Suspect clutch rattle ???

[Guest]

A continuation of my " Now that I have it running...." post in the carb area. I'm guessing I have a clutch/basket rattle in my 83' 550e.

At an idle or so, 1000-1500 rpm, in neutral, with the clutch out, there is a "soft" clunk in the motor ( thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk). When I pull the clutch in, silence....... nothing but that sewing machine sound everyone likes.

1.) Is my prognisis correct?

2.) Does anyone have any experience with these they can offer?

Thanks.

[Nessism]

Some noise is normal.

[salty_monk]

Very very common.... As long as the nut holding the basket is tight then it's likely that the springs on the back have "shrunk".

The cure for that is to send it away to be reinforced & welded or to pull it out & cut apart, shim the springs & have it welded yourself.

Aside from the noise it's not usually a whole lot to worry about in my experience.

Dan

[don]

Thanks fellas. I don't have the experience with these to know what's normal or cause for concern. As I understand, the big nut is " held in place " by a lock tab. Unless that has failed, from what you guys are saying, turn the radio up and rock on..........

Thanks again............

[srsupertrap]

The rattle Dan has described is quite prevalent on the 1000/1100's once they have racked up some mileage or taken a couple of drag strip passes. How many miles on the sewing machine?

I cannot recall to many GSer's chiming in on this problem with the 850, 750 or in your case 550ES. Sure sounds like the same problem. Having said that it's probably worth removing the clutch cover and retorquing the clutch hub nut. You may find it loose because the clutch hub nut threads stretch. Some have stated retorquing fixes the problem, it worth a shot but I would tend to agree with Dan's diagnosis.

[Nessism]

When I said some noise is normal I meant that; no worry and nothing is wrong. The chain drive 1000's seem to be the worst in terms of clutch basket wear and looseness so understand that and interpret what Dan is suggesting. I don't think the 550's have the same problem although the clutch hub will make some noise at idle.

[don]

About 20kmi ridden respectfully. No real regular floggins, but some fun once in a while. Oh, btw, I'm a no clutcher if that has anything to do wit it. Use it to stop, go 1-2, and downshift. that's it. Ride 2-up often also. Maybe over the winter I'll give it a look-see.

[don]

Took the bike to work today. The recommenation of Rotella......thank you. It helped a lot. Also did the ol' screwdriver stethoscope to he cases. Sounds kind of the same no matter where I put it. Guessing it's just the sound that the tranny makes. Not going to concern myself with it.


Thanks again folks for the great advice. As mentioned in some of my other posts, you guys are the only RELIABLE source of info I trust.

[legaleli]

Took the bike to work today. The recommenation of Rotella......thank you. It helped a lot. Also did the ol' screwdriver stethoscope to he cases. Sounds kind of the same no matter where I put it. Guessing it's just the sound that the tranny makes. Not going to concern myself with it.


Thanks again folks for the great advice. As mentioned in some of my other posts, you guys are the only RELIABLE source of info I trust.

I just had the VERY SAME sound in my bike. I had to change the fibers and steels so I had a peak throughout the whole clutch mechanism... all is perfect... I put it back together, used the Rotella (thanks rustybronco) and all is fine... still have the "chunka chunck chunk chchc chunka chunk" sound but everything is definitely fine because I've seen it with my own eyes.

The guys here are great I agree. Maybe after I spend enough time here and in my bike I'll be able to offer advice!

[don]

Thanks legal, along with all the others, I'm completely confident that I have nothing to wory about. Sounds like.....that's what they sound like. Thanks.

[Rick65Cat]

A continuation of my " Now that I have it running...." post in the carb area. I'm guessing I have a clutch/basket rattle in my 83' 550e.

At an idle or so, 1000-1500 rpm, in neutral, with the clutch out, there is a "soft" clunk in the motor ( thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk). When I pull the clutch in, silence....... nothing but that sewing machine sound everyone likes.

1.) Is my prognisis correct?

2.) Does anyone have any experience with these they can offer?

Thanks.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=160396

Reply #9
Your description is exactly what my '78 1000 would do back in '79. Although, like it was said...the big GS's had the rivet problem. Dunno about the baby bros. If it IS the problem, its far cheaper to pull it apart yourself and take it to a welder and tell him to weld the rivets than buying a new basket.

[don]

Thanks Rick,

I looked in the service manual I downloaded from Basscliff's site and the gear and basket are rivitted. From your photos in your post it looks like I should be able to pop the cover off and wiggle the basket fully assembled to see if the gear moves also. If this is the case, I can weld etc. Just have to go easy on her till winter though. If it is not the case and all move together, I'm not going to worry about it mutch.

Thanks for the link to your post, 1 picture........1000 words..........

[Rick65Cat]

Thanks Rick,

I looked in the service manual I downloaded from Basscliff's site and the gear and basket are rivitted. From your photos in your post it looks like I should be able to pop the cover off and wiggle the basket fully assembled to see if the gear moves also. If this is the case, I can weld etc. Just have to go easy on her till winter though. If it is not the case and all move together, I'm not going to worry about it mutch.

Thanks for the link to your post, 1 picture........1000 words..........

Yeah, when mine rattled I didn't know about welding them...I just went ahead and bought a new basket and tossed the old one.

[don]

OK. You guys have heard enough audio (with video) to be able to tell if my bike sounds " like others". Here's a link to my half arsed video I did with my 1-million year old digital camera. Sorry for the video quality.

http://s510.photobucket.com/albums/s350/donmod/?action=view&current=MOV00068.mp4

Curious to know..........................

[Jonzilla]

My 1100 sounds like that at idle. Sort of like a steel ball rolling around in a wooden box. That's how I would describe it. I guess maybe its normal. This bike is still new to me.