The DRZ Thread

[Frannarossi]

That's a seriuos bargain...!!!

[Etienne2T]

i see cayenne advertising a 2009/10 demo (blue drz400e) for 25k

If it's blue it might very well be an S

[madmax]

they say e in the ad ...barksa the latest one (may)

[XT JOE]

A friend of mines DRZ400 lost the plot on the weekend while riding the sand in macassar, he switched the motor off straight away but then started it later just for all experts to hear.  It still starts and runs but there is something gone wrong mechanical. We will open it up just to look ,is there specifics to look for, timing chain/ valves etc.  Exept for a very little smoking it ran perfect. Who is a good source for parts and any thoughts appreciated

[N[]vA]

A friend of mines DRZ400 lost the plot on the weekend while riding the sand in macassar, he switched the motor off straight away but then started it later just for all experts to hear.  It still starts and runs but there is something gone wrong mechanical. We will open it up just to look ,is there specifics to look for, timing chain/ valves etc.  Exept for a very little smoking it ran perfect. Who is a good source for parts and any thoughts appreciated

Check the oil both from the sump and first from the oil filler neck on the frame for milky residue. Sand will mean heat at higher rpm's which given the going wrong and then smoking would make me first check if the head gasket is blown due to overheating.

Does it struggle to start now?

Mario @ dirt rider is the guy you want to talk too, great work. shout if you need the number

[XT JOE]

 , it does start easy

[N[]vA]

, it does start easy

mm that would be contrary to a blown head gasket, does it keep smoking when running now? is the smoke any sorta color?

[lecap]

... then started it later just for all experts to hear...

And it sounds like... ?

[MildDog]

I need a radiator overflow bottle for my E-model bike. Any one have one laying about?

[XT JOE]

... then started it later just for all experts to hear...

And it sounds like... ?

pretty good on exhaust(noisy aftermarket-but healthy), but noisy by the head/ cam area, touching with the cam cover with my finger its a noisy grinding sound--otherwise healthy with near perfect idling--stripping tonight

[sidetrack]

... then started it later just for all experts to hear...

And it sounds like... ?

pretty good on exhaust(noisy aftermarket-but healthy), but noisy by the head/ cam area, touching with the cam cover with my finger its a noisy grinding sound--otherwise healthy with near perfect idling--stripping tonight

Weird since the cam just spins in the head, no bearings present. Maybe an oil flow problem to the cam area ?

[MildDog]

pretty good on exhaust(noisy aftermarket-but healthy), but noisy by the head/ cam area, touching with the cam cover with my finger its a noisy grinding sound--otherwise healthy with near perfect idling--stripping tonight

Sounds similar, but worse, to that problem heddles had. hopefully he'll weigh in on this as well.

[lecap]

Which timing chain tensioner is fitted? The earlier wind up spring & screw type is somewhat failure prone. The later coil spring & ratchet mechanism is bullet proof unless mutilated by untrained hands.

This will not cause smoke.

[eikeboom]

Which timing chain tensioner is fitted? The earlier wind up spring & screw type is somewhat failure prone. The later coil spring & ratchet mechanism is bullet proof unless mutilated by untrained hands.

This will not cause smoke.

No the smoke was a bit of a smokescreen, it doesn't really smoke. XTJoe actually meant that the engine has done some hours.
Alec and XTJoe and I had a look at this DRZ tonight. When removing the tappet cover we immediately saw that there is LOTS of slack on the timing chain, that probably made all the noise. Everything is intact up there, no debris lying around, no obvious wear. So we took off the tensioner. It is not a ratchet type, so I suppose it is the earlier wind up & screw type. (Same as my 2007 DR650 in fact.) When we stuck a finger into the open (tensioner) hole, we easily pushed the shoe in and thus removed all the slack on the chain. Looking at the tensioner, we do not see obvious damage. The tensioner pin retracts easily via the little screw at the back/inside. The pin has some ("backwards/forwards") play at full extension - about 1,5 to 2 mm, we do not know how much is normal. Alec will take it to Colin's Racing tomorrow to get some advice.

XT JOE wil post some pictures.
Cheers guys!

[XT JOE]

one pic with eikeboom sticking his finger in chain tensioner hole and chain tensioning up

other showing slack on chain on carb side of head, ontop tension looks good

and the last , is this the culprit (quite a bitch to take out, i'm sure it will be fun to fit)

any thoughts appreciated

[lecap]

Get a new tensioner. The later ratchet type. I think the wind up screw type was superseded anyway.

Before fitting fully extend the tensioner. If you stick it in place it should be about a cm from the cylinder when it has taken up the slack. DO NOT FORCE FIT! Remove, reset and fit, then fit the spring.

If it's considerably less than a cm from the cylinder when inserted fully extended you might get a timing chain too.

[flex]

i see cayenne advertising a 2009/10 demo (blue drz400e) for 25k

Genaade, that sounds like a good price...
I just bought a DRZ s 2006, 8000kms for R25k yesterday. Clean but not new!!
Will post some pics soon.
Is that over the top for a 2006 ?

[flex]

What is the book price diff between the e and the s ?

[eikeboom]

Get a new tensioner. The later ratchet type. I think the wind up screw type was superseded anyway.

Before fitting fully extend the tensioner. If you stick it in place it should be about a cm from the cylinder when it has taken up the slack. DO NOT FORCE FIT! Remove, reset and fit, then fit the spring.

If it's considerably less than a cm from the cylinder when inserted fully extended you might get a timing chain too.

Thanks Jürgen, a new tensioner was ordered. They will also make sure that the timing is still fine.

[MildDog]

i see cayenne advertising a 2009/10 demo (blue drz400e) for 25k

Genaade, that sounds like a good price...
I just bought a DRZ s 2006, 8000kms for R25k yesterday. Clean but not new!!
Will post some pics soon.
Is that over the top for a 2006 ?

Nah, sounds like a good price