Loud tapping sound from top end - oil light on??
 

Any ideas?? There is a distinctive tapping coming from the top end somewhere and the oil light has now come on (I've checked all the obvious stuff - oil level etc). :confused1:
Any suggestions much appreciated as it may stop me opening up the engine when I don't need to as I am in the middle of Africa at the mo...

Symptoms began about 50 miles ago and the noise has been getting steadily worse over that time - valves? cam? oil pump? something which maybe bery serious?

First, do NOT ride if the oil light is on! That means your engine has no oil pressure and you will destroy it VERY quickly. There is even an opinion that by the time the light comes on it's already too late.

second - what bike?

Thanks Grant,

It's an F650GS single spark.

...Ouch! I have a feeling this will not end well. Grants right, most likely oil starvation. Can you provide some maintinence history, last oil change, mileage of the bike, etc...

My first thing would be to look at the entrails

Drain the oil into a clean container and examine the oil filter .. and the old oil ... look for metal particles.
If the oil is 'silvery' then your engine is toast. The simplest thing to do when travelling is to buy a second-hand motor.
If the oil has slivers of oil then something is disintegrating .. finding out what is the problem.

If you have no particles I'd suspect a loose bolt or two are letting the oil pressure out somewhere - you need to find out where ..

F650
 

Good advice, Frank.

Brandy,
The best site I've seen for your bike is www.f650.com. The Chain Gang.
There's a wealth of info there and many owners that know their bikes only as a lover should.

I don't know where you are, but we do have a few bike salvage yards in the US.

He says "I am in the middle of Africa at the mo"

Just waht bit is the middle? CAR? Congo? Cameroon? Where ever F650s are not all that common.. but you could find one left behind by someone. However - look at the oil as teh first thing. It probably needs an oil change anyway. You may not 'need' a new filter as they maybe difficult to get. If you need a secondhand motor and get one from 'overseas' try to get one wiht new filters etc.

As 'Lone Rider' says - try F650.com - they know the motor...

If the taping noise is from the top of the motor that suggests looking in there for the loose bits... but I'd look at the oil first .. silver = toast.