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Engine suddenly stops making noise?

2K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  OrLackThereof 
#1 ·
I've passed 30,000 miles on my 07 ZX6R now... I've had it into several shops and dealerships for the noise from the top end. It's sounded this way for 2 or 3 years now, like it's starving for oil. Just a metallic clackity-clack that's extremely loud on a cold start, and gets quieter as the engine warms up but is still present when warm, along with a persistent vibration from the engine.

5 days ago I walked outside to warm her up (my usual procedure I started *because* of the noise, despite living in FL), and I thumb the starter and nothing. Quiet as a whisper. Engine sounds healthier, doesn't make a single tick or clack despite being started at 38 degrees outside yesterday.

And the vibrations are virtually gone, all but what I'd consider "normal" are present. As if overnight, some dodgy mechanic had taken my engine apart and repaired it, leaving no signs of his handywork. I'm baffled. I've put new running gear on it but it's not that. The only "change" I made with the engine is having the dealership do my oil change (it was in for the valve cover recall) and they put on an OEM filter and Kawasaki Full Synthetic oil.

But I've always run ONLY full synthetic in it, usually with a K&N filter. Furthermore, the oil change was done several weeks ago and this just happened in the past 4 days.

I've been thinking CCT...do you think the CCT was stuck and finally adjusted correctly? Or that something broke, perhaps a chain guide, and is jamming the thing up tight? First thing I did was take it out and rev it over 10...not to the moon..but enough to say that I don't hear any sort of whine or anything that feels off.

:confused: Gift horse, or Trojan horse?
 
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#2 ·
Cct. probably has happened multiple times through the duration of ownership. You noticed it this time because you are looking for something to go wrong due to the service.

Sent from your moms room
 
#3 ·
It hasn't been quiet in about 3 years. Even when I thought it might've gone up a notch, it still clacked and made noise. When I let someone test drive it, the response was always the same 'Dude, SELL that thing, the motor's gonna let go.'

This is the first time it's not made noise since like 12,000 miles.
 
#5 ·
It's probably piston knock. The pistons are just sloppy in the cylinders and as it heats up the clearances get smaller as the rings expand. With it being 38 degrees out the cylinder sleeves had probably thermally contracted consuming the clearance. As the ambient air heats up again I suspect the knock will come back.

It's just your engine wearing out, but it's not going to explode under you or anything.
 
#8 ·
Its better now than it was, take it for what it is man. You are the first person I have seen that is worried by improvement!

Sent from your moms room
 
#12 ·
Lol yeah the screwdriver works surprisingly well. I have a Matco stethoscope though (I'm an auto mechanic). Nothing sounds unusual. It still makes a few metallic scraping/scratching kinds of noises while riding, especially when it's warm, but most of it's gone now.

Must have been the CCT adjusting up. I just can't believe that it would go 2+ years sounding like this and suddenly, out of the blue, adjust up.....I guess it was stuck.
 
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