KLF300 rattle

[User00056]

My old quad has developed a bit of a rattle recently (8k miles), and I've no clue what to look at next. I've checked the starter chain, camchain and tensioner, changed the clutch shoes and plates, checked valve clearances, and I'm now at a complete loss It definitely doesn't seem to be the engine itself, as when revved it seems pretty sound.

Anyone have any experience of these things?

 

[Tim.243]

My old quad has developed a bit of a rattle recently (8k miles), and I've no clue what to look at next. I've checked the starter chain, camchain and tensioner, changed the clutch shoes and plates, checked valve clearances, and I'm now at a complete loss It definitely doesn't seem to be the engine itself, as when revved it seems pretty sound.

Anyone have any experience of these things?

Anything loose in the exhaust (baffle) Take a long screw driver, you might have seen a water board guy listening for a leak with a pole up to his ear, and you should be able to find the area it is in.
Rattle or knock?

 

[WH308]

Is it speed related? As in does it get worse or speed up with the engine speed? Or is it travel related, figuring this out is often the first step in diagnosing random noises.

 

[User00056]

Anything loose in the exhaust (baffle) Take a long screw driver, you might have seen a water board guy listening for a leak with a pole up to his ear, and you should be able to find the area it is in.
Rattle or knock?

Nothing loose. Brand new exhaust too. The sound is hard to nail down to be honest. Sometimes I think it's from the front right of the clutch housing, other times it sounds like it's top end

Is it speed related? As in does it get worse or speed up with the engine speed? Or is it travel related, figuring this out is often the first step in diagnosing random noises.

Doesn't change with engine speed, although it gets louder with vehicle speed.

I did wonder if it could be a dodgy regulator causing a knock, but I've not got a spare to check. Then I wondered if the oil pump could be rattling. Chasing my tail now

 

[Tim.243]

Nothing loose. Brand new exhaust too. The sound is hard to nail down to be honest. Sometimes I think it's from the front right of the clutch housing, other times it sounds like it's top end


Doesn't change with engine speed, although it gets louder with vehicle speed.

I did wonder if it could be a dodgy regulator causing a knock, but I've not got a spare to check. Then I wondered if the oil pump could be rattling. Chasing my tail now

Jack it up with the drive wheels off the ground and then find the rattle with a long screw driver against your ear.
Try the front end as it might be a CV joint.

 

[User00056]

Jack it up with the drive wheels off the ground and then find the rattle with a long screw driver against your ear.
Try the front end as it might be a CV joint.

No, it's definitely within the crankcase somewhere. If I hadn't already done the value clearances I'd have sworn that's what it was

 

[B&W FOX]

Is this quad charging properly at full rev's ie. maximum of 14.5 volts ?
Is the battery voltage 12.3 volts when the engine is not running ?
Is the neutral light flickering when the quad is idling?

 

[User00056]

Is this quad charging properly at full rev's ie. maximum of 14.5 volts ?
Is the battery voltage 12.3 volts when the engine is not running ?
Is the neutral light flickering when the quad is idling?

Yes, yes, and not sure. I'll need to check, but I don't think so

 

[User00056]

Update. Despite a new set of primary clutch shoes, and plates, as well as a service and oil change that noise is still there and getting worse

As I began to notice it shortly after starting to tow a paddock sweeper (which can be quite heavy when full) I suspect I may have pushed the old motor a wee bit hard and ended up with a bit of piston slap or a big end gone. Either way, with 8500 miles on a 20 year old 290cc engine it's probably due a rebuild. And the rest of the quad is in such good order that it's worth the work. I've a new cam chain and tensioner on the way too, so hopefully I have all bases covered. Quite looking forward to the job, to be honest. Can't beat a bit of fettling

 

[User00056]

Here's the din. Any thoughts?

 

[Will the chippy]

Poorly.

 

[Tim.243]

Here's the din. Any thoughts?

Something wrong with the "head"

 

[VSS]

Here's the din. Any thoughts?

I had a Kawasaki quad once upon a time.
It always sounded like that.
When it ran.
Which wasn't often.

 

[finnbear270]

I thought I could hear a head gasket wheezing. ?

 

[User00056]

Something wrong with the "head"

You're a bad man

 

[User00056]

I thought I could hear a head gasket wheezing. ?

Yeah, maybe. I suspect the top end is just needing a complete overhaul. I've ordered a replacement head, piston, tensioner and camchain, so if it makes the same racket after all that I'm setting it on fire

 

[Tim.243]

You're a bad man

Well did you know what I meant ?

"cylinder head"

 

[User00056]

Well did you know what I meant ?

I knew exactly what you were up to. Rascal

 

[Outback]

They make some bad noises when the cam chain seizes up and stops being a flexible chain .

 

[User00056]

They make some bad noises when the cam chain seizes up and stops being a flexible chain .

I've checked that already, but that's not to pay it hasn't stretched over time. I've ordered a new one anyway