GS1100E front wheel goes click, click, click

[crag antler]

OK here's the deal:
About a month ago on the way to work .
I ran over a road kill bunny.
If that wasn't bad enough, soon afterward my front wheel started clicking. 8O
As time went by the clicking became faster.
Same old on the last Summer RideWhat a trip
Way home from NH front end started to squeak :x
Now, while riding over to NH and back, I lost my speedo at Woodstock, VT.
If anyone has ridden here, you know you want to make sure you are doing the speed limit
Get home.
Pull the speedo cable 8O .NO problem.

Am I right in thinking I have problems in my front end ?

I am taking her to shop on Monday for inspection and to replace the front wheel bearings.

What else should I look for

Help :roll:

[lhanscom]

It may be your speedo sending unit, I've seen a few go bad, and that could easily make a clicking noise. When the wheels off spin the sender and see if it moves where the cable screws in.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but if the front wheel starts hopping a bit and eating carrots, you might be on to something.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you lost the speedo unit at the wheel. That would explain the clicking noise. Time to replace it.

[Anonymous]

I agree, it sounds like the speedometer drive.

[SqDancerLynn1]

You could have some of that road kill in the spedo drive, Take it off an clean it

[crag antler]

You could have some of that road kill in the spedo drive, Take it off an clean it

The poor rabbit was pretty hard by the time I hit it 8O 8O
. I don't think it sprayed anywhere.
At first I thought I had bent my fender or gotten something caught but no.

[Anonymous]

I had the front end click going on, too, on my '81 1100E. It was speed dependent, and was apparent when braking (when the cable flexed?). I spun the front wheel while it was on the centerstand, and figured it to be the speedo cable-drive at the hub. The front wheel came off when I did PS fork springs and new seals. I greased the cable-drive and the cable. Something worked - It's been entirely silent since! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My rear wheel used to do that until I replaced the rear wheel bearings. One that was actually bent 8O ........I junped my 750 about 15 feet and landed in a ditch...I think that is what did it

[dpep]

Doug,

Does the clicking sound go away if you squeeze on the front brake?

[crag antler]

Doug,

Does the clicking sound go away if you squeeze on the front brake?

No, when I am going down the road, while it is clicking, brake action doesn't have any effect on it.

I believe the speedo gear box to be my problem.
Thanks for all the help

[Anonymous]

The spedo cable is notorious for making a clicking sound as it begins to fail. To isolate this problem, disconnect it from the speedo drive at the front wheel and go for a ride. If you still hear clicking then it's the drive or a wheel bearing. The stock wheel bearings are standard size bearings and are easily matched at any automotive store, at about a third the OEM cost, and it's not rocket science to replace them.