Determined to eliminate my 5k to 6k rpm rattle sounds

2400 Views 33 Replies 7 Participants Last post by kiwi rider, 15 d ago

Leo310

Discussion Starter · 7 mo ago

I thought for sure it was in my fairings so I took them off. First ride with no fairings and the rattle is still there and maybe even more noticeable. The source is definitely not from within the fairings. Next mod will be the PAIR valve block off and removal of the baffle and valve. Block off plate ordered yesterday. In the meantime I'll be riding it as street fighter with some front blinkers rigged up.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #21 · 6 mo ago

The red/black wire goes to a charging port on the bars. Black thing zip tied to the frame is a electrical plug to the rattle valve/pair valve controller. The block of kit came with that plug along with the rubber boot cap to cover the air box hole. Zip ties not included.

Leo310

Discussion Starter · #22 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

kiwi rider said:
Is that the PAIR valve your blocking off there?

Yes and I didn't have to completely remove the fuel tank to install. I was able to remove every fuel tank connection except for the fuel line and hang the tank off the bars to the left side with some bungee cords. Successfully eliminated my 5k to 6k rattle sound.

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kiwi rider

· #23 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

Leo310 said:
Yes and I didn't have to completely remove the fuel tank to install. I was able to remove every fuel tank connection except for the fuel line and hang the tank off the bars to the left side with some bungee cords. Successfully eliminated my 5k to 6k rattle sound.

Nice work. Did you need to fit a delete plug of some sort to the valves power supply to stop the engine check light coming on? I removed the PAIR valve system on my Ninja 400 and it threw a code.
Late edit: Just re-read the bit where you said the kit came with a plug. All good.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #24 · 6 mo ago

Update after full ride on my regular commute, 66 miles, rattle sounds have not been eliminated completely. Most noticeable rattle was at just over 5k rpms. I'd say overall the rattle is reduced by 75% or more in volume and equally reduced in occurrence.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #25 · 6 mo ago

Another 66 mile commute and another update update, rattle sounds about like it did before. Maybe no reduction. Rattle/pair valve not the culprit.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #26 · 5 mo ago

Next thing to do is to remove the entire head light assembly and ride it around for a while. That might quell the 4.5 to 6+ k rattle. My determination is waning.

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kiwi rider

· #27 · 5 mo ago

Leo310 said:
Next thing to do is to remove the entire head light assembly and ride it around for a while. That might quell the 4.5 to 6+ k rattle. My determination is waning.

Yeah might just have to live with it. Seems like there's no issue with the bike mechanically so..

airhead83

· #28 · 5 mo ago

kiwi rider said:
Yeah might just have to live with it. Seems like there's no issue with the bike mechanically so..

If you wait long enough... old age and poor hearing will cure the problem.
In the interim, a nice set of ear plugs may be in order.

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kiwi rider

· #29 · 5 mo ago

airhead83 said:
If you wait long enough... old age and poor hearing will cure the problem.
In the interim, a nice set of ear plugs may be in order.

Are we talking about nagging spouses or bikes here? Both perhaps!

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airhead83

· #30 · 5 mo ago

kiwi rider said:
Are we talking about nagging spouses or bikes here? Both perhaps!

As you may, or not, remember from a previous life of marital bliss.... I could find some comfort with a nice pair of hearing aids, but then I'd have no excuse for ignoring the background noise. There lies a trade-off I'm still pondering a solution for.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #31 · 5 mo ago

Funny replies : ) Seriously, I wear ear plugs on my commute to work and long trips. Ear plugs seem to allow the rattle to be heard even more. The foam, 32dB reduction in sound (who knows how it is measured) orange ear plugs I've been using, enhance the 4.5-7k rattle. A 32dB volume reduction in one frequency doesn't result in an equal 32dB volume reduction in a higher frequency. Ear plugs make the rattle more noticeable.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #32 · 3 mo ago

I think I found a contributor to the 4.5k to 6k rattle while swapping out my OEM filter for a K&N. I noticed the metal mesh screens inside the air box at the bottom of the air intake tract / top of the air box and above of where the filter mounts, made a noticeable rattle with the slightest of touch. I proceeded to distort the mesh with just with my hand in such a way to dampen the rattle to the touch. Two road test later and I notice a reduction in the rattle across the 4.5 to 6k rpm range to more specific rpms, 5100 rpm, and intermittent in the high 4k rpm. It seems to be rattling in a tighter range, and not as broad and overall the rattle sound seems to be lessened.

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Leo310

Discussion Starter · #33 · 15 d ago

For sure the 5k rattle wasn't the pair valve on my bike (doubt the rattle was eliminated on Jake the Snake's bike by removing pair valve). I put the fairings all back yesterday and the rattle is barely noticeable although there is some rattle. The rattle may sometimes be the air flowing through my helmet? Probably not.

In summary, I removed the fairings (no noticeable effect on 5k rpm rattle ), I removed the pair valve (no noticeable effect on 5k rpm rattle). While checking the air filter I bent the internal air filter metal mesh screen so it wouldn't shake around so much and I noticed the 5k rpm rattled lessened. I could have bent the metal mesh more or shimmed the gap in some way maybe. I think the play in the metal air filter mesh right under the air box, right under the gas tank is the cause of the "5k rpm" rattle.

Rode my bike today 60 miles round trip and barely noticed that annoying 5k rattle. I did hear it though I'm not sure what was the source lol : D !

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kiwi rider

· #34 · 15 d ago

Well that's good you seem to have got on top of the worst of it even though the cause is inconclusive.

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