How do i identify this interesting little noise its comin from the right side of the engine, its kind of a ticking chatter, when i give it gas it goes away but come's back as the bike nears' it's idle.

 

I am having the same issue with my F3. It has just started doing this. The Chain tensioner is a known issue with CBRs. I am shopping around for a new OEM part and I found this place out ofNorth Carolina. Their prices are REALLY cheap!!! Look at their prices for plastic, they are about $150 to $180 dollars less then ANY dealer I have seen or visited. The chain tensioner is about $30 cheaper, but we'll see how much is saved after shipping. I have put in a couple links for the purpose of comparing prices. Bikebandits which is consistent with dealerships I have checked with. Ron Ayers is the other site that has the lower prices. Check it out, the chain tensioner is located with the cam chain.

http://bikebandits.com/
http://www.ronayers.com/index.cfm

 

No! The cct is only a known issue with a few years for the F4i. Because of this that, many people start hearing a ticking noise and people start screaming that the sky is falling and it must be the cct.

These are engines with moving parts. They are going to make noise. There is no such thing as a quiet engine. Any noise you hear is most likely because either the engine is cold and/or the oil hasn't circulated yet because of colder weather.

My F3 with 78k miles never needed a new cct, my buddy with his F3 with 90k+ miles never needed a new cct....though its possible your cct may be bad (but not likely), its not a known issue with CBRs in general, only a few F4i years.

 

Abadfish has a point… jumping to conclusions a little hastily. When I read that there was a noise from the right side of the bike, I just assumed. Reading what the noise sounds like is subjective as to what “ticking clatter� is and whether it is out of the ordinary. Years ago I spoke with a Hondamechanic whoexplained tome that F2, F3s, and F4s have this problem (F4is weren't on the market yet). A buddy and I were trying to determine what to do with his F2. We changed out the tensioner on the mechanic's advice and the problem/noise was solved. I've heard the noise and I know what it sounds like. Although, it is hard to hear the noises someone else’s bike makes online.

 

yea i agree that identifying the sound without hearin it is quite a vauge subject....i guess im wondering if there's any tell tale sign's that could signify the difference between the two noises? such as how rpm's would effect each noise? would both the sound's have the same consistent kinda noise or does one or the other change pitch or timing? I'm learnin on the technical stuffs, but i would figure a valve, would be the same consistent tick tick tick, but it makes sence to me that the cct, would have a changing kind of ticking since it's a loose chain? anywhere near correct?

 

I have done this before in the past to see where a noise originates from, I have taken a pipe and stuck it up against where I suspect a source of disheartening noise. I hunted down a bad water pump this way one time. It was knocking really bad and I couldn't tell if it was coming from inside the engine or from an external components (Also found an alternator with bad bearings with this too). I was able to isolate the noise to the water pump and then change it out. It is a really primitive stethoscope but using the principal behind it. If you use this on a car, watch out for moving parts (Belts and pulleys)!! Hopefully this can help you determine if it is valves or tensioner.

 

i looked on the oem part's thingy, if i were to just go stock with it, do i need to replace the cam chain tensioner, or the tensioner lifter? I read some people talkin about it and they said when the cct goes out its because of some bad hydrolic's or something, that's why i'm askin, probably just best to replace both and the chain[8D]

 

Sorry for not getting back with you sooner, I have been in the middle of mid terms. Anyway, changing out the chain is a really big job. I wouldn't change it unless it was necessary. I would start with this, go through and check you valve lashes. While you are turning the engine over by hand, inspect the cam chain. Look for obvious signs that the chain is wearing out (links not moving, etc). I have yet to hear someone needing to change out the chain... not that it couldn't happen though. To make your life easierwhen turning the bike over by hand, take out the plugs. You won't have to work against the compression of the engine when turning it over. About the F3 tensioner, they are mechanical. There is a spring inside the tensioner that applies the force. I have a Honda manual and if you need copies of the pages for doing a valve adjustment or anything else for that manor, let me know. Hopefully you can nip this noise in the butt.

 

What Abad says is true - but I don't buy the, "just F4i's" thing.

Mine was ratteling like a damn snake, replaced the CCT and all went away. I knew it was the tensioner because as I would get to about 2,500RPM's, then chatter would go away and I had bad top end power. Replaced the tensioner, started the bike and screwed the tensioner in until the sound came out. Torqued it down - haven't had a problem since.

I now have 2 other friends with F3's and they have all had the CCT replaced out of neccessity, not because they thought it, "might help." It was the problem.

And a CCT is about $50, not in the hundreds.

 

This sounds a lot like what i got goin on....did you go with the stock cct, or a 'manual' tensioner?