R1150R Making a clunking sound when starts

[Coyne67]

Hi Guys hoping you can help me on this one. I have a 2001 R1150R, it has 183,000 klms on it. It has been really bad weather and I have not been riding for at least a month. To keep it charged etc I have started it once a week, to turn over the motor and charge the battery etc. To date there has been no issue.

Today I started her up no problem, was blowing a bit of smoke (not unusual and no real concern), however, without thinking while she had been idling for about 20 seconds I hit the trottle to blow out a bit of the smoke, gave to about 6000 rev, she then started to making a sound from the front of the motor which was not good. It is regular like something that rotates and makes a metal sound at regular intervals like metal clunking against metal but not full on hitting more like a chain not on a cog right.

I know it is hard to be sure unless you can hear the sound but let me add that the bike was in neutral on its centre stand and after a couple of hours I started it again and the sound was still there. I rode her around the yard in first the gear engaged as smoothly as ever and there was not change to the sound I only rode her for a few feet or so and then parked up again.

I am not very mechanical in that I understand the mechanics but have not woprked on engines so any help at all would be gratefully recieved.

Cheers in advance

[Boxer]

Your clunking sound could be any number of things, but I'd check obvious easy things first...like alternator belt.

You don't accomplish much in the way of charging the battery by starting up the bike once a week. The starter drains more out than you can charge back in unless you ride it for a while...maybe an hour or so. And it will over heat real fast just setting and idling. You could use a Battery Tender and just leave it attached for trickle charging when the bike is not in use for a while.

Make sure you have ample oil in it and ride it around for a while. If the clunking doesn't get better or worse, start taking parts off to check things, or let a mechanic listen and look.

[Coyne67]

Thanks boxer really appreciate the feed back will get it out for a run and have a look at getting the battery charger you mentioned. I am afraid it will probably have to be the mechanic as I am not great on engines. Thanks again

[riceburner]

could be the cam-chain tensioner sticking.

if the bike is running fine otherwise, take it for a short ish ride and see if it disappears? Alternatively - get in someone experienced.

[Coyne67]

Excellent thanks guys knew I could get some good feed back on here

[Sunbeemer]

You might be able to locate where the sound is coming from by touching the working end of long screwdriver to certain non-moving parts of the running engine while you press your ear angainst the handle end. Note, it will sound a lot different than usual, but you should be able to hone in on that noise. And let us know if it's in time with puffs from the exhaust or does it have a different tempo?

[Coyne67]

Thanks for the tip sunbeamer, I did as you suggested and found where the sound is coming from I am pretty sure it is the altenator it is above the motor at the front just under the petrol tank and appears to have a coil so I am fairly confident it is the altenator. So all I have to do is get it to the shop, thank you guys for the feed back very much appreciated.

Cheers

Paul