[emrah]

Just curious if valve noise is an issue with other -7 riders. My bike is at 3800 miles, and yes, it has had it's first (600 mile) service. All the valves were inspected. I use 20W50 oil.

I still think there's a lot of clatter. It has done this from day one, however, before and after the valve check too. The mechanic says he inspected them and that the sound is normal.

Am I the only one that thinks these valves are loud? Does anyone else notice how loud it is on their bikes, or am I just being paranoid?

Emrah

 

[Guest]

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[Andy]

Mine makes a little noise now when the engine is cold. It does it when I first drive off at low throttle. Once it warms up its quiet. I have about 1,500 miles now. I skipped my 600 mile valve check. I just changed the oil and filter, adjusted the chain, torqued the exhaust bolts.

If yours is making loud ticking sounds when its warmed up. I would adjust them.

Andy 2001 ZR-7S

 

[jarelj]

Mine's the same as Andy's, more noise while the engine's warming up and then it dissipates.

 

[MedZR7Treker]

I always thought the valve noise was normal on the ZR. In fact, I didn't stop to think when the sound became a very noticable TICK. My freind said to me, hey that doesn't sound good. He looks at the exhast head and finds I'm missing a header nut. There are several others loose ! I've since read here how this is the most common problem, actually, one of the very few problems, with the ZR.
The ZR is one of the many bikes produced by Japanese manufacturers that are truly die hard. The engine is like a rock. A rock with a sewing machine inside, yet a rock just the same.:laugh:
Tony.

 

[titomike]

Hey mine did the same thing. I took it back to the dealer complaining it was "tappety". He looked at it and said they all sound like that. Next day about 80km from home the exhaust nuts worked loose and I lost both the retaining collets from one pipe. The damn thing sounded like a top-fueller until I borrowed a collet from another cylinder to get me home.

Now I run the nyloc nuts off a Yamaha XJR1300. They are nicely chromed and don't work loose like the originals.

And no...I don't let the original dealer anywhere near the bike anymore.

 

[MedZR7Treker]

Damn, why are dealers such a bunch of loosers?

 

[Tom Bozeman]

I am very fortunate to have an excellent dealership here in Fayetteville, NC, Team Power Sports (had to give 'em a plug) since they have been so good to me. Tom

 

[emrah]

You were right Med!

Hey Med, you were right. I was having my oil changed today, and mentioned the ticking. The guy said it sounded like an exhaust leak. Sure enough, he tightened EVERY one of those header bolts because they were all loose! No more ticking!

And I could have sworn I knew a valve tick from an exhaust leak. No wonder I'm not hired on by a pro race team yet...

Emrah

 

[Tom Bozeman]

Hey Emrah, that's exactly why I gave the kudos to my dealership. My exhaust bolts were so loose (at 950 miles) they had to replace gaskets, and charged it to the warranty instead of me. But next time it'll be on me, which is why I followed Martin's advice and ordered a torque wrench from Harbor Freight. Tom

 

[Andy]

Exhaust bolts

Hi Tom,

If bet your dealer forgot to check your exhaust bolts when they did your 500 mile service.

We ZR-7 forum users have a great advantage over the dealer mechanics... we know how to read. Just kidding.

I think after the initial break in (after the exhaust gasket seats) it would be a good idea to put some high temperature Lock Tight on the exhaust bolts.

Andy 2001 ZR-7S

 

[Tom Bozeman]

Andy...

Your'e correct on the 500 mile service, they probably didn't check those exhaust bolts, but I gotta give em credit for knowing that they didn't and did the right thing by me. I think they have spotted me in the showroom looking at and setting on the "rexer" 1200 and staring at the ZX 600r and said "treat that guy right, he's coming back." Tom

 

[Andy]

To 'er' is human. To admit your not perfect and treat the customer right is good business practice.

Andy 2001 ZR-7S