XJ400 - Minor but strange Noises

heyya, hope everyone's fine
Need some help, Again (A) ~)

So there's this strange noise which comes from the right rear end of the engine, Seem's it's coming from the clutch plates or it's housing but im not so sure, Someone i know said it's a Chain inside the clutch's that tends to wear out after a certain amount of usage but then this other fellow working at a machinist said may be it's a case of a missing clutch or pressure plate if any. Now im confused overall hence needed to confirm with u guys before i start fixing it Thanks!

2ndly while i had the valve cover off the engine for a gasket change, i noticed this component probably a timing chain tensioner which sit's between the intake/exhaust cams to support the chain tends to move easily if pushed by hand, Is this normal?

Appreciate all thoughts
Ty

 

Not familiar with the XJ-400, couldn't hazard a guess other than if your clutch is not slipping, I'd look at other parts rather than the plates.
The cam timing chain shouldn't be movable by hand, otherwise, it would probably slap around a bit and skip a tooth when you don't need it to. I'd be worried about that tensioner/chain.

 

I think he's talking about those chain guides, and yes it's not uncommon they can be giggled with your fingers. Some just sit in an insertion slot and aren't a bolted item. When the engine is running the chain running along the guide will hold it down, but engine stopped you can feel them wiggle some.

If your clutch will drive the bike, more then likely you aren't missing a plate. As the throw of movement between the outter pressure plate with springs pushing on the grouping of steel and friction plates to the basket end is designed to work with the number of plates required for the clutch to get grip and drive the bike. If your friction plates are greatly worn, and your oiling system doesn't coat them good enough you can get a clattering sound in the clutch basket and you may be ready for a new set of plates.

But judge it by how strong the clutch is. When cruising in 1st gear, can you crack open the throttle and the engine races but you don't accelerate that much, then they need replacing.

 

Exactly Russ, Chain guide is what i was referring to, thank's for confirming about the movement as well. Cheers

About the clutches, No that doesnt seem to be the case the bike seem's to take off instantly when clutch released & doesnt feel as if the acceleration is being wasted during crusing.

Probably a chain inside those plates somewhere?

Thank's

 

Well I've never been into that 400 engine, but a "Chain inside the plates?" I can't imagine some kind of chain inside the clutch plates.

Sounds like a phrase to me like check the headlight fluid. :lol:

Try this, confirm you have a good level of oil in it. get it warmed up, and lean the bike side to side first in neutral, hold it a bit each direction while running and see if the noise goes away? Is this noise always there, even warmed up. And are you sure it's on the back right side of the engine (as sitting on bike) to where your clutch housing is. Next squeeze the clutch lever and test again to see if the noise goes away.

If it goes away leaning to the right, then it's that clattering sound and the oil isn't coating all the plates good enough. But if your level is where it should be, then the clutch should be getting lubed.

 

Do a manual reset of the Timing Chain Tensioner. Take off the left side Crank case cover ...

Use the appropriate spanner and turn the engine over by hand for two full revolutions.
Next, quickly reverse the rotation slacking the chain ...
The tensioner will move out to pick up the slack and may quiet down that engine somewhat.

 

IMHO, It's pretty similar to the rest of the XJ YICS engines out there apparently i assume all that differ's is the parts being bigger on better one's.

lol actually it does sound like a chain or may be some sprocket tooth noise, touching to something somewhere on it's way to a full round, although I'll try your suggestion, observe & update as soon as i have the valve cover back on it. yes the noise is there even after hours of running but just can be heard while it idles so realistically it's there when the bike rev's but is silenced by the exhaust sound. It does seem to be on the clutch side end i figure but just am not able to pin point the location precisely as of now.

 

ahhh finally

Will try that for sure, although if anyone can confirm if it's a good idea to slack it while valve cover off? & if there's anyway to verify those shims without the tool in hand?

Ty

 

Run the motor and with o long screwdriver to your ear{the handle}put the otherend to the motor in diferant places to lisen for the sound tour talking about.This is like a stethascope {the thing the Dr uses to lisen to your heart not sure how to spell it} . I,v done it many times on V8 motors to hear the valves. Good luck.

 

Nothing is going to fall out or fly apart if that's what you're asking about.

The only way to check the shims is to take them out and you will need a valve tool one way or another. Do a search in this forum and you will find some other methods to remove them using zap ties or heavy gauge wire.

 

Here's what your Dance Card is ... before having to know the value of the shims.

Reset the Cam Chain Tensioner -- Manually! Before you do anything else. See if it will come out a notch (maybe two) and quite things down ... considerably.

Measure valve clearances with feeler gauge and see how close you are to being within specs.

I'm thinking your tensioner has a notch to give ... if the bridge is loose.

 

Manually as in?

Unscrew bolt & nut located on carb side, Turn crankshaft manually a couple of times to allow tension & then screw bolt & nut back in?

 

No.
After 1982 we were all blessed with the Auto-tensioner. All Inline-4's.

I've never even seen a 400 around here. I don't know if the tensioner is Auto or Manual.

Test for Auto:
Turn-over engine 2 Full Revolutions ~~> CLOCKWISE. Stop.
Abruptly turn the engine ~~> COUNTER-CLOCKWISE 1/4 Turn. Listen for click from tensioner. Tap on tensioner assembly.

Repeat the process a couple times.
Good luck. I hope it's a Automatic.

 

yeah....I have the bolt and lock nut type. I have to loosen the lock nut, turn out the screw, then srew it back in tight and lock it down. That is supposed to do it on my 82 XJ550, and it did quiet it down quite a bit when I had the problem after buying the bike.