Engine sounding a little rattly

[Mchancox]

Hi all. I have a FZS600 and have had it a few months. It is an 02 And has done 20,000. When I bought it the oil was clear (good sign) and all things sounded tight. It has had a few revs of late and worked a little hard. I've put 2000 on it and the engine is sounding a little slack. Sounds a bit rattly on the top end and engine oil is black and has the consistency of (doesn't contain) water.
Suggestions other than don't work it so hard please?

Cheers.

[Fazerider]

The Fazer thrives on revs and that's a pretty low mileage so it shouldn't be harmed by 2000 miles of brisk riding.
I'd suggest an oil and filter change (you never know, the previous owner may have felt rapeseed oil was good enough since he was getting rid), and see how it gets on after that.
It might be worth a look in the air box too, firstly to check the filter and second to see how much oil there is in there, if there's a lot it may indicate excessive blow-by past the piston seals.

[His Dudeness]

The engine oil will go black after a couple of hundred miles. It's just carbon from the combustion process. The top end rattle is probably just the cam chain. There's an automa'tic cam chain tensioner on the fazer and the cam chain can get a bit rattly between adjustments. There's most likely nothing wrong but if you're worried you could let a mechanic listen to it.

[noggythenog]

Work it hard, make it sing.......they love it

[darrsi]

Look up "FZS 600 cam chain rattle" on YouTube and see if it's a similar noise.

[mtread]

..... and just to elaborate, the camchain has an automated tensioner that adjusts itself (supposedly) when the chain gets slack. They tend to rattle just before the tensioner moves on a cog and takes up the slack. It's been suggested you can force the tensioner up by rolling the bike backwards in gear (but I've never tried it). You shouldn't usually need to replace the camchain after only 20k.
The other Fazer rattle is the clutch. Does it quieten when you pull the clutch in ? If so, nothing to worry about, they all do that.

[Paulfzs]

mines at 23,000 miles and developed a little rattle in the top end definitely the cam chain sound my old one had so im expecting it to click over anytime soon.. if not ill have to get it out and reset it.

[stevie-g1968]

Mine taps a bit at the top end, my clutch rattles like a ducati ... but then at 73k I guess I has the right too.. especially after that little thrash the other week

[Freck]

my clutch rattles like a ducati

Oi,watch it!   

[Jules-C]

The clutch rattle is a safety feature to remind you to pull the clutch in before putting the bike in gear!

[stevie-g1968]

 

The clutch rattle is a safety feature to remind you to pull the clutch in before putting the bike in gear!

 

[fazersharp]

My oil don't go black after a couple of hundred miles, starts off nice red colour and turns a bit cloudy but not black- 17k miles