[JoeMiller]

Hellooo Krisdo and Gang...

I've had my Marauder VZ1600 for about a month and have a pinging which sounds like "valve tappet noise" from the rear cylinder, not loud but a clear tic-tic-tick This is quite different from the spark knock one hears when doing hard acceleration from low RPM's. It's this pinging or ticking sound that I'm worried about. Do I have a bad tappet or not...?

Krisdo, in your late postings, was it a "pinging or ticking" sound that you were speaking of? If so, is this sound something that is common with the big Marauder?

My dealer suggested going to 20W-50 oil which I did considering that doing so was approved in the owner's manual. I think I'm seeing a very, very slight improvment with the noise using the heavier oil but not really sure and still not sure if what I'm hearing is, or is not, tappet noise. At times the noise goes completely away. There is no pinging when first starting the engine, cold. After it warms up for a minute or so, here comes the pinging. If the bike is warmed up from riding and you let it idle for a couple of minutes sitting still, in other words get hotter, the noise goes away. I think the noise is gone when cruising down the road with the engine RPMs up but can't tell for sure because of wind noise and because the pinging never is really loud. Hummm...

Any and all comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated. Everyone, please help...

Thanks!
JoeMiller

 

[Speedy502]

I have had my 2004 vz1600 for 2 weeks now and had the same problem. I found that the vz1600 requires a minimum of 95 octane fuel of course I have only seen 93 at the pumps so I started adding c2 which is 102 octane and the pinging completely dissapeared. Hope this helps.

 

[Easy Rider]

Any and all comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated. Everyone, please help...

A really LOT of motorcycles have that condition when they get to be ~10 years old.......from "sticky" valves.
Sometimes trying to "fix" it causes more trouble than just leaving it alone.

I found that the vz1600 requires a minimum of 95 octane fuel

Where exactly did you get that incorrect information ??
Are you sure you weren't seeing the European figures ?
They use a different system for rating octane and the numbers come out higher.

While some individual bikes can benefit from higher octane (because of variances in tolerances or other unknown reasons) I quite assure you that NONE "require" fuel with an octane rating of 95 (US system).

 

[Speedy502]

Unbolt the seat and look at the sticker where it tells you what the idle speed is. At the bottom it states minimum fuel requirement 95 Ron unless I'm reading it wrong which im not that means 95 octane minimum right? I can post a pic of the sticker to prove if necessary

 

[Easy Rider]

Unbolt the seat and look at the sticker where it tells you what the idle speed is. At the bottom it states minimum fuel requirement 95 Ron unless I'm reading it wrong which im not that means 95 octane minimum right? I can post a pic of the sticker to prove if necessary

No, that is precisely the problem. The RON method is used in Europe.
The US and I think Canada uses something like RON+MN/2 and the number comes out lower.

The US numbers might be on there too.......or you can consult your owners manual or another owner who has one.

 

[Speedy502]

There is no other info on the tag under the seat so I consulted the dealer. They claim 93 octane is the minimum however they say in some states you can run lower depending on the altitude. They had one there on the floor and it says 95 octane as well. All I know is I run 102 octane In mine and it no longer pings.

 

[Easy Rider]

They had one there on the floor and it says 95 octane as well. All I know is I run 102 octane In mine and it no longer pings.

Good. I'm glad that you found what works for you in that bike.

You might also find that you can now drop back to "plain" premium and it will work just fine.

And the fact remains that you can't go by that sticker in the US.

 

[timberwoof]

Have you run sea foam through it to help carbon build up?

 

[Easy Rider]

They claim 93 octane is the minimum

One more thought:
It is really hard to know exactly what you are getting from a pump where all the grades come out of a single hose.
The odds are that the guy before you did NOT buy premium and so you probably won't be getting the full 93 octane that you are paying for with a small purchase for a bike.
I think I've seen reports that something around 1/2 gallon can be "left over" from the previous purchase.

 

[QZephyr]

That's why I won't use share nozzles if possible.

 

[Easy Rider]

That's why I won't use share nozzles if possible.

Interesting statement......since your M50 does NOT require anything but plain ol' regular.
Neither does my bike so that isn't a concern for me.

 

[QZephyr]

Yeah I use premium anyway. About a buck more a tank.

 

[Easy Rider]

Yeah I use premium anyway. About a buck more a tank.

Yeah, well we've discussed this here before.
"premium" is not better fuel, just higher octane.
If your engine doesn't need it, it is a TOTAL waste......even if it is only a dollar.

Then there is less "turn over" in the premium tanks in the ground, making it more likely that you will get old or contaminated fuel......unless you live in an area with a lot of high powered cars........or a lot of drivers who don't know what "premium" really means.

Your bike and your money but using "premium" gas when you don't need it often causes more problems than it fixes.......since it fixes nothing.

 

[Speedy502]

I did try to switch back to 89 octane just to see and it didn't make any noise till I ran about half a tank out then the noise came back under light acceleration. Went back to premium and the noise went away again. I guess the original owner has run premium In it all its life and maybe it's just use to it. As far as sea foam I've never used it. Fixing to install a power commander and a hyper charger and a set of Vance and Hines big shot exhaust. Hoping to squeeze 100hp out of it with that set up.

 

[Easy Rider]

Fixing to install a power commander and a hyper charger and a set of Vance and Hines big shot exhaust. Hoping to squeeze 100hp out of it with that set up.

I wish you luck but fear that, if you are honest with yourself about the actual results.....and not the ones imaginged because it sounds so different........you will be disappointed.

All of those things put together are likely to gain you only a couple of HP......if that.

With an 8 year old bike, if you REALLY think you need more power, the money would probably be better spent on a "new" bike.

Riders spending ~$1000 dollars on trying to squeeze more power out of a cruiser that is good sized already never made much sense to me.
But then neither does spending any money to make your bike illegally loud.

 

[Speedy502]

Not really interested in a newer bike besides they only made the vz1600 one year and I like the way it looks and rides and as far as power it is plenty fast but I want a lil more and definitely has to be louder just my preference ya know not to concerned with the law. I was told with the setup that I'm gonna install I should expect between 25 and 35 hp. It currently makes 79 hp and 95 ft lbs torque stock. Any other info on this setup would be greatfull.

 

[Easy Rider]

not to concerned with the law.

I was told with the setup that I'm gonna install I should expect between 25 and 35 hp.

No surprise that you don't care what the law or your neighbors think. Loud pipes risk rights.

If you think you are going to gain an additional 25 HP just with the bolt-on changes you listed........I've got some ocean front property in Kansas that you might be interested in buying. Do some more research. I think you will be lucky to gain 5, which probably won't be enough to really notice.

 

[Speedy502]

Opinions very. Loud pipes saves lives in my opinion plus i like the way it sounds. if someone can hear my bike then they are paying attention to thier surroundings and not talking on the cell phone and running red lights and killing motorcyclist. You are not my neighbor so it's not your problem. I simply asked for info on this subject not your opinion on the law or how loud my bike is or should be. Apparently you don't know what riding a motorcycle is all about or have forgotten In my opinion. As far as the setup in case other people wanna know I will post dyno results after the install.