Forum

[Pike]

Hi, I recently acquired this nice bike, running for further improvement. The bike has run no more than 500 km after the H´s rebore, new pistons and rings. The cold engine starts quietly, after short warmig up the engine top becames noisy. The tappet clearance was set so close to nil as possible but the noises from the top still are too loud. Otherwise, the bike runs and pulls very well, as it should.
I made short videos of the engine running, see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaxsBoTUCHk
and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdC63B3aUc4
Do you think, this is a standard Meteor engine noise (as I don´t have another Meteor to compare near here) and it needs further running in or is it rather unusual and I shall inspect the engine inside. Thanks for comments.

[Leon Novello]

Hi Pike: If you are sure the noise is from the top, has anyone checked the rocker housings for wear. They could have oilways blocked with gunk or white metal from a previous breakdown. That`s about all I can think of at the moment.

[Norm]

My Inter is noisy in the tappets, I just tuck my knees in to the tank and I can't hear it. Feeling a bit nervous at the moment a bloke has made me an offer for it and I'm not sure if I should take it

[Mark M]

I have a 53 Meteor, yours doesn't sound too bad but Youtube sound quality is not good! Things you can do that will help: 1) check the rockers are correctly assembled on the spindles with their thrust washers and spring washers in the right places 2) check that the camshafts have minimum end float (aim for 5 thou) 3) the chains (timing and magneto/distributor) are correctly adjusted. It is also possible (but unlikely) that the tappets and blocks in the crankcase are worn. Lastly, in the video you seem to be burning a lot of oil, if this is worn valve guides that will be a source of noise in itself.
REgards, Mark

[Bullet Whisperer]

Hi Pike,
Here is a rather dark video of a known good one, with full rebuild top and bottom. I personally did over 200 miles on it before it went back to the owners. Incidentally, a Super Meteor with pre production Connie engine fitted, which I have worked on had a top end noise and that turned out to be a copper head gasket just clipping the side of the piston crown! Cheers, Paul.
http://vid956.photobucket.com/albums/ae ... nPT039.mp4

[papasmurf]

Bullet Whisperer, that really does sound like a bucket of bolts. (Mind you I don't start my CX500 Custom without wearing earplugs because otherwise it is just too frightening.)

[Bullet Whisperer]

Bucket of bolts !? that is as good as they get, papasmurf - here is the Super Meteor with pre production Connie engine. I think cameras and microphones have a lot to answer for, as this machine is also in very good order. Regards, Paul.
http://vid956.photobucket.com/albums/ae ... Meteor.mp4

[papasmurf]

http://vid956.photobucket.com/albums/ae ... Meteor.mp4

Is that any quieter with the clutch pulled in? Seems to be a combination of tappet clatter and primary chain/clutch plate clatter.
(I used to have a Yamaha Radian that sounded like it was about to self destruct until the clutch was pulled in.)

[Bullet Whisperer]

Nothing out of adjustment on that machine and all set up correctly. My point is that in 'real life' these machines sound much quieter than on film, but they are clattery compared with, for example, my Honda CB500T. Everything is relative, British singles, twins and triples can seem noisy mechanically compared with the modern machines many of us also own.

[papasmurf]

My wife's Suzuki VS800 Intruder(ish) sounds like a bucket of bolts from cold complete with flames out of the "silencers," if you dare to take it above tick over until 5 minutes have elapsed.
The BMW K75S on the other hand, with earplugs in I can't even hear the engine running at 70mph on a motorway.