| Author | Message | ||
     Tx05xb12s |
I've been hearing this high rpm cyclical rattle when the bike is either just pulling it's weight without accelerating or decelerating from about 40 to 50 mph, and pretty much constant at speeds over 70 mph. I'm pretty sure it's not the motor because it purrs like a kitten when just rolling on/off the throttle and holding constant at various rpm's while the bike is in neutral. I've ruled out a loose primary sprocket or improperly adjusted chain by re-tightening the sprocket compensator nut to the new torque specs and adjusting the chain (even experimenting by running it briefly too tight and too loose to see if the sound changed). Also, the best I can tell with the wind noise, it sounds like it's coming from the right side and possibly behind me. Now I'm thinking either idler pulley bearing or rear wheel bearing. What do you guys think? Now let me tell you this little tidbit. This evening I was doing some cleaning and decided to take the rear wheel off so I could clean up the inside of the swingarm area and found that my pinch bolt evidently fell out on the road somewhere despite using locktite and personally torquing it up to specs. I reviewed the manual's instructions for reinstalling the rear wheel and torqued the axle up to about 24 ft. lbs. (if I recall correctly), backed off a couple of turns and torqued it up again to about 55 ft. lbs. (don't have the manual with me right now). You guys think the missing pinch bolt could have something to do with the racket I'm hearing? Also, I noticed the axle was way too tight, or it was just stuck (stuck unlikely because I just had it off about a month and a half ago to replace the tire and probably haven't ridden more than a few hundred miles since). I ended up having to put a cheater bar on my wrench to get it started. Maybe too tight and causing an issue with the wheel bearings? Everything spins free and silent with the bike up on my Pitbull. Dave if you're reading, I'll be calling looking for a replacement for the pinch bolt tomorrow. | ||
| Xl1200r |
It's probalby a front wheel bearing and you just broke the sounds barrier - that's why it sounds like it's behind you... Not sure how safe this would be, but get the back wheel off the ground and get it spinning. 30mph should be fast enough. Then, put the tip of a screwdriver on the axle, and put the handle over your ear. If that bearing is bad, you *might* be able to hear it despite all the engine/drivetrain noise. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Not sure how safe this would be, but get the back wheel off the ground and get it spinning. 30mph should be fast enough. Then, put the tip of a screwdriver on the axle, and put the handle over your ear. If that bearing is bad, you *might* be able to hear it despite all the engine/drivetrain noise. I hear a future "Darwin Award" entry!  | ||
| Xring |
You can easily feel a bad bearing even if you've never done it before. But you have to isolate the bearing, that is, you'll need to remove the back wheel and turn the bearings individually, and remove the belt so you can spin the idler pulley with no load on it. Could be the lack of pinch bolt was letting the axle vibrate a bit in the swingarm, so I'd try just replacing the pinch bolt first. On the axle sticking: Steel and aluminum swap electrons and fuse with one another if given the chance...always use anti-seize on steel/aluminum contact points. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I thought briefly about sitting on my bike while it's on the stand and ginning her up to 70mph to see if I can hear it without the wind noise, but chickened out. I could just see myself riding the bike right through the back of the garage into the living room. LOL! I'll see what the pinch bolt does. Maybe there's some slack without the pinch bolt, but I just don't see how since the axle seats so solidly into the swingarm and wheel when tightened up. But then again, that's the only thing I've found wrong so far. Otherwise, I've read several of you complain about the idler pulley bearing going out. This will probably be the next step. The bike's still under warranty, but I hate to take it to the stealership. I may just buy another idler pulley if the pinch bolt isn't it and see what that does. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
By the way, Bill you had some good suggestions. I'll take the wheel back off again and turn each bearing to see if they feel smooth. I'll also roll the idler pulley and do the same. I'll also check for runout on the idler pulley. I'm thinking that's probably where the noise is coming from. I guess while I'm at it, I'll reinspect the front bearings too. You never know, maybe I really am hearing something off the front end and think it's behind/under me on the right side. It's hard to tell. I sense it more than hear it I think as far as the direction it's coming from is concerned. Otherwise, could this be some lifter noise in the rear head that only comes on mostly when the motor's under load? The tranny shifts like butter and has given me no problems. However, could there be a problem that manifests at high speeds? It seems to me that a tranny either works or it doesn't. It seems fine, but I worry this is going to be something major. The rattle is so loud I can easily hear it over my race can at full song. It sounds just like it did when the primary sprocket was loose a while back, but I've tightened it and pretty sure it's doing what it's supposed to do. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Just spoke with Dave. He doesn't think the missing pinch bolt has anything to do with the noise and suggests focusing on the wheel bearings as a possible culprit. I'll take the wheels off tonight and see if I can feel anything. Otherwise, I guess I'm off to the stealership to see what they can figure out. Anyone else got any suggestions? | ||
| Xl1200r |
It's a lost cause. Crash it and get the insurance money. Just kidding of course. If this were my bike and it was still under warranty as yours is, I probably wouldn't have even done as much tinkering with it as you have. Just drop it off and tell them you'll be back in a couple days for it. Working on your own vehicles is fun and rewarding, but not when you don't have to. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I hear ya man. If tonight's tests don't come up with anything, I'll run it over to Independence H/D in College Station on Saturday and leave it with them for the week. They treat me pretty good over there for a bunch of Harley guys, but the last time I brought the bike to another dealer down in Houston they damaged the bike worse than it was when I brought it to them, and then gave me the runaround about getting the subsequent damage fixed. Once bitten twice shy. I've gotta do something though, I'm planning on taking the week off from work while classes are out for spring break and taking a trip on the bike. I love architecture, so I thought it may be fun to ride over to New Orleans and head north up the Mississippi and tour old plantation mansions along the river. A couple of them are also hotels, so I thought I would ride and tour during the day, and then be spoiled in beautiful surroundings at night. I can't think of anything better than a week on my bike to relax and forget about things for a little while. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Mmmm... Spring break on a bike, can't beat it. Too bad my spring break is coming up here in 3 weeks or so, and we'll probably have a good 2 feet of snow on the ground. Somehow I decided to go to Ireland instead... St. Thomas is sounding much better though... Oh well - this summer maybe. That's what I bought the luggage for. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Yeah, I have no luggage. Guess a tank bag is in my future. I figure that'll be enough. I'm just going to pack a couple of pairs of jeans/t-shirts and toiletries/underclothes along with my camera/phone, etc. I'm thinking I'll be able to travel pretty light on a trip like that. I'll be alone, so it should be pretty fast and lean. I'm just looking forward to some breeze on my knees and some peace and quiet at night. No TV, no boss, no profs. Just pretty views and the sound of my bike. I've about talked myself into bringing the bike in for repair Saturday. I happen to know they've got a 05 Firebolt demo bike over there. I've ridden it twice so far. I wonder if they'll be cool enough to trade me for the week while they're fixing mine? |
