oilhead starting noise

[99928]

when I start my R1150 oilhead it sounds like it needs to build up oil pressure to quiet down. It will tick for a second or so then run quietly. Is this normal? It seems to be normal for this bike.

[GSAddict]

:nod

[JimMoore]

It's normal, but you can fix it with an upgrade to your left side cam chain tensioner. Go to the GSpot section of www.advrider.com and do a search. Make sure you read the whole thread, there are a few part # changes.

[bikerfish1100]

actually, iirc, the new part #s supersede the old items, which are no longer available. it's easier to find the info on doing the changeover on pelicanparts.com (search "cam chain tensioner") than it is on advrider, as teh search will be limited to only BMWs (and all R11xx engines are pretty much the same- either they are pre or post upgrade, period)

[osbornk]

Most of them do it and it's nothing to worry about. I've had several 4 wheelers that did it also that had overhead cams with timing chains.

[deilenberger]

actually, iirc, the new part #s supersede the old items, which are no longer available. it's easier to find the info on doing the changeover on pelicanparts.com (search "cam chain tensioner") than it is on advrider, as teh search will be limited to only BMWs (and all R11xx engines are pretty much the same- either they are pre or post upgrade, period)Ummm.... bikerfish, pelianparts.com only seems to turn up BMW car parts (be great for my M3..) no sign I can see of R bike parts or writeups..

[GSAddict]

Ummm.... bikerfish, pelianparts.com only seems to turn up BMW car parts (be great for my M3..) no sign I can see of R bike parts or writeups..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24


And also try http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69360&highlight=left+chain+tensioner for lots of detail.

[deilenberger]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24
Cool - who'da thunk it?

And also try http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69360&highlight=left+chain+tensioner for lots of detail.Thanks - but I did my '04 before I traded it in.. on an R12R that came with the new tensioner.. :)

[skidgillen]

when I start my R1150 oilhead it sounds like it needs to build up oil pressure to quiet down. It will tick for a second or so then run quietly. Is this normal? It seems to be normal for this bike.

Is it a ticking sound or is it louder? My bike makes a knocking sound after a cold start. It goes away as soon as I ride about 50 feet or so after start up. I always thought it was coming from the front of the engine until I read this. Now it does sound like it is coming from the left side. Anyone know why it is the left cylinder only and not the right?

[deilenberger]

Is it a ticking sound or is it louder? My bike makes a knocking sound after a cold start. It goes away as soon as I ride about 50 feet or so after start up. I always thought it was coming from the front of the engine until I read this. Now it does sound like it is coming from the left side. Anyone know why it is the left cylinder only and not the right?A bit louder than a tick.. the reason it does it is - the cam chain tensioner uses engine oil pressure to push the tensioner against the spring. The design of the left side one allowed the oil in the tensioner to leak out when the engine wasn't running - so it would take a few seconds for oil pressure to build up again in the tensioner. The newer design was made so the oil wouldn't leak out.

It's pretty much a non-issue.. you don't hear of cam chain failures.. much..

[99928]

Generaly ticking is a good description, sometimes worse than others. When its worse you might think it would turn into a knock but it never has. This is a 2001 bike that I bought new and it started doing this when it was about one year old. The bike now has 46.000 mi. on it.

[BeemerMike]

It's pretty much a non-issue.. you don't hear of cam chain failures.. much..

My R1100RS with 13k has the same ticking sound from the left side for about 10-15 seconds after start-up. Glad to see that, unless you are the A-R type, this is something to just monitor to see if it ever gets worse rather than take proactive action now.

Sounds similar to the old pre-oil-fed hydraulic cam chain tensioners on 911 engines. If THEY started ticking, you better start correcting. Once you have the oil-fed hydraulic tensioners, you just let the pressure build up after start-up, and only listen to make sure the pressure does build up.

Thanks. :thumb

[bikerfish1100]

Ummm.... bikerfish, pelianparts.com only seems to turn up BMW car parts (be great for my M3..) no sign I can see of R bike parts or writeups..

clik the BMW link, then tech forums. scroll down, and you'll see the links to the R1100S/R1200s and the K1200S sites. Surprised you weren't familiar with it- is a total treasure trove of R1100S info, from an incredibly knowledgable (and politiclly incorrect) group of riders.

ah, i see someone else got you there while i was busy doing something else.

yeah, the tensioner replacement is not necessary, but for under $15 in parts, and about the same number of minutes labor, it's a "feel good" fix that is easily completed. and removes one of the tractor sounds emanating from the bike.

[JimMoore]

It's pretty much a non-issue.. you don't hear of cam chain failures.. much..
No, but you do hear of the plastic cam chain rail breaking occasionally. I'm willing to believe that having the cam chain slapping against that plastic rail every time you start is not doing anything for rail longevity.