Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I'm thinking of buying a 88 GPZ500S its in reasonably good condition for age...but has a rattle at idle! I think it's the timing chain. Also hard to get into first after start up....but it's a good buy in my price range and I can do the work myself! HAS ANYONE GOT ANY ADVICE FOR ME!

Does the rattle decrease or go away when you pull in the clutch? --> Probably clutch rattle

Does it get worse when the engine is under load? --> Probably timing chain or tensioner.

Hard to get into first is often a sign that the clutch is not adjusted correctly, or that the bike is desperate for an oil change.

franko55 wrote:I'm thinking of buying a 88 GPZ500S its in reasonably good condition for age...but has a rattle at idle! I think it's the timing chain. Also hard to get into first after start up....but it's a good buy in my price range and I can do the work myself! HAS ANYONE GOT ANY ADVICE FOR ME!

does the rattle go away when you rev the engine and make a lot more noise when you back it off? if so it may be the timing chain/cct. your best bet is to use a long screwdriver as a mechanics stethoscope and poke and prod onto various bits of the engine and see.

Oh and, did you get it?