1981 GS 850 noise from the rear differential

[DADSGS]

Hey guys, I'm new on here and just inherited my dads 1981 GS 850G that he has had since new. it seems to be making a clicking or popping sound from the rear differential. It only makes the noise when the bike is straight up or turning left (weird know). Any help is much appreciated! Also if I need a new differential does the GS 1100 differential have taller gearing and fit on the 850?

thanks!
Mike

 

[Guest]

Loose or sheared off bolts.
Peel back the boot and have a look.

 

[DADSGS]

The boot is on the front of the shaft, the noise is coming from the final drive in the rear

 

[Guest]

Take the wheel off.
Splines may be on their way out.
Check the bearings

 

[bwringer]

I've also heard a similar noise if the bolts are backing out from the driven spline in the wheel.

You might also have an issue if there's a bearing going bad in the final drive somewhere. There's a spacer tucked inside the final drive, and if that's missing you can damage the wheel bearings and cause various noises and fail.

Either way, remove the rear wheel and poke around, and the problem should be obvious from there.



And for future reference, the rear "pumpkin" is called a "final drive", not a differential.

 

[Redman]

Interesting that you have your Dads bike that he had since new.
Would be further interesting to see photos.

Lots of info on GSR about the rear hub in the rear wheel.
Some of the advice given above is about that. Other advice is related to other things, but most can be observe by removing the rear wheel.
TO fully inspect the rear hub you will want to remove if from the wheel. But, when that fails it doesn't click occasionally, it goes krunch once, and then spins feely like an other new neuteral gear.


.