Hoping someone can help me with this. I picked up a 2005 600F4I it was a wrecked bike with 18k miles. The guy I bought it from cracked the stator cover on it, never turned it into insurance and let it sit in his garage for three years until I picked it up. did not inspect the engine, I looked in the gas tank and there was not a single spec of corrosion so I figured the engine followed in the gas tanks footsteps and was good to go. I got a new stator on it drained the old gas out and put fresh oil in it. The bike fired right up but when I started the bike the engine was knocking towards the top of the engine, the knocking increased with the throttle at all rpms. This was not a cam chain noise I have done those on multiple f4i's and am well aware of the noise they make, anyways it knocked for about 3 minutes and I shut it off and started rethinking my life. After rethinking my life I started the bike up again and realized I did not make the biggest mistake of my life because the noise went away, at first I figured it just needed to get oil through the engine since it had been sitting for about 3 years. Turned the bike off again let it sit for a little fired it up and it sounded great very healthy sounding engine. Also on the bike the guy had a speed healer, not sure if this would effect how the engine runs at all but that is the only "modification" done to it otherwise fully stock. After the first startup I let it sit for about 2 weeks when I started it again, the same issue occurred knocking on startup for about 3-5 minutes until it warmed up a little. Does anyone know what the issue could be? could it be due for a valve adjustment?

 

Measure oil-pressure at low pressure-switch.

Measure all valve clearances.

Remove and inspect oil-pump. There’s a pressure-relief valve somewhere that regulates pressure. If it’s clogged and seized, it may not let through any oil for those 1st 3-5 minutes.

 

Where is that oil pressure switch located is it on the back of the engine block? also would this throw off an indicator on the dash if it wasnt getting oil? If i recall I dont believe it was throwing off codes but it would make sense that light would not go off if it was operating correctly but due to being gunked up its not sucking the proper amount of oil. The parts look pretty cheap online so I'm thinking ill probably just buy the parts you mentioned and throw them in

 

I would suggest running the bike up to temperature and then immediately changing the oil. Perhaps with an oil cleaning additive having first been added. When I say 'up to temperature' that means running it for at least 20 minutes after the water is up to temperature - the oil takes longer to heat up.

Although it may seem a waste to get rid of the fairly fresh oil that you've put in there, there's every chance that you're also getting rid of old rubbish. Its quite likely, as has been mentioned, that some of that rubbish is clogging up oilways.

You said in your original post that you changed the oil - did you also change the filter? Either way, that will also need to be done if you decide to do this flush.

 

Yes I did change the filter, I actually talked to the dealership about flushing it and they recommended seafoam. Do you recommend using seafoam in the oil or will that hurt the engine?

 

I'm not familiar with the different flush options but others may be. The most important aspect will be ensuring that the oil is hot before you open the sump. Make sure you're completely ready to drain before you warm the bike up - fairings out of the way, even checking that you can loosen the sump plug easily and quickly. Then, get the bike hot and the moment you switch the bike off, remove the sump plug and let it drain while the dirt is in suspension in the oil.

Just be careful not to burn yourself on the hot oil.

There's no guarantee this is your problem but its quite likely - and it certainly is a good thing to do anyway.

 

NO Seafoam in oil! It’s 30-40% alcohol and will thin out oil and destroy engine! Best way to clean engine innards is to use full-synthetic JASO MA/MA2 oil for moto.

If you’re saying red oil-light on dash didn’t go out after engine started, then yes, you’re not getting sufficient oil pressure.

 

Sorry I just read that first response I posted and it did not make sense lol, what I meant to say is that I did not even see the light come on when I started it. And thank you for the information I will not use seafoam.

 

So after the first time you let it sit and it ran smooth, right? I'm thinking after sitting for 3 years you just had some dry parts that needed oiling and that happened. Hopefully it didn't do any damage.

 

Im sure it sustained some damage but its a Honda, ill just post it on facebook for 8k obo "I know what I got," just kidding, but anyways yeah the first time I started it after it sat for 3 years it started knocking at the top of the engine for about 3-5 minutes and I shut it off, it knocked all the way up until I shut it off. I turned it on again and it sounded completely fine and very healthy. After that happened I let it sit in the garage for about 2 weeks until someone came to see my other bike that I am selling, they were interested in my project so I started it for them and it started knocking again and after 3-5 minutes shut it off turned it back on and it sounded completely normal. Pretty sure I got it narrowed down thanks to this forum, I'm going to replace everything that sucks oil and and run some cleaner through it for the next few oil change cycles.