spear the cat

[Mark Olson]

I have heard stories for years about the clutch pushrod shooting out of the engine if you start it up with the clutch slave removed. I wondered why anyone would ever do this ,why would you need to?
So I was priming my engine after a trans repair to get oil to the cams before I started it and lo and behold I thought to start it up..put the plugs in and stopped myself ..the cat was in perfect position and if he was not sitting there I would have done it, but seeing him reminded me of the shoot the pushrod at the cat game..Ah the irony of it all I could have had a perfect score with a direct hit.

[FJmonkey]

Premeditated cat spearing, with video...

[Pat Conlon]

My cat still won't come into the garage...

[Hoppity]

I was trying to trace a squeak from the front sprocket area, so moved the bike to where I could get at it. My sister's old cat came and started peeing exactly where I wanted to work, so I threw some cat litter pellets down. At this time, I was unaware of the 'cat spearing' meme, and started the engine, and got oil all over my boots and the floor. Cat had moved, so I put more pellets down and replaced the rod.

Questions: how likely is it that the ball bearing has been spat out too? How would I know from the feel of the clutch? Would a replacement just push down the tunnel?

Dry, bird-like twitterings, quite loud, from the front-sprocket area, any leads?

I should have done a bit more research before tackling the original job, but I look forward to many happy hours browsing this forum, so that's a bonus.

The oil-soaked pellets are still in my sister's bin. I may have to root through the contents with a magnet. This is the god of speared cats getting revenge.

[Pat Conlon]

The ball stayed in when my episode happened.

I seem to recall one of our forum members (Hooligan?) disproving the rumor that the ball can come out, something like that...

[FJmonkey]

I don't recall anyone reporting loosing the ball after spearing the cat. If the ball did come out then you will have zero clutch feel and will not be able to disengage the clutch. So if it feels proper and you can change gears with the engine running, top off your oil and all is good. 

[Mark Olson]

Take a good look at the push rod , it is a two piece pressed together unit. when it has had a bit of abuse it will spin internally on the end and cause a noise as it wears itself down. when I had my trans apart it was discovered at assembly to be loose and worn and would spin on itself at the pressed together spot.

This is not well known by the group and it was Randy who found it during my trans rebuild. I had been living with a squeal before when using the clutch and after replacing the push rod it was gone.

The cat is still around and runs whenever I am near the FJ. He had previously knocked over brake fluid but that is another story.

[Hoppity]

Soothing words! Many thanks. The bike goes into gear in the garage at least. I'll drive it around the block a few times to give the neighbours a chance to enjoy the sight of a red-faced old  geezer trying to push a seized FJ up a hill, if the worse happens.

Re Mark's post: I'll look at the rod, though I gave it wipe with an oily rag to get the cat litter off it, and think I would have noticed. Previous history of noticing things poor, though.

Now, for the original reason I was meddling with forces beyond my ken: a dry squeak from the area of the front sprocket. The sprocket looks ok, no obvious hooking or burring. But could it be a knackered chain? I have a Scottoiler that keeps the back of the numberplate well oiled, so find it hard to believe such a noise could come from that area. However, a squeak is a squeak. At first it sounded like a bird tweeting. Anyone any experience/ideas about this? If I get a replacement heavy duty chain, will the skies fall down if I don't replace both sprockets if they look fine? Or should I just bite the bullet and replace them as a set?

[movenon]

Are you hearing the squeak while riding or are you hearing it while it is on the centerstand and running ?
George

[Mark Olson]

Always try to replace gears and chain at the same time , this will give you the best longevity. Use a 530 chain at 110 links and make sure at least one of the gears is an odd number to prevent premature wearing of the chain.

on the original squeak does it happen all the time or just when moving . Like will it do the noise in neutral or only when in gear ? or just when the clutch is pulled in or when let out. Is the chain at the proper tension and does it rub on the swingarm where there is supposed to be a guard .
will it make the noise with the engine off and rotating the wheel by hand or maybe when you are pushing the bike sitting on it in neutral.

I know that's a lot of stuff to check out , but it will help narrow it down to the problem.

[Hoppity]

Just before I put it away for the winter I had it on the centre stand, in gear, and the noise was there. I recall that it was louder when underway. We are having an unusually mild December - the drizzle is quite warm - so I'll go for a ride tomorrow, and see if it re-occurs or has magically healed itself. As a back-up plan, I'll order a complete set to be consistent. Nobody has said 'Aha! That's definitely the starter/alternator/warp drive', so a chain set is a cheap alternative. I'll just have to add more water to the Christmas gruel.

[Hoppity]

Been riding it around for a couple of days, and the squeak is still there, on and off, when the engine is running. Even there when the revs are very low as I'm coasting downhill. I'll have another look at that pushrod. Who knows, it might be a clutch thing, with the noise being transmitted down the rod. Do clutches squeak? Difficult to isolate it while I'm on the bike. I'll keep at it. What better way to escape Xmas TV?

[Mark Olson]

Keep looking you will find it. Try riding it ,put in neutral and kill motor and coast to a stop.
That should narrow it down.

[rktmanfj]

Check the rear frame cradle bolts... they commonly break.     
If they're both broken, you could be hearing the broken ends rubbing together. 

[Hoppity]

Keep looking you will find it. Try riding it ,put in neutral and kill motor and coast to a stop.
That should narrow it down.

Squeaks with the engine off, coasting down hill. Will have a good look at chassis and bodywork parts. And earplugs.