Noisy clunky cold start

Hey team. Hope you're all well.

What do you think of this cold start on my 82 xj650?

Seems rather clunky and noisy. The bike has never run amazing, with multiple carb cleans, valve clearance checks, carb balances, colortunes etc.

 

How's compression on the cylinders?

 

First of all, that's a beautiful bike! Very nice work! Seems like it starts easily and is responsive to the choke adjustment and idles well without much warmup. Maybe even too easily if its cold, indicating things are on the rich side. How does the air filter look?

I can hear some clicking or ticking, not sure if that's the noise you are describing? Cam chain or primary chain slap?

What are the symptoms that have led you to do multiple carb cleans, etc?

 

If it's cold outside that noise might have something to do with the grade of motor oil you're using. Generally speaking I run 20w50 in the summer months and switch over to 15w40 during the cooler months

 

Are the exhaust header pipes tight on the cylinder head? Might be loose parts in the exhaust silencers? How many miles has the machine covered?

 

Great question. I'm not certain, but I can do a test with my cheap compression tester tonight. Should be ok, as the last bit of engine work I did was replacing the pustons after a rebore of the cylinders.

Thank you, Roast. I've been chipping away at it for a few years in my spare time, so nice to get that feedback.

Yes, that ticking/clacking is the noise I'm nervous about. As mentioned above, the last work done on the engine was fresh pistons, slightly bored cylinders and a new cam chain. There is every chance I did something wrong in reassembly, so might be time to dig back into it. I cant remember if it made these noises before that work, so not sure if this is my doing.

Less of symptoms to solve on the carb work and just needing carbs. The bike was more or less a wreck, so I built the carbs back up from a few pairs and then had to do the setting process myself. Very possible they're too rich. Thank you, this gives me loads to look into.

It's not too cold here. I think that day was around 15degress centigrade. Good call though. I'll see if I can find some 20w/50. It never gets that cold here. Perhaps down to freezing a few times each winter.

Thanks Franz, I'll give them a looking over. I'd love for it to be something as simple as this. It has an aftermarket exhaust and muffler on it, so worth a thorough going over.


Thanks again all. Appreciate your thoughts.

 

Have you balanced the carbs properly?