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Is this engine knocking?

guzzisti91

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
Feb 2, 2018
Messages
79
Location
Villawood
Hello there! I am trying to sell my beloved Guzzi in order to move overseas more easily. I have just had someone inspect it & was concerned about the noise it makes when in neutral with the clutch released. She tells me it's engine knock, as it sounds like chains, but the noise fades with acceleration & goes away either with the clutch in or in gear under load. It also appears to be coming from behind the engine, around the bell housing, as she said it was knocking when her ear was by that area. I'd upload a video but it won't let me. Thoughts? Is she lying?
 
Normal Guzzi & Ducati clutch noise if the noise goes away or lessens when clutch lever is pulled in.
 
Hello there! I am trying to sell my beloved Guzzi in order to move overseas more easily. I have just had someone inspect it & was concerned about the noise it makes when in neutral with the clutch released. She tells me it's engine knock, as it sounds like chains, but the noise fades with acceleration & goes away either with the clutch in or in gear under load. It also appears to be coming from behind the engine, around the bell housing, as she said it was knocking when her ear was by that area. I'd upload a video but it won't let me. Thoughts? Is she lying?

Not engine knock. Gearbox noise is not uncommon in neutral with the clutch out. If too much that isn't good. It may also make a little noise with the clutch squeezed in as the clutch plate can rattle around a bit.
 
Not engine knock. Gearbox noise is not uncommon in neutral with the clutch out. If too much that isn't good. It may also make a little noise with the clutch squeezed in as the clutch plate can rattle around a bit.
She claims this much noise is the pistons. Metallic. She's had guzzis for quite a while, but that can also mean she knows how to pull one's leg. Then again, she lives in Wollongong, adding to the possibility that she's lying. I describe it as a rattling, whirring noise that goes away under load. But too much of the noise i describe is not good? As in, is it the engine at all? It doesn't have the pinging noise of a ducati & doesn't start until i fully engage the clutch. In fact, she's done nearly 66,000km & i doubt the clutch was ever done...
 
My new V7III with the clutch out at idle and warmed up, makes a clack-clack noise that could easily be mistaken for piston noise or a rod knock. It isn't: It's just the clutch jiggering around at low rpm. If the noise goes away when you pull in the clutch lever just enough to put a little load on the clutch release mechanism's bits, it's completely normal and benign.

My 850T when I got it and started it up made a top end racket that one could swear was a piston gone bad. I sighed and figured I'd need to do a set of pistons and cylinders... I started and in taking the rocker gear off the LH cylinder I heard the exact sound that I thought was a bad piston. Turned out that a shim washer was missing on that rocker pivot pin and the rocker was sliding to the limit of travel as force was applied through the push rod. I replaced all the springs and shims, buttoned the top end up, and started it. No more piston slap. :)

Noises can be deceiving. Find specifically what's making the noise before passing any judgment ...
 
My new V7III with the clutch out at idle and warmed up, makes a clack-clack noise that could easily be mistaken for piston noise or a rod knock. It isn't: It's just the clutch jiggering around at low rpm. If the noise goes away when you pull in the clutch lever just enough to put a little load on the clutch release mechanism's bits, it's completely normal and benign.

My 850T when I got it and started it up made a top end racket that one could swear was a piston gone bad. I sighed and figured I'd need to do a set of pistons and cylinders... I started and in taking the rocker gear off the LH cylinder I heard the exact sound that I thought was a bad piston. Turned out that a shim washer was missing on that rocker pivot pin and the rocker was sliding to the limit of travel as force was applied through the push rod. I replaced all the springs and shims, buttoned the top end up, and started it. No more piston slap. :)

Noises can be deceiving. Find specifically what's making the noise before passing any judgment ...
My thoughts exactly! It does that clack-clack. But the tappets are also a tidbit noisy. Were it the pistons, why is the noise isolated to the back of the engine & not heard next to it? I thought i might check here first then ask the bike shop next to my work. I bet she's trying to lower the price significantly. But, as my ad says, reluctant sale. If she don't buy it, someone else will
 
Took the bike to work & had it inspected next door on my lunch break. Guess what? You folks were right - She was lying! It is the clutch as i thought, but the throwout bearing may just be on it's way. Also, the rocker shaft bearings - as Godfrey mentioned - may well be on their way. But the mechanic assured me i had nothing to worry about, as Guzzi's are just noisy (there goes an excuse for dropping in a V6).
This is my first Guzzi - but certainly not my last
 
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