do gearboxes always make that noise?

[scribbles]

i had my gearbox rebuilt, the seals were leaking and it was very noisy till you pulled the clutch in and third was dodgy. i've just got the bike together again and all feels good but was disappointed to find its still making the same noise, although it is a fair bit quieter. do they all make this noise or was something missed when it was put back together?

 

[steveo]

what sort of noise ?

 

[Rob Farmer]

Yeah! go on. Describe the noise

Could it just be your carbs out of balance at tickover?

 

[scribbles]

i'll sing it too you! it sounds a like when you put a bag of rusty nails in a food blender on full crank.
no thats an exaggeration. havent thought about how to put the sound to words, a sort of loose clattery sound. i thought it was the clutch but ive replaced the input shaft and friction plate because the splines were shot. a bit of a clack clack clack, not as loud since the overhaul but it is still there.

 

[Tarka]

Try emptying yer panniers..............

 

[Sylvester]

I've had three airheads, all g/boxes have made the same noise. At tick over the sound is like a piston engined helicopter running on the ground but obviously quieter. This noise will go when the clutch is pulled in. I took the first one to a bmw dealer for a professional "ear" and was told they all do that sir. The sound is less when the carbs are in balance and when the oil is fresh. Some also whine slightly on the road like tyre noise. I've never had any g/box failures although I become paranoid when I see some of the horror stories on this website.

 

[Tarka]

I've had three airheads, all g/boxes have made the same noise. At tick over the sound is like a piston engined helicopter running on the ground but obviously quieter. This noise will go when the clutch is pulled in. I took the first one to a bmw dealer for a professional "ear" and was told they all do that sir.

Feck me that doesn`t sound right .

My two Airheads did no more than give a slight whine when riding along.
Even my Urals don`t sound like what you`ve just described.

The only time one of my gearboxes sounded as your description (including going quiet when the clutch lever was pulled in ) was when the gearbox output bearing was failing on one of my 1100`s.
That eventually collapsed and wrote off the clutch pushrod and clutch.

 

[Sylvester]

Feck me that doesn`t sound right .

My two Airheads did no more than give a slight whine when riding along.
Even my Urals don`t sound like what you`ve just described.

The only time one of my gearboxes sounded as your description (including going quiet when the clutch lever was pulled in ) was when the gearbox output bearing was failing on one of my 1100`s.
That eventually collapsed and wrote off the clutch pushrod and clutch.

Best put off the RTW trip I had planned for this afternoon then?

 

[Voyager]

i had my gearbox rebuilt, the seals were leaking and it was very noisy till you pulled the clutch in and third was dodgy. i've just got the bike together again and all feels good but was disappointed to find its still making the same noise, although it is a fair bit quieter. do they all make this noise or was something missed when it was put back together?

Who re-built your gearbox and what exactly did they do to it ?

Were all the bearings replaced ?

did they check the pinions for wear ?


What about the shock absorber spring on the input shaft - was that replaced ?

Were the shock absorber cam faces OK ?


Sounds as though it could be a number of things, so lets try to remove some of the possibilities first


By the way - What year and model is the bike ? ( ).


Bob.

 

[scribbles]

Who re-built your gearbox and what exactly did they do to it ?

Were all the bearings replaced ?

did they check the pinions for wear ?


What about the shock absorber spring on the input shaft - was that replaced ?

Were the shock absorber cam faces OK ?


Sounds as though it could be a number of things, so lets try to remove some of the possibilities first


By the way - What year and model is the bike ? ( ).


Bob.

its an r100 gs, 1990. i had mr scriminger do the box, he did all the seals and all the bearings and put a longer fifth gear in and the input shaft. other than that i dont know what else he did, except a couple of springs.
the loose clattery sound is not very loud but makes the whole bike sound a bit old and loose, till the clutch is in, then sounds spot on. a friend of mine has the same bike and it also makes the same noise. i just expected the box to be silent after a rebuild

 

[Tarka]

the loose clattery sound is not very loud but makes the whole bike sound a bit old and loose, till the clutch is in, then sounds spot on. a friend of mine has the same bike and it also makes the same noise. i just expected the box to be silent after a rebuild

So in all honesty you`re not exactly certain the gearbox IS noisy ??

Maybe you`re not familiar with the normal noises a 2 valve Airhead makes ??

Just a thought....

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

i'll sing it too you! it sounds a like when you put a bag of rusty nails in a food blender on full crank.
no thats an exaggeration. havent thought about how to put the sound to words, a sort of loose clattery sound. i thought it was the clutch but ive replaced the input shaft and friction plate because the splines were shot. a bit of a clack clack clack, not as loud since the overhaul but it is still there.

Clack clack clack sounds like the valve gear if on tickover speed at startup, does it go away after a short time? if so they all do that............unless it's had the mod done stopping the oil draining away at standstill.

 

[nud1e]

its an r100 gs, 1990. i had mr scriminger do the box, he did all the seals and all the bearings and put a longer fifth gear in and the input shaft. other than that i dont know what else he did, except a couple of springs.
the loose clattery sound is not very loud but makes the whole bike sound a bit old and loose, till the clutch is in, then sounds spot on. a friend of mine has the same bike and it also makes the same noise. i just expected the box to be silent after a rebuild

these are old, loose bikes - which is why we love then, and they all do that.
I thought that I had an expensive problem when I heard that sound shortly after I bought it, but they all do that.

 

[Monty]

its an r100 gs, 1990. i had mr scriminger do the box, he did all the seals and all the bearings and put a longer fifth gear in and the input shaft. other than that i dont know what else he did, except a couple of springs.

I am sure you must have already done so, but I would speak to Mr Scriminger to find out what he replaced and to ask advice. He would seem best placed to know what happened and what to expect.

 

[bumpmuncher]

and it was very noisy till you pulled the clutch in

is it not the Clutch actuation thrust piston/ bearing ? that makes that noise and it stops rattling when its put under load. did you send your box off with it removed and put the old one back in.

 

[scribbles]

i did put the same thrust bearing back in, it was a bit worn too. surely it only spins when its pushing the spring back on the clutch? i have been riding it quite a bit and i am getting used to living with the noises, think i will change the thrust bearing to be safe tho.

 

[Voyager]

its an r100 gs, 1990. i had mr scriminger do the box, he did all the seals and all the bearings and put a longer fifth gear in and the input shaft. other than that i dont know what else he did, except a couple of springs.

If Scriminger did it, it will be OK.

As others have said, they all sound a bit clattery at times.

I would ride it and see how it behaves. If it changes gear smoothly and stays in gear you should be OK.

Change the oil and check the magnetic drain plug after 1,000 miles or so. There should be no swarf and the oil should be clean (assuming you haven't drowned it in the meantime ).

Bob.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

Yeh, My 92 100gs is a bit noisy too, though I think that has more to do with the clutch which whines a bit in neutral,goes away when the clutch is pulled in. BUT.... My 80g/s, now thats a different kettle of fish. It is quiet as a mouse...

Now watch that hip swiveller come in and tell us that its cos its a mono

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Yeh, My 92 100gs is a bit noisy too, though I think that has more to do with the clutch which whines a bit in neutral,goes away when the clutch is pulled in. BUT.... My 80g/s, now thats a different kettle of fish. It is quiet as a mouse...

Now watch that hip swiveller come in and tell us that its cos its a mono

Zig Zackerly


As I've said before BMW got the concept right first time with the g/s.
Light, nimble, easy to fix and reliable

Every variation since has been a move away from perfection

 

[John Armstrong]

Light, nimble, easy to fix and reliable

So the saying, "opposites attract" is correct