• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Clunk like a u-joint

glib

glib

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
On my last couple rides I noticed a clunk reminiscent of a worn u-joint but of course I have a chain on the GS1100ES and it is adjusted well. My son is practicing riding on it right now in a parking lot and I can hear it clearly. I have never done clutch work but I?m wondering if it has to do with the clutch basket springs. It just started without any real buildup so I initially thought something was loose but maybe I didn?t notice it until now.
 
If there's a problem with clutch springs, the clutch is either slipping, or the springs are "heavy duty", requiring too much pull on the lever. A loose clutch basket can make a noise, but I've never heard it and can't help diagnose it. Have you double-checked the stuff you "know" is right?
 
Dogma said:
If there's a problem with clutch springs, the clutch is either slipping, or the springs are "heavy duty", requiring too much pull on the lever. A loose clutch basket can make a noise, but I've never heard it and can't help diagnose it. Have you double-checked the stuff you "know" is right?
Click to expand...

I meant the ones on the back of the basket but I really don't think it's clutch related anyway. It does sound like it could be coming from the hub but the cushions are intact so I think at worst they might allow slop but I don't think a clunk. It is definitely from coming on and off the throttle but it not easily repeated--almost like it happens more when you are not trying. Grr.
 
Could your chain have a stretched spot in it? The chain that was on my old 450 when I bought it did, and I could feel it occasionally when I'd lay on the throttle. The bike would hesitate a little as it took up the slack then surge forward. I couldn't really hear a clunk but I could feel it. A new chain got rid of it.
 
The clutch hub nut may have come loose. That's a common problem. APE sells a HD nut or you can get an 1150 nut which is larger and more robust than the 1100E nut.
 
Hinermad said:
Could your chain have a stretched spot in it? The chain that was on my old 450 when I bought it did, and I could feel it occasionally when I'd lay on the throttle. The bike would hesitate a little as it took up the slack then surge forward. I couldn't really hear a clunk but I could feel it. A new chain got rid of it.
Click to expand...

Chain is pretty new. Hub nut is tight. When I hit the rear tire from the side I hear a metal on metal bang. Not sure if it?s related. Still going over everything I can see.
 
So it turned out that the sprocket nuts—all of them—were loose. That is in spite of the lock plates which were loosened somehow. I’ve tightened it all up and the clunk is gone but I’m concerned that the sprocket, which is nearly new, should be replaced because the bolt holes may be oblong now. Definitely want new lock plates. What do you think?
 
Last edited:
This just doesn't make sense to me. I would think the lock plate would prevent the bolts from loosening. This same phenomenon seems to happen to the clutch hub nut also.
 
alke46 said:
This just doesn't make sense to me. I would think the lock plate would prevent the bolts from loosening.
Click to expand...
I saw that happen once when the lock plate was installed incorrectly. Seems the owner had folded the tab against the wrong side of the flats on the bolt head, which allowed the bolts to back out a bit. Not much, but just enough.

.
 
Steve said:
I saw that happen once when the lock plate was installed incorrectly. Seems the owner had folded the tab against the wrong side of the flats on the bolt head, which allowed the bolts to back out a bit. Not much, but just enough.

.
Click to expand...

I may have done this myself. What is the wrong/right side? I just thought the folded plate tab prevented movement of the nut. Obviously I was wrong but I don?t want it to happen again.
 
If the tab is folded tightly and completely against the flat on the bolt, it should be good, but sometimes you have to fold it to one side of the point, rather than the flat. You want to fold it against the LEFT side of the flat to keep the bolt from turning to the left.

.
 
Steve said:
If the tab is folded tightly and completely against the flat on the bolt, it should be good, but sometimes you have to fold it to one side of the point, rather than the flat. You want to fold it against the LEFT side of the flat to keep the bolt from turning to the left.

.
Click to expand...

Makes perfect sense. I don?t know how I would have biffed them all but they were all loose so I must have. They will be part of my pre-ride check going forward.
 
If you can't get the left side to flatten up just go around the bike and lean over the saddle. :)
 
Folding the tab totally flat against the flat of the nut or bolt should stop the bolt or nut from backing out. There is no left side whether it be top or bottom, right or left.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top