Ok...so I just got my 87 CBR1000F running. Thanks CBR1000fking!

I am getting a rattle at idle. How do you tell if this is the cam chain or the alternator starter chain? When the bike is warm, the rattle will not go away at idle. But goes away above 2500 RPM. The bike still runs like a champ!

Questions:

1) How do I determine where this noise is coming from?

2) If it is the cam chain or the alternator starter chain what risk am I running by riding it. ( I just got it running after 6 months of work....I would really like to log some miles.)

3)Is there an after market cam chain tensioner or did Honda fix this problem.

Thanks in advance This forum is so helpful.

Tom

 

hey tom, dont worry about that rattle mine has been doing itsince i bought a yr ago. What you could do is like you talked about on t he 7/13/07 post check the pressure for the pistions (more then likly its nothing you have to worry about if there is enough compression) Its just how these bike were made in all honesty.. good luck with her

 

I'd rule out the simple stuff first. My clutch lever will rattle while cruising at certain rpm's- it's not something I particuarly enjoy but is easily stopped with one finger. I also had a rattle that didn't go away when the bike warmed up and that I thought might be my tensioner going bad, but which turned out to be a muffler shield rattling against the frame because I forgot to bolt the end of the shield to the bottom of the fairing. I'd strip off all the bodywork, start the bike, and then try to isolate the rattle by ear.

 

It's pretty simple to work out if the rattle is from the motor or bodywork as others have stated. If it is the motorfour things come to mind. Use a screwdriver against your ear to work out where the rattle is comming from.
1) If it is the bottom it's most likely alternator chain/tensioner which means split the cases & replace with genuine. No aftermarket available that I know of.
2)If it's a top rattle then cam chain & it can be replaced without pulling the motor out. Aftermarket chain available but not tensioner.
3)If the rattle is at the top but is more of a clicking check valve clearances.
4)The one that most people forget which is probably the simplest of all is tuning. Hondas in general are notorious for being noisy when out of tune.
None are terminal unless excessive so work out what it is then make your decision wether you can put up with it or not. Hope this helps.

 

When I put a screw driver on the starter that is where the noise is coming from. Could a bad starter cause the racket? It sounds a little nasty when I start it. If I pull the starter can I jump the bike w/o it to see if that is causing the racket?

 

Don't forget to check the balancer adjustment.
I just got my bike a few months ago and it did the same thing after about
1000 miles or so. How to link below should explain it.

https://cbrforum.com/m_161016/tm.htm