A question for the GURUs of GS...

[TheCafeKid]

The tank.
Ride it dude. If you chase down all the noise in these old bikes you'll go crazy. Like me.
If it was serious you would know.

You're probably right. It just struck me as odd that i had never heard it before we started messing with the carbs. Of course now that its balanced and running well on all four, it may have been there all along and i just never heard it. I AM being paranoid I know, but catching something early means i can generally fix it before it leaves me on the side of the road somewhere...lol

I will ride it like i stole it, and see what happens. OH! BTW Chef I got those lights out to you, but I'll be damned if i can find the slip with the number on it. Less than 13 bucks, and like i said, dont worry bout it. Someday, i'll need you to do me a favor or help me out with something, Ill give you a shout :P I will post the tracking number up as soon as i find the slip...

[chef1366]

You're probably right. It just struck me as odd that i had never heard it before we started messing with the carbs. Of course now that its balanced and running well on all four, it may have been there all along and i just never heard it. I AM being paranoid I know, but catching something early means i can generally fix it before it leaves me on the side of the road somewhere...lol

I will ride it like i stole it, and see what happens. OH! BTW Chef I got those lights out to you, but I'll be damned if i can find the slip with the number on it. Less than 13 bucks, and like i said, dont worry bout it. Someday, i'll need you to do me a favor or help me out with something, Ill give you a shout :P I will post the tracking number up as soon as i find the slip...

Thanks Josh! \\/

[uudfourty]

I rode around with a 10mm nut driver stuck between my rear fender and the frame for about 2 months.

That made a pretty strange buzz at a certain RMP range.

Just a thought.

[Dave8338]

[quote=focus frenzy;820686]clutch cable vibrating on something?

my 1000G has a buzz at a very narrow RPM spot and is not always there. it was driving me nuts till I figured it out.
it is the dress up cover that goes over the lower tripple tree fork mount.[/quote]

Have that exact same BUZZZZZZ on mine...found it one day while I was riding! :shock: (just had to find where it was coming from)

[renobruce]

Tom's (tom_mlc) 1100 had a noise that we thought was from the engine. Tom found it to be a motor mount. Just something else you can check. :-D

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Could be a lot of things. Maybe related to the recent work you did, maybe not.
I'm not suggesting anything, just mentioning this because your description basically fits the buzzing sound that can come from a defective starter clutch. One day it will start to buzz/vibrate and it's generally much more noticable after you've revved it and the rpm's are coming down under approx' 2,500 rpm's. That's what mine did. Seems funny but when I first heard it I found that moderately pressing against the stick-on case emblem quieted the sound. I actually thought it may be the emblem at first but that proved wrong.
After replacing the starter clutch I never did see any sign of why it buzzed/vibrated. The rotor wasn't loose, no odd wear marks on the shaft. Two of the 3 springs in the starter clutch were shot though. The rollers didn't allow a good grip either. Lots of slipping wear on the inside of the primary gear.
Backing up a bit, it's my opinion that a bad starter clutch would give you fair warning though before any buzzing sounds started coming. Generally, you hear a loud "CLACK" at the first stage of starter clutch failure. After time, it gets worse and gets to the point where it clacks everytime you start up, especially when cold.
If yours has done any of that, it may be the starter clutch. If no previous sounds have been noticed, then it could still be the starter clutch but it's less likely.

[max parsons]

if you put the clutch cover bolts in the wrong holes one can touch on the clutch.you'll know when you take the bolts out at the bottom right corner of the cover.

[TheCafeKid]

Could be a lot of things. Maybe related to the recent work you did, maybe not.
I'm not suggesting anything, just mentioning this because your description basically fits the buzzing sound that can come from a defective starter clutch. One day it will start to buzz/vibrate and it's generally much more noticable after you've revved it and the rpm's are coming down under approx' 2,500 rpm's. That's what mine did. Seems funny but when I first heard it I found that moderately pressing against the stick-on case emblem quieted the sound. I actually thought it may be the emblem at first but that proved wrong.
After replacing the starter clutch I never did see any sign of why it buzzed/vibrated. The rotor wasn't loose, no odd wear marks on the shaft. Two of the 3 springs in the starter clutch were shot though. The rollers didn't allow a good grip either. Lots of slipping wear on the inside of the primary gear.
Backing up a bit, it's my opinion that a bad starter clutch would give you fair warning though before any buzzing sounds started coming. Generally, you hear a loud "CLACK" at the first stage of starter clutch failure. After time, it gets worse and gets to the point where it clacks everytime you start up, especially when cold.
If yours has done any of that, it may be the starter clutch. If no previous sounds have been noticed, then it could still be the starter clutch but it's less likely.

Yes Kieth the bike DOES have that CLACK noise in the starter clutch. However, i have notice that SINCE this buzzing showed its head, it has done it LESS frequently. Also, the NOISE goes away when the bike gets hot. At first i was thinking cam chain slap, as a couple of people who have heard it suggested, but if it were cam chain slap, why does it go away when its warm? And yes the buzzing does seem to be more apparent when the revs are coming down, right around 2500 RPM. The thing is, other than the buzzing, there is NO apparent problem with the motor. I have ridden it pretty hard this weekend, and it didnt flinch once. I have to say that i am starting to think that you may just be correct. I shall poke around and see what i find. Thanks for the info EVERYONE!!!

Josh

[Steve]

I rode around with a 10mm nut driver stuck between my rear fender and the frame for about 2 months.

Speaking of which ... Hey Josh, have you seen my 10mm driver? :shock:
























j/k 8-[

.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Yes Kieth the bike DOES have that CLACK noise in the starter clutch. However, i have notice that SINCE this buzzing showed its head, it has done it LESS frequently. Also, the NOISE goes away when the bike gets hot. At first i was thinking cam chain slap, as a couple of people who have heard it suggested, but if it were cam chain slap, why does it go away when its warm? And yes the buzzing does seem to be more apparent when the revs are coming down, right around 2500 RPM. The thing is, other than the buzzing, there is NO apparent problem with the motor. I have ridden it pretty hard this weekend, and it didnt flinch once. I have to say that i am starting to think that you may just be correct. I shall poke around and see what i find. Thanks for the info EVERYONE!!!

Josh

In my case, the buzzing/vibration sound was obviously coming from the stator cover area. There wasn't any doubting it and I sure didn't need any second opinions. The clack sound during cold start ups was obvious too and I knew what that sound meant anyway.
I still don't know why the buzzing sound began but I took it as a warning that I was putting off replacing the starter clutch long enough. In my case, the entire clutch was replaced along with the primary gear. Some are lucky to only have to replace the 3 little springs and usually the rollers too, but that frequently results in a short lived fix and it starts slipping again. Most don't realize or notice that the slipping damages the primary gear too.

[TheCafeKid]

In my case, the buzzing/vibration sound was obviously coming from the stator cover area. There wasn't any doubting it and I sure didn't need any second opinions. The clack sound during cold start ups was obvious too and I knew what that sound meant anyway.
I still don't know why the buzzing sound began but I took it as a warning that I was putting off replacing the starter clutch long enough. In my case, the entire clutch was replaced along with the primary gear. Some are lucky to only have to replace the 3 little springs and usually the rollers too, but that frequently results in a short lived fix and it starts slipping again. Most don't realize or notice that the slipping damages the primary gear too.

Well ive been poking around, as i have a couple of spare starter clutch assemblys and primary gears laying around here. The part numbers DONT match on Bike Bandit, but they look exactly the same. The 77 750 and the 80 750 use the same gears. You think i would get lucky and one of those i have would fit?

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I can't say if you can use different year/models starter clutches in your case. I know the 1000 and 1100 use a similar, but different design.

[TheCafeKid]

Well if not, i will hunt one up. A new one is 140 bucks. Not too hatefull, but if i can find one being parted out, and get it cheaper, then great. thanks for the Help Keith, as always

[TheCafeKid]

I have a feeling you are right Keith. The only thing that still bugs me is WHY does it go away when the bike is warm?? The buzzing i mean? The CLACK is obvious, and i knew what that was a signal of. And the buzzing came about out of nowhere just like yours. We had it on the centrestand balancing the cabrs, (had fans on it to prevent over heat) and after balancing, it was there. I dunno if sitting there at a high idle (just around 1700RPM IIRC ) caused it to suddenly decide that it was time to start, or if it was pure coincidence. Nonetheless it has been worrying me. I just dont understand why it goes away when the bike is good and warm. Maybe better oil flow kinda lubricates and quiets the buzzing. *Shrugs*

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I don't know why it goes away when warmed up either. Hard enough to diagnose noises in person, let alone over the web.
First thing that comes to mind is it figures to be internal. I mean, if you generally locate the sound and press against various parts and it has no effect, and you don't see any hardware/bolts that are missing or loose or something rubbing, then I'd start thinking internal, which can be a warning.
The starter clutch is just one possibility and you did say yours is acting up anyway. That doesn't mean it's the cause of the buzzing though. Mine did start buzzing, along with the clack sound, but mine still buzzed even when I pulled into work, fully warmed up of course.