Valve rattle????? NOOOOOOO!!!!!

[fazersteve210]

Riding to my friends house the other day, started to hear a rattle noise from the bike. initially thought it was a loose fairing so i started to hold onto parts to see what was rattle was.... couldn't find it. got to the house fine..... i think its the valves cause a 4banger car i had a while back made the same noise.... how hard is it to do the valves on these bikes??? 1993 fzr600. 31k mi. i know its about time for it... i have a spare bike with about 20k on the motor. should i just switch the heads? the spare is a 91 fzr600 but its a cali model. is there any diff between the heads? i dont think there is but im not sure. also , where can i buy a new head gasket? valve springs/retainers?

[DonTZ125]

Well, before you panic and buy $$$ worth of parts, the valve clearances can be checked with head and engine in the chassis. Also, these bikes tend to tighten their valves, rather than loosen them.

Check your clearances, let us know.

[sweekster]

Low on oil? You've tried the old flat head screw driver on the valve cover and then your ear to the screwdriver trick while it's running? Surprising what you can hear and confirm that way. You mention this being a, EXUP (Cali) 600, does it still have the EXUP header on it? The exup valve can start to make a rattling noise when it's time to regrease it. I'm suggesting these because I experienced similar with my old bike (a 92 Cali 600) and it turned out be all the stupid emissions stuff making the noises.

[DonTZ125]

Good point - my EXUP valve sounded like a handful of change in a clothes dryer!

[gkotlin]

Make sure you haven't broken some exhaust springs or lost bolts. When those are missing, they can make rattling sounds too.

[McFizzer]

Its not your brain right? If so all is well.....

I think he meant the spare bike/motor is a cali model not his current

[sweekster]

I think he meant the spare bike/motor is a cali model not his current

HA!!! I didn't catch that. Ok sooooooo....

the spare is a 91 fzr600 but its a cali model. is there any diff between the heads? i dont think there is but im not sure.

There is isn't that much difference. The Cali head will have the holes for the Air injection setup just above the exhaust ports. You can tap the holes and plug them with 3/8th inch set screws. I've heard of people using really large rivets too. The cams have a slightly different profile, at least so I've read. No way to confirm that. Otherwise they are the same. I'd try Cometic for the head gasket. Versah makes one too. Should also be able to get one from the dealership.

Hopefully I was actually helpful this time....