Paging TOG on Zephyrs

No answer from you phone, are you out celebrating resigning perhaps?

DanL had a dekko at this Zephyr 550 that was mentioned recently. It seems
good except for a noise at tickover. Bottom endish Dan thought, something
between rumbling and knocking. It goes away under load when revved though
and the owner claims get less when warm. I could hear it over his phone
though.

Does this ring any (alarm) bells, or remind you of anything. I think you
know these engines.

 

Carbs need balancing?

 

Juggling looks far better.

 

Ah. In my bike jacket pocket, under the stairs....

Sounds like primary chain. Avoid.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/zephyr-550-engine-streetfighter-project_W0QQitemZ1
10168806628QQihZ001QQcategoryZ122257QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIte
m

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Always treat an engine as a non-runner unless it can be proven to the
contrary. Or unless the seller gives a guarantee.

 

Cheers but I have no workshop over here and two project bikes already!

 

So do the 550 and 750 both have primary chains?
Much of a job to change them? (for a bike shop)

 

Yes, yes and yes.

 

Hmm, when I was stood next to the thing it didn't sound like a cam
chain noise, it sounded decidedly "knocky" from low in the engine. The
noise could best be described as the noise an engine makes when trying
to pull away in 3rd gear, i.e a rumbling knock. I did take a look at
the camchain adjuster bolt and it was corroded to ****, so not much
sign of attention in the 26k miles the bike has done.

Young chap selling it said it had always been like that for as long as
he'd owned it, and the noise did disappear when the engine was revved,
which it did very sweetly.

Wish I knew a bit more about engines, really.

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Well, yes, but they rattle rather than rumble. Unless we have an
auditorially challenged owner here. Which is possible.

 

Dan isn't quite sure WTF the noise was. I think that unless someone familiar
can take a look it has to pass.

 

My first thought was big end bearings tbh, but the way the noise
disappeared when the motor was revved makes me doubtful.

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

It needs *something* done by the sound of it.
A low pitched grumbling noise is not going to be a camchain no matter how
out of adjustment.

 

Definitely not big ends, no. Camchain, but that noise tends to persist
at higher revs. Knackered primary chains (brutal use of the clutch will
kill one early) tend to grumble at low revs but not higher.

 

*Got* to be primary.

 

So a case split at the very least and a chain is £85. I shall ask local bike
shop how much to do.

Dan tells me the bike is very clean with 20 odd thousand miles showing. What
is this worth in good fettle?

 

I don't think it was cam chain, they rattle rather than knock (IME), my
1100 rattles at tickover so it's a noise I can recognise.

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

£700-800.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

As much as that? With work like that needed I'd only want to pay half
that much

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Hoinda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka