qlink xf clanging after winter storage

[milarepa999]

Greetings Good people
I have a qlink xf, I’ve had it since 2010 it has 12,000Km on it as I have road it every warm season since I’ve acquired it. Anyway I went to get it out from winter storage this year and started it up and the bike all of the sudden has a clanging clanking noise in the engine that was not present before or when I put it in for storage for the winter cold months. I’ve checked the cam tensioner and it is working properly. the rod was not pushed out all the way and has quite a lot to go before the rod would be extended its entire length. So the cam chain. should be good(by the way how long does the cam chain last before needing replaced?). The clutch is tight and good, valves are are adjusted to specs, changed oil and went over the entire bike for lose bolt and parts. The sound is just a constant clanging at idle and revved. Doesn’t matter if it is in neutral or in any of the gears, it still make the steady unusual sound. Sometimes it will all of the sudden stop for a while only to start back up again. Any suggestions as to what this may be So I can maybe go straight to the cause and fix it.
Thank you for your Help?

[FastDoc]

Loose exhaust heat shield? Broken baffle in muffler? Does it change with road speed? Engine speed? Engine load? How is the chain?

[Weldangrind]

If you disconnect the ignition coil and remove the spark plug, you would be able to kick it over very easily. Please let us know if the noise is present as you kick it over.

[milarepa999]

Thank you fastDoc and weldangrind Much love for your suggestions and assistance. The chain and exhaust are all good. The sound is coming from inside the engine and it does increase its frequency with engine speed/revs but not its loudness as it will pretty much stay at a constant disable level. The next 50 degree day we get here in the North east I’ll pull off the magneto and clutch coves and have a look inside. I read something about glazed clutch plates after sitting for awhile. If there are any other suggestion please let me know. I will get back to the group and let everyone know what I find.
Thank you

[Weldangrind]

I think it's a good idea to look inside, but I can't imagine how glazed clutch plates could produce noise like that. I've had experience with clutch plates sticking together, but never making noise.

Perhaps you'll find a loose bolt on the shifter mechanism, which is likely under the clutch cover on your model.

[alex_in_az]

Thank you fastDoc and weldangrind Much love for your suggestions and assistance. The chain and exhaust are all good. The sound is coming from inside the engine and it does increase its frequency with engine speed/revs but not its loudness as it will pretty much stay at a constant disable level. The next 50 degree day we get here in the North east I’ll pull off the magneto and clutch coves and have a look inside. I read something about glazed clutch plates after sitting for awhile. If there are any other suggestion please let me know. I will get back to the group and let everyone know what I find.
Thank you

had a similar issue on a CB125 many moons ago, the cam chain had skipped a sooth and one of the valves was just kissing the piston at TDC. it severely lacked power as well. I was able to re-time the engine without any damage.
The cam chain tensioners on those engines are not that reliable, IIRC you undo a bolt then spring pressure is supposed to pull the tensioner into the chain then you re-tighten the bolt. if the bolt is over tightened it can distort the shaft and it stops working.

[FastDoc]

I can't imagine what could have gone wrong in storage...

[FastDoc]

WAIT!

I may have figured it out!

Have you checked the oil level? Is it high? Does it feel or smell peculiar?

Maybe fuel got past the petcock (even if it was closed) and the needle valve. From there it goes into the engine and gets into the crankcase. This dilutes and ruins the oil, and your motor too if you don't catch it.

[milarepa999]

I’m hoping I just find a loose bolt and nothing major. The sound it makes is as if something came loose or is loose. It has its normal amount of power so I am hoping it is not a cam issue this early in the bikes existence. I ride with care and never rip around on the bike, so I can’t imagine that anything is worn yet, though I could be wrong. I will take into account all the suggestion and check into them when I open it up on Friday as that looks like when it's going to be warmer and comfortable enough to check it out.
Thank you Fellas!

[david3921]

Check the starter. I'm drawing a blank right now what it's called but the thing that moves forward when the starter is engaged that meshes with the gear could be stuck. Easy enough to check as the starter is easy to pull on the Qlinks.

[Weldangrind]

I'm guessing that the word you're searching for is Bendix.

[david3921]

I'm guessing that the word you're searching for is Bendix.

Yep, thanks Weld. Not convinced that it's the problem but it's the only thing that sprang to mind given that the sound goes away sometimes.

[SpudRider]

When you get time, please do post an update. I'm interested to learn the source of this unusual noise. ;)

[zingshoen]

probably the exhaust valve being a bit loose and tapping audibly?

[FastDoc]

I still think my theory is either correct or merits exclusion.

[katoranger]

I think that Doc is on to something. That has happen to me enough times.

[milarepa999]

Well I think I got the location of the noise pinned down to the area of the kick starter. Though when I had the clutch cover off I did not recognize anything amiss. When the engine is running it makes a noise more like a rattling rather than a clanging. It is not the same rattling that the kick makes when you have it engaged when the motor in running, the sound is different than that type of rattle. The rattle will stop every so often and its normal running engine sound will ring nice for a few moment then the rattle will return. If any of you good fellows have any suggestions as to what may be happening, I’m going to take the clutch cover back off again tomorrow.
I checked the suggestions you guys mentioned and everything seems well. Glad it was not a cam chain issue yet. The chain seemed well and tight.

[stretch8668]

If it were me I'd check every bolt and snap ring/ clip behind it. I just recently aquired bike that wouldn't shift cause bolt on shifting star loosened up and it wasn't on pin just my .02

[katoranger]

Exhaust shield loose or bent during storage?

[bogieboy]

if the clanging is near the kick start, i know my kickstarter is sort of loose, and makes a rattling sound... try holding the kick lever and see if that sound goes away...

[milarepa999]

Well I found that when I roll the bike forward a foot or two when in neutral the noise will stop. Rolling it off this spot will bring back the rattling/noise. Which is inside the back portion of the engine case. Anyone with knowledge of this type of thing or suggestions?

[Weldangrind]

You indicated that you checked the mounting bolts, but have you actually put a wrench on all of the engine mounting bolts to ensure tightness? On one of my China bikes, there are nine engine mount bolts in total.

[milarepa999]

Yes I put a wrench to all the bolts and nuts outside of the bike all perfect, The sound is internal and will stop when the back wheel rotating the chain is turned and positioned at a specific spot.

[Weldangrind]

I recommend that you remove the chain and start the bike. Does the noise go away? Run the engine through the gears with no chain and see if the noise persists.

[zingshoen]

did you get the rattling to stop? another thing to do is an oil change, to see whether there are metal shavings in it.

[milarepa999]

Problem solved,
Kick start idler gear bushing worn out. Not the gear mounted on the kick start shaft but the intermediate gear mounted directly behind the clutch /clutch basket. I have a $8.00 replacement i found on ebay out of a dr125 on the way.
Thank you all for the help and suggestions (currently running around on the bike without a kickstarter, in perfect condition and sounds great, 90 - 105 mpg)!!
Love

[pchitti]

I love cheap easy problems, its those otherones I fear.

[FastDoc]

Well done and thanks for the closure. This may help the next guy very much.

[SpudRider]

Well done and thanks for the closure. This may help the next guy very much.

X2! :tup:

[david3921]

Problem solved,
Kick start idler gear bushing worn out. Not the gear mounted on the kick start shaft but the intermediate gear mounted directly behind the clutch /clutch basket. I have a $8.00 replacement i found on ebay out of a dr125 on the way.
Thank you all for the help and suggestions (currently running around on the bike without a kickstarter, in perfect condition and sounds great, 90 - 105 mpg)!!
Love

I'm glad you figured it out. I have to question your mpg figures, however. The odometer reads in kilometers rather than miles. You'll have to do a convertion to get true mpg. It should be in the high 60s to mid 70s (just like tomorrows weather here, AFT!). My XF came with the wrong speedo drive. I was able to get true speed and odo readings by installing a bicycle speedometer.

[milarepa999]

Greetings Daive3921,
Those Mpg numbers are true. I’ve known about all of the factors you have stated in concern to my mpg numbers as I have been an owner of the xf since sept 2010. I also have done all the research and read all the information on this bike qlink xf/xp, SDK, qingqi 200, qm200 gy etx. The bike has all the common adjustments with 16t front sprocket, lex exhaust meant for a 450cc(personally machined to fit this bike) and the jets are a step larger than the stock. I use gps for accurate true readings for speed and mpg’s. I’m also a light person in terms of weight in-between 120 -130 ponds all year around. Also a very conservative rider at all times(well every once in awhile!!). I’ve done the highway thing(65-75mph, mpg’s = 80-85), off road and common road(40-55mph, mpg’s = 90 -105). This year I plan on doing more highway ridding and have a 45t rear sprocket on the way in order to suit such riding. Maybe my mpg’s increases with the new 45t rear sprocket(can’t wait to see). Mpg’s is my thing and I wanted something that could get such mpg’s. These smaller engine 125 -200cc light weigh bikes will most certainly achieve these numbers when set up and ridden correctly. at the time the Qlink was the cheapest best option for achieving this, plus the secondary air device on the bike makes it one of the most friendly gas engines in use. .

[SpudRider]

I believe you. :) If the carburetor is properly jetted, the bike is kept in tune, and the rider is easy on the throttle, one can easily average 75-85 mpg with these bikes. I have frequently achieved 90 mpg, and I have occasionally achieved 100 mpg with my Zongshen 200GY-2. If I ride the bike hard, I still average 75 mpg from my Zong. :)