1150GS Gearbox Noise, (Whine not clatter)

[donned]

Hi All

Just looking a bit of a sanity check on my 1150GS symptoms. There is a lot of talk about gearbox noise, mainly "clatter / ticking" (most of which i understand is normal due to gear lash etc). However mine has started to develop a notably louder "whine", under load, or on the overrun (reverse load i guess). Its proportionate to engine speed but disappears if i pull the clutch when moving and give the engine a rev. This rules out the engine itself (which is smooth due to recent valve lash and throttle sync) and the rear drive. I also pulled the gearbox drain plus and saw the magnet recess half full of shavings (although very thin slivers rather than chunks).

The bike has done 50k, of which i've done 10k, changing the box and FD oil at 5k. I've no idea when the plug was last pulled (if ever), or how recent those shavings are.

My suspicion is therefor the gearbox input shaft bearing, but my question is A) am i right in this presumption and B) is it advisable to get the full box refurbed at this point?

Thanks

D

 

[GORILA]

You are close to 'Mikeyboy' at Overland and Classic. Why not let him look at it and give an expert opinion. He is the expert gearbox rebuilder now, having taken over from Scriminger, I believe.

 

[donned]

Cheers mate, but ive already spoken to him yesterday pricing up a full refurb. Just trying to see if I'm going down the right route, and if anyone else has had the whining.

 

[dubster]

I have a similar 'whine' with the same symptoms as you (under load/disappears with clutch). No shavings in oil though. Interested to see if you find a successful diagnosis....please keep us updated.

Good luck

 

[mikeyboy]

1150 gearboxes can whine as the front layshaft bearing wears out,
Normally followed by it collapsing and scrapping the main casing

 

[jaak]

I had the same whine from the gearbox and replacing the input bearing made it disappear. That's already a second bearing in 60K km. Next time I'll take the overpriced original bearing from the dealers.

Br,
Jaak

 

[DrAlf]

I have a similar 'whine' with the same symptoms as you (under load/disappears with clutch). No shavings in oil though. Interested to see if you find a successful diagnosis....please keep us updated.

Good luck

Exactly the same here too. Been whining for a while and now getting worse - in neutral with the clutch out it sounds like a ducati and not in a good way.

1150 gearboxes can whine as the front layshaft bearing wears out,
Normally followed by it collapsing and scrapping the main casing

That doesn't sound ideal. I'd probably better pull my finger out and swap gearboxes. I'm guessing there's no way of telling how long I've got? I need the bike on the road for a couple of weeks

 

[Steptoe]

1150 gearboxes can whine as the front layshaft bearing wears out,
Normally followed by it collapsing and scrapping the main casing

Shortly followed by another whine, the owner when the repair cost is quoted..

 

[mikeyboy]

Shortly followed by another whine, the owner when the repair cost is quoted..

 

[donned]

Quick update for those interested.

Gearbox was pulled and input bearing was rough as a proverbial. Input shaft splines were also toast. Dropped it off with mikeyboy for all new bearings and seals, as well as a new input shaft. I was lucky to catch this on time (As the reason I was working on the bike was because the fd had just given up). Mike sorted that too as it seems to have been overshimmed by the previous owner (15k mile failure). I've got the box back in the bike but most likely won't get a chance to test ride until a few weeks time, but everything looks good from here. I fitted a new extended spline clutch from motorworks, as well as a new slave cylinder, so hopefully the drivetrain is good for many more 1000s of miles.

Thanks again to Mikeyboy @ overland and classic. Gentleman.