OK, this one is for the seasoned KLR engine masters, or anyone else
that has an informed opinion:
Fisrt off: this is a 2005 KLR650, 6900 miles. All manitenance is
done regularly. Runs awesome, never any problems. 'cept for things
falling off, but we all know about that...
So the questiuon is: what would one stand to gain/lose by removing
the KACR? (Kawasaki Auto Compression Release system. If you don't
know what it is, go do some research!
)
I have heard mentioned a couple of times around here that folks have
removed theirs with no ill effects. The reason I ask is I have this
ticking noise that is driving me mad, and I have an idea it might be
the KACR.
This diagnosis is not based on any facts or direct observations of
the KACR, but simply on the location and nature of the sound, the
fact that others have reported the same noise and suspected the
KACR, and the fact that by most accounts the KACR is not exactly the
most bulletproof part of this engine.
The noise comes from the upper forward area of the engine, right
side (right where the KACR is), somewhat intermittent ticking sound,
definitely metal-to-metal. It deosn't start ticking until the engine
is warm, and it has gotten slighty more constant and a little louder
over time. When I first noticed it the noise would come and go
every thirty seconds or so, ticking for a few seconds and then
stopping. Now it is pretty much constant; once the engine is warmed
up a little bit, it's ticking away...
Before you suggest valves,
it made the same noise before and after the valve adjustment.
(Valves were at lower end of spec, I adjusted to upper end) I've
also taken out and inspected the cam chain tensioner just for shits
and giggles, and it was fine.
So after listening to this ticking noise each and every time I ride
the bike for the last 4000 miles or so and thinking, "Damn, that
just doesn't sound [i]healthy[/i]...", I am at the popint where I
want to try something. I plan on keeping this bike for as long as
it lives, and I would like that to be a long time.
First move, of course, is cracking the motor open and taking a look
at the KACR, valves, etc...but then I don't really know what I am
looking for. I know where things are, but I'm not enough of a
mechanic to spot something if it's not an obviously messed up part.
So I figure while I've got it taken apart, why not just whack the
damn KACR off? After all isn't it just a vestigal part, made
obsolete and unnecessary by the modern wonder of electric start?
The unknowns for me are: How hard is it? What tools to do I need?
How precise do you have to be? What are the potential risks of
doing it? (besides the obvious "yew could F yer engine up real good
if'n you put it back tuhgether wrong or drop pieces of metal into
yer engine" stuff)
And finally, if I did successfully remove it, what are the downsides
of not having one?
Thanks for reading, and thanks even more for your replies...
:cheers: