Bit of a rattle today

[dickturpin]

While out today I got a rattle (only once) while accelerating hard. Best description would be like a bit of loose grit flying round the front sprocket. Any ideas? could I have lost a tooth of the front cog?....or was it a bit of loose gravel flying round the cog that hard acceleration had dislodged? Journeyed about 100miles after with no further noises!

[Falcon 269]

If a sprocket tooth has gone AWOL, I think you'd know about it. 

Probably just a transient thing but check thoroughly to be sure.

Recently GrahamB here had a rattle that proved terminal.  Cam chain jumped and trashed valves.  Depending on mileage on yours, could be worth checking that the cam chain tensioner isn't sticking.

[dickturpin]

Thanks Mike....I will have a hunt around tomorrow. Its a 2004 with 20k miles on it.

[Falcon 269]

Start with a look at the EXUP as it's close to the front sprocket. 

[dickturpin]

All clear in the exup (and regreased) and front sprocket department.
Knowing that I travelled so far after the noise without event, how far do you keep looking?
Worth a look at the cam chain?...would that mean a new gasket?

[Falcon 269]

I'm inclined to think you're in the clear but if you decide to take a look at the cam chain and tensioner, you can remove the latter without needing a gasket change but you need to follow the procedure in the Haynes or workshop manual. 

You can view the lower part of the camchain run by removing the right-hand engine cover.  That might require a new gasket if you haven't previously removed that cover because they tend to stick and rip.  If you do remove/refit that cover, grease the new gasket on both sides to ensure it will come off easily in future.

[dickturpin]

Ran about 50 miles this afternoon and no nasty surprises so I think I'll just keep my fingers crossed.
Thanks for your comments Mike and the tip about the gasket grease!
 
Next hurdle...MOT time!!!

[Jazoli]

I heard a similar thing once on my old FZR Exup, it made a funny rattling noise for a few seconds, I was wearing earplugs so couldn't hear anything amiss afterwards so carried on for a very spirited 100 mile ride.


It was only when I was wheeling it into the garage afterwards and I heard a tinkling noise, the front sprocket nut had fallen off, knackering the output shaft threads, it was in several pieces and fell out when I removed the cover to investigate,amazingly and thankfully the sprocket stayed on, I still shudder to think what would have happened if it had come off, we were regularly hitting 270 kmh/r that day