get all that for a relatively minor mechanical challenge). But that's my book and there is nothing about warranties in the book. So YMMV.

[deejay]

i'm sure by 2,000 miles you are used to what it should sound like. if you think something is off why not pull the head and have a look? maybe order a new gasket before you do it though... and studs. 

[Foggy_Auggie]

Hate to say this, but it possibly might be the bushed connecting rod big end.

Only way to tell is to get the full service manual.  Pull the jug and check connecting rod end play and side play.  Also the small end wrist pin play.

Just a possibility -

RE1 has it right - keep driving it and look for changes.

[Peter]

Hate to say this, but it possibly might be the bushed connecting rod big end....

That would be "knocking" not "clonking", but who knows what it really sounds like.
It's true though, that a big end or crankshaft problem would declare itself within the first few thousand miles. With a warranty one should probably go on and see what happens.


Peter

[Foggy_Auggie]

Hate to say this, but it possibly might be the bushed connecting rod big end....

That would be "knocking" not "clonking", but who knows what it really sounds like.
It's true though, that a big end or crankshaft problem would declare itself within the first few thousand miles. With a warranty one should probably go on and see what happens.


Peter

That's why verbage on the internet is subjective.  Nearly impossible to diagnose worded sounds interpretation - without being there.  And being there is still no guarantee for consensus until scientific method troubleshooting (if any is needed) is performed.

[Kevin Mahoney]

There is another thread on the forum from someone with a loud very disturbing knock or rapping. After fearing the worst it turned out that all he needed was a valve adjustment. Not saying that this is your problem at all, but drive it and watch it.

[birdmove]

    It is so easy to just check your valve adjustment on these bikes.I checked mine early on and found them to be in perfect adjustment (good setup by Vinces!). I believe that one, after doing it the first time, can check the adjustment in 30 seconds (after getting the wrench in hand). Once I checked mine and found them fine I quit worrying about the noise-though my valve train on my 2007 iron Classic is not noisy at all.

    jon

   

[cyrusb]

You guys didn't mention  "Chuffing" Pretty standard RE sound.

[dewjantim]

I'm going with Kevin on this one boys. If you want to quieten the valves down a little, adjust the valves with the engine warm (not hot) until you can turn the pushrods, with some effort by hand. It will make the engine much quieter.......Dew.

[Peter]

You guys didn't mention  "Chuffing" Pretty standard RE sound.

Not to forget "Rapping" for a way loose pushrod.

Wonder what the "clonking" turned out to be.

Any news?


Peter

[Snobrd]

An old friend of mine, unfortunately now deceased was a master engine tech for Pratt and Whitney.  He worked on the giant old rotary engines.  He told me all he needed for engine noise diagnosis was a piece of dowel, one end flat the other nicely rounded and smooth.  Round smooth end goes against the ear and the other placed on various parts of the engine until source of the sound is located.