Triumphrat

natem2112 · 05-05-2008

Hi there,

It's been awhile since I've been on this forum, but I'm in Iraq now so that makes the communication a bit haphazard at best, although they just got us internet access out here at one of our FOB's so that makes it easier =)

I am from Madison WI and before we deployed I bought a T509 S3 which came with about 18k and in the faster red scheme color. I proceeded to put all my spare time riding it before being deployed in September of 07.....much to my wife's dismay. I'm hoping she doesn't sell it off on me before I get back in a few months.....jealousy is a bitch after all.

Regardless, the machine runs like a dream and I've never been happier then taking it through the twisties....however I noticed a bit of a rattling noise coming from the engine compartment which is most predominately when you are tolling along around 25-35 mph. If I had to guess it almost sounds like a gear or chain noise...maybe even valves?

The bike has a little over 20k on it currently and physically looks like it has been taken great care of. I checked the engine numbers for the fourth gear issue and my engine number comes clean on that list.

What do you guys think that it could be?

I know that I'm not offering much for you to diagnose with, but was hoping maybe some other T509er might have had the same problem and be able to pinpoint it.

I am planning on doing a few improvements to it so I should see if this is problem or if it's just simply regular engine noise before I get home and start working on it.

Thanks for your help!

13 · 05-05-2008

Welcome. Chain and wife adjustment, lol...

cave1 · 05-05-2008

Here's a long shot for you. I had a chain-like rattle happening above about 4K when riding my T509 around town. I thought it was in the engine, but when I started playing around and looking for stuff that might be rattling, it turned out to be the left hand mirror glass, a much cheaper fix. I had a similar experience several years ago after reinstalling the fiberglass bikini fairing on my 70s beemer. Take a close look at stuff around the front of the bike, esp. plastics, before digging deeper. It's easy to mistake where a sound is coming from when you're riding at 30 mph with a helmet on...

natem2112 · 05-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cave1

Here's a long shot for you. I had a chain-like rattle happening above about 4K when riding my T509 around town. I thought it was in the engine, but when I started playing around and looking for stuff that might be rattling, it turned out to be the left hand mirror glass, a much cheaper fix. I had a similar experience several years ago after reinstalling the fiberglass bikini fairing on my 70s beemer. Take a close look at stuff around the front of the bike, esp. plastics, before digging deeper. It's easy to mistake where a sound is coming from when you're riding at 30 mph with a helmet on...

I'm pretty sure that it's not something on the bodywork.

I have taken it down the street w/out the helmet on and tried to hear everything I could and I'm pretty much 99% sure that it's something from the engine compartment. What ever it is that's making all that noise it doesn't affect performance.....yet.

I'm sure that it will probably just involve me taking some parts off and letting it run on a stand to really get down to grit of the noise.

Is it a strong possibility that it could be a drive chain or timing chain?

MainDish · 05-05-2008

I have a T509 as well, and it is my first Triumph. My engine has a "rattle-y" patch between about 3500-4000rpms. I did not know if this was characteristic of the engine or not. I took it to the dealer and paid to have the ECM re-flashed, thinking that it might need a timing or injection adjustment. I can't really say if anything improved or not.

I'd be curious to hear any ideas on this. Good to see that I'm not crazy. Other than that, it runs great and I love the bike.

cave1 · 05-06-2008

Ok, well body parts was the easy suggestion. You could check the cam chain tensioner (though w/ 18K, it would be kinda surprising if the problem is there). The other diagnostic I can think of would be to pull the sump. What you're looking for is bits of springs from the clutch basket (known issue w/ this vintage), or bits of the alternator drive shaft bearings (another known issue with this vintage). Broken clutch basket springs or disintegrated alternator drive shaft bearings can both cause engine rattles.

My T509 engine doesn't rattle (yet). It's not a case of "they all do that."

There are a lot of threads on engine rattles, esp. regarding difficulties with the clutch basket springs and the alternator drive shaft bearings, at "the other site." Check the problem-solving forum.

Good luck. I'll be interested to see what other people here suggest...