New noise

[WhiteBeard]

Hello all,

I've been commuting to work for some time now and today the rain was POURING down.
I had to ride through pools of water that touched my feet when going through, it was really wet...

About half way on my way home, I get this strange noise which I hear when slowing down, or coming to a stop.
It's like a rattling coming from somewhere around the area of the front sprocket.

When I came back, I shot this video with my cell camera:
http://s1117.photobucket.com/user/PussinBoots2011/media/20130730_2245271.mp4.html

I've never had this before...

I work late hours this week, so I haven't had the time to take the front cover off to see if I can find out what's causing the sound.

Basically I just wanted to see if anybody here has gotten this noise from their bike before, and whether I should actually refrain from riding my bike until I find the source of the noise?

Thanks guys,
Nat

[Pat Conlon]

Sounds like your chain is loose, and on the lower slack side, the links are dragging over the muffler.

[WhiteBeard]

Ahhh, that should be it.
Will check it out tomorrow.

Thanks for the quick response, Pat, I really appreciate it.



Nat

[aviationfred]

Sounds like your chain is loose, and on the lower slack side, the links are dragging over the muffler.

I agree with Pat, a very loose chain can cause some strange noises, Except for the one. Nate's FJ has a 4-1 exhaust. The chain can not rub on the exhaust. If the chain is extremely loose it could rub on the center stand if one is installed.

Fred

[WhiteBeard]

Yes, Fred's correct, my bike has a Supertrapp 4-1 installed.

I adjusted the chain about 600 miles ago, and it still feels tight.
I do have a raised rear (Penske shock) and I did remove the lower shock mount in order to get a proper chain tension when the line between rear axle was aligned with the front sprocket. When I have the bike on the center stand, the chain still feels quite tight, maybe 5-10 cm  of play.

The noise is still coming when I have the bike lifted up on the center stand (like in the video), as well as when I have the bike off the stand.

As far as I could tell, it sounded like the noise was coming from the front part of the chain.

Nat

[fj11.5]

Carefull with chain noises, mine made a funny clunky crunchy grind noise just before the joining linked snapped? And broke lots of things  ,including the  sprocket cover, speed was not the issue when it snapped

[Harvy]

Nat, I think what's happening there is that the chain is a bit too tight, and now that the wet riding has wash some of the lube off, its clicking as it roll onto the teeth of the front sprocket..... that's my guess.......try just loosening it up a little and applying come more lube.

Harvy

[red]

Hello all,
I had to ride through pools of water that touched my feet when going through, it was really wet...
Basically I just wanted to see if anybody here has gotten this noise from their bike before, and whether I should actually refrain from riding my bike until I find the source of the noise?
Thanks guys,
Nat

Nat,

I would not ride that bike, as is.  Look at the oil in the Oil Level window, and see if it is clear amber (as it should be) or milky.  If the oil appears milky (or if you can not see through the glass), I would want to drain the oil, because water may have infiltrated somehow.  If the oil is clean, you could even pour it back in, or just add all new oil, discard the old oil, change the oil filter, and call it an unscheduled (early) oil change.  Any water in the oil could cause a lot of damage, so you want to be sure.

Aside from all that, you really need to see that front sprocket.  You may be due for new sprockets, independent of any water events.  Water may have carried some strange debris into the sprocket chamber.   If you can remove the chain from the front sprocket, then you will be able to rotate the front sprocket by hand (in Neutral).  That test will let you know if the problem is internal, or related to the chain.  Keep us posted, and best of luck, there.

[movenon]

Had the same sound, it was the chain. For me it was to tight (new chain, just installed). Take a good look at the chain, front and rear sprockets for wear, alignment, and play, don't forget to inspect the rear wheel and swing arm for play while in the "check stuff mode". . . I strongly recommend you take the front sprocket cover off and inspect that area thoroughly. It comes off easily. TQ the case cover bolts back up to 7.5 Lb, do not exceed. Hope this helps.

As mentioned by "fj11.5" pay attention to this problem. If it lets go you can (probably will) suffer a engine case damage. Very bad news.
George

[WhiteBeard]

UPDATE:

The FJ has been hibernating for a while, I've been working so much I haven't been able to look further into this issue.

Today I loosened the chain up, cleaned it and re-lubed it.

The loud clunking noise went away, but I still hear a softer, irregular clicking noise from the engine (?).
Maybe it's normal and I'm just being paranoid... not riding a bike for more than a month does funny things to you...

Of course, I had to make a video... 

Clicking noise

I have bought new engine oil, so an oil change is coming up, following Reds advice.


Nat

[Arnie]

Chain is still too tight.  Loosen it some more and listen again.
Your countershaft sprocket teeth are a bit "hooked". 
How are the teeth on the rear sprocket?
How does it sound when you rotate the wheel in a forward direction?

Arnie

[movenon]

Chain is still too tight.  Loosen it some more and listen again.
Your countershaft sprocket teeth are a bit "hooked". 
How are the teeth on the rear sprocket?
How does it sound when you rotate the wheel in a forward direction?

Arnie

+1 loosen your chain up more...... See if the noise diminishes....
George

[WhiteBeard]

Chain is still too tight.  Loosen it some more and listen again.

Okay, I went back and untightened the chain some more.
The noise diminished even more, now it's just a faint "knocking" sound, which can be heard if you put your ear close to the front sprocket.
Or like in this video below, push your camera against the left side of the motor.
It can just be heard above the metallic sound of the rear brakes dragging on the disc.

Your countershaft sprocket teeth are a bit "hooked". 
How are the teeth on the rear sprocket?

I tried to get a good shot of the rear sprocket teeth on the video above.

How does it sound when you rotate the wheel in a forward direction?

Same sound. The noise is irregular, so that if I hear it, then rotate the wheel back and try rotating it forward again, the noise is gone and comes back after rotating the wheel another 1/4.
I can actually feel this when moving the wheel, like a small roughness when rotating the wheel.

Okay, so I'm now positive that I had my chain set waaaay too tight. It was not completely tense, but needed a bit of force to push it up or down.
I had it like that for about 500 miles of not-so-hard riding, before this noise showed up.

I have a trip planned for this weekend, to ride my FJ away to where I normally store it for the winter, before the weather over here gets too cold to ride.
That's a 400 mile ride.
In the winter, my plan was to change the rear wheel to the GSXR one I have hidden away in the barn, together with new sprockets and chain.

Now I'm wondering if this trip is such a good idea. Would my chain be in a bad condition after the beating it got through the too-tense riding? Is there any chance that it will break?
I do not know what kind of chain it is, it was installed together with new sprockets by the PO not too long before I bought the bike, about 2000 miles ago. 1500 miles of that was with the chain adjusted loosely, rather than tight, with no hard riding.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Nat

[rktmanfj]

I'd consider pulling the rear wheel and checking the bearing in the sprocket carrier.   

[Arnie]

Yeah, I agree with 'Not a Lib'.
Check the bearing in the carrier as well as the rear wheel bearings.  If there's too much slop or you can feel "notchyness" then replace the bearing.  The bearilngs themselves are pretty cheap and easy to replace.

Hard to say about the chain without knowing make and model.  I would guess that it would make the 400mi trip, but that is just a guess and I won't be the guy walking if it craps out.  I've had a DID ZVM2 last over 65,000kms. ymmv

When you install the GSXR wheel, treat your FJ to new sprockets and a good chain. 

Arnie