84 FJ1100 loud whining noise

[mikesmith]

I have a 1984 FJ1100 with 80,000kms and have started to notice a loud whining or howling noise (presumably from the gearbox?) when I slow up after the bike has been running steady in 4th or 5th gear for a couple of miles. The pitch of the noise does not alter with revs and disappears completely after about 10 seconds? Anybody with the same issue or knowledge of the problem?
Cheers from a pom down under in Australia.

[FeralJuggernaut]

I don't recognize the issue.  I am at about 100,000 miles on my '84.  Have you checked on rear wheel and chain alignment?  how about that pad on the top of the swingarm?   Is you chain well adjusted or have some tight spots?   I think the real issue is you forgot your ear plugs on a high speed run!     

When you use the word  'howl'... (internet interpretation here)     check your speedometer and speedo cable.    When mine went banshee on me, it was the speedo bearing going away and ultimately failed.   I found it in the 30-45 mph range initially.   Try pressing on the cluster face and see if that influences the noise next time you hear it.

Report back if you have further details!


Beware the Klavdy, I hear he is in your hemisphere this month.   

[mikesmith]

Thanks for the advice but chain & alignment all OK and noise doesn't appear to be coming from speedo or cable. Oil level is fine. I would need some decent ear plugs to avoid this noise! (it is definitely a loud "howl" rather than a whine). Local bike shop reckons it could be a bearing on the way out! Ouch. Hope somebody comes up with a simpler explanation before I start saving for a gearbox overhaul.

[rvnmaniac]

 Check that an inner baffle on the exhaust has not come loose it will make a heck of a racket on the 84/85 FJs.

[mikesmith]

Thanks Rvnmaniac. Bike is fitted with 4 into 1 with Pipeline can and I cannot find any issues with it - does not seem to be a baffle loose.

Maybe I should come at this from another angle and try and eliminate the expensive / dangerous possibilities first - has anyone out there had a gearbox bearing start to fail or make a loud noise?

I also wondered if it could be a front brake pad staying partially engaged on the disc - anyone had that happen?

Thanks for your help people.

[rvnmaniac]

 Yeah the stock pipes would be the culpript.......So you can eliminate thatlllllllll

[mikesmith]

OK, had a good run out on the bike today and I think the prize goes to Feral Juggernaut! Although the sound appears to be coming from the engine area, it does go away when I press the cluster face around the speedo a bit harder - and it does only appear to be in the 40 -50 kph range. It's a lot of noise to be comong from something like a speedo!

Right, so the next question is what do I do about it? Any suggestions?

Cheers Feral Juggernaut.

[waricle]

could it be the speedo drive?

[Fred]

If you haven't done it yet, pull the speedo cable and check for wear or damge, clean, lube, replace. If that doesn't cure the problem, move up to the speedo, which is more complicated, so I'll let some one else take over here.

Fred

[andyb]

Loud whining noise on my FJ is usually the passenger on the back... 

[FeralJuggernaut]

Hurray for me!         

Lube cable, good maintenance anyway...    What you will find next, at the top of the speedo cable as it inserts into the cluster pack is a brass 'coupler' that rotates from the cable.   Do whatever you lubricating instincts tell you to do.   I don't know what is the 'factory' answer and don't know anyone that has reversed the decay.   Only prolonged the final outcome...  we've heard rumor of white lithium grease; graphite powder; 3-in-1 oil; teflon spray(sp?);  and likely others I don't recall.    I'll tell you, I went through 3 clusters trying to keep my speedo a stocker.   I surrendered and picked up a cyclometer.  I use a magnet on the front brake rotor and run a wire up to the triple clamp and mount the digital part there.   I've had a number of 'fancy' mounting solutions, but the vibrations got the best of me so far.    If you go the cyclometer route, try and make a rally where Lee C. will be in attendance.  He put on a calibration clinic at the Colorado rally that dialed us in to a .1% error over a 20 mile course.          

The last speedo I took apart, there is a bell housing that either spins or gets hit by the spinning magnetic disk inside and it basically grenades.   What is the mileage on your FJ?    Mine went away in the 65-70k miles range...  may be an age thing too.

Ride Well!