Strange Varadero 125 ticking noise - Is this bike doomed?

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

Hey all

Bought this bike not long ago for £800... It had a ticking noise which sounds just like tappets so i assumed it was just the clearances so went ahead with buying it...

https://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/attachments/varadero/48137d1395934014-my-new-varadero-125-my-new-issues-1.jpg

https://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/attachments/varadero/48145d1395934033-my-new-varadero-125-my-new-issues-2.jpg

Soon after getting it though I soon realised it had afew issues... most of which are fixed now but one is plaguing me

https://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/attachments/varadero/48153d1395934049-my-new-varadero-125-my-new-issues-3.jpg

Turns out after swapping out both cam chains and also cam chain tensionsers and doing the clearances the tapping noise still remains.

Heres the noise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPjIsMa4BEE

Now I'm just curious if anyone else here with a varadero has had this noise? or anyone who could confirm what the noise is? As I'm currently thinking the worsed after taking it to a Honda dealer who told me after all the work i've done already its most likely the big or small ends which either way will involve a new crank... £505 for the crank alone...

They told me the Varadero has issues with condensation building up (when i first removed the cam cover on the front cylinder to do the clearances there was ALOT of milky crap on the cover so I can sadly say this has been the case with mine thanks to the previous owner) They said when this builds up it causes alot of problems with the oil and they have had afew in which have needed new cranks as a result of this issue.

I also read on another forum that the carbed models like mine have an issue with the air box getting water into them because the little clear pipe which is supposed to hold water is way too short. I can confirm mine was full and there was loads of water in the air box water chamber which also seemed to have oil in it (it was milky).

Is this Vara doomed?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvwjwYJY_u4

My slightly higher revving single 125.

Cam bearing has lunched itself. Safe to say its top end on yours.. likely the valve/cam area. Look before it shits itself.

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

Christ yeah! that sounds just like it...

Did you manage to fix yours? If so what did you do?

Thanks that's given me hope its not a £600+ repair job

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

Excellent and that solved the noise issue completely?

Good news, I will order some Honda camshaft bearings and see what happens

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

Excellent, although I've been in touch with Honda and apparently they don't sell the bearings seperate you have to buy the entire camshaft at 104+VAT a piece! Christ!

Was this the same for you and the reason you went to a bearings specialist?

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Do change the exhaust gaskets before opening up the engine.

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Is indeed why I went locally.

Robby, I'd like to say its the exhaust gasket but that is far too similar to my one, doubt they use the same cam but if they do they have a habit of failing with late or no oil changes!

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

Yeah i'm 99% sure its not exhaust gasket related... it's a mechanical noise. Just like tappet noise when the clearances are out.

gavbriggs · Crazy Courier Joined: 11 Jun 2013 Karma :

My varadero had this tappy noise and it was perfectly fine. I think it's the air induction to the exhaust the reed valves
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Recent bikes: Varadero 125 - Mod 2 3/2/14 - Bandit 1200 SK4

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

gavbriggs · Crazy Courier Joined: 11 Jun 2013 Karma :

I've just watched the vid and I can't remember it sounding as loud as that but the engine puts clean filtered air into the exhaust to burn off unburned fuel and can sound disastrous if they stick open.

I changed rocker covers on mine and it quietened down a lot but never went away. It may be worth checking the pipes to the air box are connected to the front cylinder I think it is and that the cover's reed valves are operating correctly

It's the secondary air system like an egr valve, suzuki called theirs the PAIR system. Can't remember what honda called it on the vara but I still have the manual so will look it up tomoz if req'd
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Recent bikes: Varadero 125 - Mod 2 3/2/14 - Bandit 1200 SK4

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

Hi

Thanks for the suggestion I've checked my workshop manual and yeah its the PAIR system. I will check the valves soon.

Could that really cause that sound though?

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

dreamscape · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 May 2014 Karma :

I meant the valves on the PAIR system on the cam covers.

gavbriggs · Crazy Courier Joined: 11 Jun 2013 Karma :

You've checked an it's that? Or it has it fitted. Just check the pipe work and then the actual reeds.

The reeds are a direct pathway into the exhaust so yea it could make that kind of noise. Easy way to check is remove the pipe from the cam cover and put finger over hole. It should not blow and if it is a stuck reed will quieten off
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Recent bikes: Varadero 125 - Mod 2 3/2/14 - Bandit 1200 SK4

Robster · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2013 Karma :

Mine's doing it as well! Sad

Took mine to the local garage today for an unrelated issue; as its hesitant to rev up and won't set off much faster than walking pace, figured the fuelling/firing is set up wrong.

Garage wasn't impressed by the ticking noise, bloke started looking online for a new engine, giving me numbers in the £££s to fix. etc. etc. left the bike with em today so they can check plugs, valve clearences etc.

This thread makes me feel a bit better, but my engine is very noisy/rattly at idle. If its not an easy fix i'll pass the bike on.

Best of luck with OPs fix Thumbs Up

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Up the bum no babies.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Got a video of yours??

Robster · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2013 Karma :

no, left it with Garage today, if it aint sorted there i'll get a vid done when I get the bike back. It tends to rattle quite a bit to be honest, hot or cold, so perhaps the whole engine is lunched.
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Up the bum no babies.

Robster · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2013 Karma :

Double check which plugs are in yours. Mine had iridium ones which are apparently a big nono for this engine, is apparently what's mullered mine...

Second opinion welcome on that. Garage swapped mine out for correct non-iridium ones, part no.CR8EH9, some fresh oil, and bike runs a lot better now aside from clattering still.
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Up the bum no babies.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Robster · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2013 Karma :

Oh really? garage was convinced thats why it was running poo. Well whatevs its running a bit better now. Previous owner was using them for ages apparently and bike's still running. Will get a vid up later tonight
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Up the bum no babies.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Yeah, it wouldn't cause your engine to mess up. Some bikes don't like them but I'm sure they are perfectly fine in the Vara Thumbs Up