Knocking from behind Starter Gear Clutch case?

[TheGazWaz]

Good evening all,

Lots of stuff going on with my bike at the moment so sorry for the constant questions. You've been great help thus far.

My B12(K3) with 25k on the clock has been knocking from the bottom left of the engine for a couple of weeks now. I thought it was coming from the downpipe gasket area as I know the gaskets weren't renewed last time the exhaust was off a couple of months ago and now and again on starting it pops a little bit of smoke and fuel from that area. I'm renewing them this weekend to eliminate this.

You can only really hear the knocking at low revs or idle. It's not constant with the rotation of the engine but actually quite sporadic. The bike isn't losing power at all and all oil levels are good.

Tonight when I got home I tried the screwdriver trick to the ear and the knocking seems so much more prevalent from the Starter Gear Clutch (left hand side of the engine)

Any idea what this could be? It's definitely a knock and not a tick sound but like I say it doesn't go in time with the engine. It doesn't mater if the engine is in or out of gear, clutch in or out.

Could it still be a leaky downpipe gasket?

This weekend I'm doing valves and balance as well as new header gaskets all round.

Cheers all.

Gaz
____________________
Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

[Vincent]

Screwdriver "stethoscope" wouldn't pick up a leaky exhaust gasket

What's a B12? GSXR?

Are you sure the noise is abnormal?
____________________
Space Is Deep

[MCN]

It's difficult to identify what is making the knock with a screwdriver.

That will only tell you that something is knocking.

Best plan.
Buy a new oil filter.
Whip the oil filter off that is on the engine and 'carefully' cut it open.
You can do it with a hacksaw it will possible contaminate the evidence but you are looking for non ferrous material (well you don't really want to see any ) You can tell hacksaw cutting from engine failure particles anyway.

A 'knock' is never good news. Big end, small end, main or broken crank.
Or possibly clutch/gearbox.

It's not unheard of for engines that have never been stressed (run dry/overheated/raced) to fail due to component failure of bad build.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Vincent]

[MCN]

[Vincent]

Just cos you can't use 'em..............
____________________
Space Is Deep

[MCN]

[Papa Lazarou]

Which side is the clutch on?
____________________
Current bike: Honda Blackbird 1100 and a little 250.

[Vincent]

[MCN]

Bandit 1200 Knock
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[TheGazWaz]

Thanks guys n gals,

By the time I got to work this morning the noise had gone. I know that by the time I get home it will be back. Strange one this.

Clutch is on the right hand side btw.

Cheers

Gaz
____________________
Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

[MCN]

[TheGazWaz]

That's not a bad idea you know. My idle screw seems to be jammed and I did mess with a few weeks ago. I think the cables in them get a bit stiff from time to time.

I'll give that bad boy ago.

Cheers

Gary
____________________
Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

[MCN.]

My GSXR1100 sounds like a sack of spanners idling but I can't say it makes a knocking noise, just sounds mechanically busy.

[TheGazWaz]

It's a definitive knock. The revs stumble slightly when it does it as well.

I know Bandits are renowned for being noisy and my bike is no acceptation but this a noise that's just recently developed. If it was there when I bought the bike I wouldn't be so worried.

Mind you.. I wouldn't have bought a bike that knocked in any way shape or form.
____________________
Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.