170i engine noises

[jdowpe]

Newbee here, less the 60 miles on my 170i.

I am alarmed at the amount of engine noise. Sounds like BB's in the engine or loud ping/knock that I would expect if the timing was off. I went back to the dealer and tested another and it pretty much had the same noises. They claim they all sound this way (125's, 150's, and 170's).
I have had 2 other Buddy's (a 50 and a Stella) both had refined engines noises.
Just doesn't seem to meet my expectations of a Genuine product.

Anyway is this the norm?
Thanks in advance.
JIM

[Robbie]

Jim,

Using your description, I'm inclined to say, normal.

The Stella and 50cc buddy you mention are both two stroke engines and that means there is a cylinder firing event for every turn of the crankshaft.
The crankshaft speed is fairly even on a single cylinder two stroke engine....doesn't change much between combustion events.

A four stroke engine has a cylinder firing event every other turn of the crankshaft......there is double the time for the crankshaft to slow down before the next firing event takes place.
As a result, you can hear all the mechanical things within the engine, such as the camshaft and cam chain, and on the other side of the crankshaft, the belt drive and clutch mechanism, re-accelerate with each firing event.

I might add, if you listen to a four stroke Stella, the same sounds you describe are audible as well....and for the same reasons.

As more cylinders are added, 2, 3, 4, 6 the sound becomes less and less....for example, a six cylinder engine has a firing event every 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation......the single cylinder engine has a firing event every 720 degrees, or two crank turns.

I tried to avoid muddying the water any worse, hope I succeeded,

Rob

[Swordsman]

Ride it till it flies apart, then take it back. Unless it's a new sound that wasn't there before, it's most likely irrelevant.

I sold a perfectly good Buell awhile back because I was a little unsure about the valve noises (among other things, but that's a long story), and I currently have a Ural that rattles like a frikkin' can full of lug nuts. There is/was nothing wrong with either. Paranoia man, we're all victims sometimes, especially when we've just dropped a chuck of change on the item in question.

~SM

[hal888]

I think the 170's are louder then the rest of the gang. At least, mine seems louder than what I hear from others. However, I haven't identified a mechanical problem. Wear ear plugs and go.

[toadold]

Some old time mechanics would get out a long handle screw driver and use it as a stethoscope. They'd put the blade in various places on the engine then put their ear to the handle. Used to you could by a stethoscope with a long probe that was made especially for engine diagnostics. For example if you couldn't hear the tappets on the valve heads click the valve tappets were probably too tight. A good mechanic could identify bearing squeals, loose chains or chain tensioner whether the oil pump was working right, and etc.
As stated on a single cylinder 4 stroke engine with solid lifters and a mostly aluminum thin wall die cast case, instead of a multi-cylinder cast iron engine with hydraulic lifters
you are going to get a considerable amount of noise. Sometimes if a noise disappears you've got a problem, like your cooling fan stops working, or your exhaust valve tappets go quiet.

[viney266]

The buddy is kinda loud. I like it, but they are noticeable when someone starts one up and leaves. I have a stella with an SIP pipe, so its not quiet, but the buddies do make alot of noise especially on take -off when first started, but it is normal.

[ericalm]

BBs in the engine or a loud knock/ping doesn't sound quite normal, though…

Is it a constant noise with the engine running? Does it change with RPMs or throttle?

The 170 is louder than other Buddys, but still pretty smooth.

[monnoracing]

My 170 has some noises. One is the belt slaps the case on take off. The other is the injector makes noise.