BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Hi has anyone got a twin cam air cooled 1200rt near Peterborough that i could come round and have a listen to it cold start to listen to see if it sounds like mine. Dealer put cam chain tensioners in it and now say it is normal. Thanks Dave

If it helps the tensioner is hydraulic and overnight the oil can drain out of it resulting in quite a rattle/ knock on startup.  Leaving the bike on its side stand overnight seems to make it worse.  If you don't already put it on the centre stand to see if it quietens it down.  As your dealer said it normal.

Hi RTman10, the rattle is not on start up but starts after the bike has been running for 20 secs and then it comes and goes as i am putting my helmet on i can hear it. Still maybe normal as come off a silent pan european, just want to make sure while under warrenty. Once warm no prob. Thanks Dave

I can't remember, think it was straight away but it's some time since I owned one.  Never heard the LC do it. Somebody here will know for sure.

I have a 2010 model with just under 8k miles, if it's of any help mine has a slight rattle around the same time, it happens for a split second and goes, never to be heard again until the following day.


Regards
      Duggie

What viscosity is the engine oil.

Castrol 10/40 rings a bell, I did try 20/50 to see if made any difference which it didn't.
I'm not too concerned about the noise as it only happens for a split second, I'm guessing it's oil pressurising everything

I know someone who recently put 10/60 in his 2007 GS, it sorted out the cam chain rattle on start up.

Think BMW now recommend 15/50 for all air cooled boxers. You could just try what it's supposed to have in it.

Hi it has 15w40 oil in it that the dealer put in on service. The rattle is only for a split second but does it 3 or 4 times then ok until next cold start. I would really like to here another one to compare. Thanks Dave

Oldbrook wrote:Hi it has 15w40 oil in it that the dealer put in on service.

The BMW dealers are now using 15w50 for TC RT's.

I use what was originally recommended for the TC's 10w50 in my 2012 RT.

Why.  Are you of the opinion they are recommending a lower spec now.

Yes, the 15w50 is semi-synthetic, whereas the 10w50 is fully synthetic & has a wider viscosity range for cold starts/weather.

My 2012 build Twin Cam tattles as follows. After a long period (over a couple of weeks) of inactivity a rattle is heard when pulling away i.e. Engine under light load.  This disappears after a hundred yards Nothing is heard on initial idle after starting. When the bike is in more or less daily use no rattle is heard at all. All my RT,s have been similar in this respect. I do not normally start the engine and let it idle but ride away after a few seconds.

Hi Our Gee, thanks for that, my bike is in daily use and rattles every day and i also notice that it seams to rattle on the over run, a lot louder when cold but i can hear it all the time. I think bad to the dealer and leave it with them to sort. dave