HOW NOISY IS YOUR BOX???

[The smudger]

First R1150GSA i've had, 3 niggles.

1. Gearbox noisy. Seems to be noisy roll on/off at low speeds. Hard to describe the noise but sounds like a Morris Minor??? Also occasional false neutral 4th-5th.

2. Strange one this. More pronounced when hot. Riding in a straight line, no problem. If i corner, lay into a bend, slow speeds, left or right, i get a harshness/vibration. Sounds like metal on metal (ish)???

3. Fuel gauge. Fill tank (get about 25 ltrs in so not completely empty), gauge reads empty but the light goes out. after 90 miles, (done it twice now, same both times!), gauge goes up to 1 bar from full. Now here's the 'odd' thing, filled up this morning, rode 57 miles (still empty on gauge), switch off, switch ign back on, read full, left all day, got on to ride home, read empty, reached the 'magical' 90 miles, gauge slowly came up, now will be OK till i get down low again!!!!????

I know the first 2 will probably be 'usual for this model sir', but the 3rd one???

 

[jhock]

From the many noises that my bikes makes, the gear box is not one of them!

I would say it is one of the better gear box's I have had ona bike, no false neutrals, no noise and very smooth, which seems to be at odds with what some people say on here.

Still not as good as the box on my GSXR was mind, Suzuki know how build a gear box!

My fuel gauge is total oppoiste, fill it up and it stays there for about 60 to 90 miles before for rapidly dropping to half way.

 

[Voyager]

Problem No. 2 - Check your rear brake caliper, pads and for play in the final drive bearing.

It sounds as though the disc is rubbing the pads as you corner.

Problem No. 3 - Sounds like the potentiometer in the fuel gauge sender unit.

This consists of a wound strip of resistance wire (or something) with a contact that wipes across the surface as the float drops/rises. It alters the resistance in the gauge circuit and provides the gauge reading.

On my 1150GSA, the gauge reads full for just under 100 miles, then starts dropping. It sounds as though you have a bad contact at the 'full' position (or even the wiper running off the end of the contact - giving a null reading ?). As the fuel drops and the float falls, the wiper starts making contact at the "one bar from full" position and everything is back to normal until you next fill up.

The 'low fuel' light must be triggered by something else, or it needs a specific (high ?) resistance, rather than no current at all otherwise it would come on when full .

It is possible to remove the mounting plate that carries the fuel gauge, fuel pump and fuel filter and clean the contacts. I haven't done it but need to as mine has started acting-up recently

I've changed the fuel filter in the past - its not a difficult job to get it all apart - but drain the tank before you start trying to lift it (use the 6mm balance pipe to drain it rather than the fuel pump - I have quick connects on both ends of mine ).

I can't help with the gearbox question, I've never had an Oilhead box apart (Airhead boxes, yes ).

Bob.

 

[Colban]

First R1150GSA i've had, 3 niggles.

1. Gearbox noisy. Seems to be noisy roll on/off at low speeds. Hard to describe the noise but sounds like a Morris Minor??? Also occasional false neutral 4th-5th.

2. Strange one this. More pronounced when hot. Riding in a straight line, no problem. If i corner, lay into a bend, slow speeds, left or right, i get a harshness/vibration. Sounds like metal on metal (ish)???

3. Fuel gauge. Fill tank (get about 25 ltrs in so not completely empty), gauge reads empty but the light goes out. after 90 miles, (done it twice now, same both times!), gauge goes up to 1 bar from full. Now here's the 'odd' thing, filled up this morning, rode 57 miles (still empty on gauge), switch off, switch ign back on, read full, left all day, got on to ride home, read empty, reached the 'magical' 90 miles, gauge slowly came up, now will be OK till i get down low again!!!!????

I know the first 2 will probably be 'usual for this model sir', but the 3rd one???

How many miles has the bike done?.
Possible reasons.
!.Does it have correct SAE 90 GL5 oil in it?.
Some 1150s have a noisy 4th gear (mine had).
The 1150 can wear its gearbox input shaft/clutch friction plate splines to give rattling noise.
Strip,clean and lube gear lever pivot bearing for sticky changes.

2.Worn tourances can give noise/vibration when cranked over.
Check for rear wheel play in big bearing/paralever bearings.

3.Find the 4 pin plug for the tank guage/petrol pump behind the black plastic panel that your right knee rests against.Clean any corrosion from pins and reseat.Possible sticking float arm in tank.

 

[cookie]

number two is almost certainly your tyres IMO. all my GS have have made a horrible noise when banked, all been on tourances.

only doubt is that you describe the noise as "metal on metal".

i'd say three is a dirty contact track on the level mechanism. i've seen reports of things improving after refilling with different petrol, which might explain your experience.
discrepancy between the gauge and light can be explained by the fact that they operate on separate tracks.

 

[The smudger]

Thanks all,

I must admit i did think the noise when leaning was tyre related, it seems considerably less noisy when cold? Really glad to hear someone else has experienced the 'noise' and it seems tourance's do seem to suffer with this when worn, although mine are only about 1/2 worn so???

I've had the tank off, so had the connector apart, looked OK to me? The more i think about it the more i suspect the sender unit, although the light seems to be working fine so not sure on that one yet?

Mileage is coming up to 27k. The box seems very good when cold, just seems to have a bit of a 'backlash/bearing' noise when hot, i suppose theyre all like that??

 

[kirk71]

dude i have tourances on and yes you do get the old "rumble" when slightly banked over, but hey, it's a GS man
i have had mine for a month now and have accepted that all the "different" noises are part of the bike. iv'e been so used to v-twins etc etc it took a while for me to stop asking myself "whats that noise".
perfectly normal, ignore it and enjoy the beast

 

[ianboydsnr]

I learned early on to wear earplugs, gs's are scary without, I actually forgot to put them in once, never again

 

[(RIP) Yamaha1]

My box is extremely noisy first thing in the morning - occassionaly it's not all just wind, either!!

Not too bad during the day, unless I eat a burger with onions - them onions really go to work - glad I'm not an astronaut in a space suit!!

Mike

 

[PIGGLET]

All of the gearbox's on 3 GS's I've had have been a bit noisy when hot (as in a long ride on a hot summers day). Not alarmingly noisy or growly just a bit of a chugga chugga type sound when stationary thats not there when cold hard to describe but rightly or wrongly I just ignore it

RE false neutrals have a look HERE Made an appreciable difference to my bike for just a few minutes work

 

[The smudger]

Fixed the fuel gauge!

Took out the pump/sender to fit a new filter, and take a look at the gauge issue. The arm that holds the float had a very slight amount of play in it, causing the track arm to come off the track when lifted up and over, (if that makes sense!).

Gave the track arm a very gentle 're-profile', hey presto, all works as good as new!!!

For the first time sinse i've owned it i've filled up with fuel and it read full as i rode out of the fuel station, well pleased

Smudger.