Final Drive paranoia

bess the newf · Jan 10, 2013

Hello

I am trying to work out what this http://youtu.be/-if_b377CfY noise could be.

i have done the basic 12 and 6 o'clock hands on rear wheel and wobble test, and there's less than a mm of play. There is no grinding or friction sound when rotating the back wheel by hand (like our man in Argentina).

I have done 18k kms on the bike, and it is a 2010 R1200GSA. I have done the servicing and changed the gear oil and final drive oil at 15k in the summer, and have not detected any leaks since.

Yesterday, i checked the gearbox oil and had to add about 150ml - that doesn't seem right.

The only reason why i started to investigate this was because i put the bike on the centre stand with the engine running to check the engine oil level, and when i put it in first I heard the knocking sound. Now, I am paranoid - i've heard so many stories about the final drives that I am scared to use the bike.

I would be hugely grateful if those with more engineering and mechanical knowledge than me (most) could have a listen to the youtube click and suggest some course of action.

regards
bess the newf

Beemerman59 · Jan 10, 2013

It will make a bagfull of noise running it on the centrestand with no load and possible damage a perfectly good FD. Does it make any noise when riding the bike? No? Then its not about to explode. If you rotate the rear wheel(engine off this time, can you feel any vibration in the bevel housing? No, then your probably OK and just paranoid :thumb2

bess the newf · Jan 10, 2013

Beemerman59

thank you very much - your comments have made me much happier...
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/bow.gif

Nope, there is no vibration when rotating the wheel with the engine off. There is no odd noise when driving the bike either, nor odd vibration.

I love this machine, but i admit to being paranoid from reading the final drive threads...

regards bess the newf

G5RJO · Jan 11, 2013

Put the bike in gear with it on the centre stand. ENGINE OFF!

Rotate the rear wheel forwards and backwards, the distance it rotates is the backlash in the drive train. There will be a fair bit. IGNORE IT.

Look at the angle of the swinging arm when on the centre stand, sit on the bike and it will straighten out. So, when it's on the centre stand the UJ's in the driveshaft are operating at angles that make them work VERY hard.

What you have there is backlash and the rear wheel effectively driving, freewheeling, driving, freewheeling with the associated CLUNK when the drivetrain picks up the drive again. This is made much worse by the angle of the driveline.

IGNORE IT and stop running it in gear on the stand.

Roger.

(RIP) Miff · Jan 11, 2013

If you run a chain driven bike on the centre stand, you will get a similar sensation/situation.

Mav · Jan 11, 2013

bess the newf said:
Beemerman59

thank you very much - your comments have made me much happier...
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/bow.gif

Nope, there is no vibration when rotating the wheel with the engine off. There is no odd noise when driving the bike either, nor odd vibration.

I love this machine, but i admit to being paranoid from reading the final drive threads...

regards bess the newf

My suggestion - stop worrying, and get out riding. There are plenty examples of high milers out there, myself included, who've not had issues. I just keep riding mine to I have a problem that actually affects my riding

Humbug · Jan 11, 2013

bess the newf said:
i put the bike on the centre stand with the engine running to check the engine oil

I think you're supposed to switch the engine off before you check the oil level! :blast

AberdeenAngus · Jan 11, 2013

Put it up on the centre stand and start the engine.
Drop it into first and take it up to about 6000 rpm
Push it off the stand and post video of the results

davegs · Jan 11, 2013

oil AGHH no,

To check the oil level you put it on the centre stand engine OF, if it's been running leave for 10 mins to allow the oil to run back in the sump. There is no way you can get a correct reading with the engine running.

bess the newf · Jan 11, 2013

ok ok ok

gents

I appreciate the information about the mechanics of why there was a clunking noise - interesting and informative and slowly pushing me up the learning curve of how to understand and look after my bike.

the checking of the engine oil is a bit misleading - i warmed the engine up by putting it on the centre stand, but knocked the gear lever when it was on the stand and was worried about the resultant knocking noise. i probably knew about keeping the engine off to get a clear engine oil reading.

THe final drive thing was my worry - and is no longer, thanks to you folk with the knowledge and gracious goodwill to share that knowledge with me. I am very grateful. I wish i hadn't studied a girly social science subject at college but done something a bit more serious. Having quit my office job a few years back, I am slowly making up for lost time by getting my head around how stuff works, rather than paying others to do everything for me. Trouble is, this means i have to rely on folk like you to hold my hand.

I am thankful.

IJGser · Jan 11, 2013

Humbug said:
I think you're supposed to switch the engine off before you check the oil level!

Dam you beat me to it. Also don't put it on the centre stand!

Give it a run, switch it off wait say 5min hold level with bars whiles looking at the sight glass. I think?

Sent from my iPhone whilst driving and even with autocorrect I can't spell!

david a hall · Jan 11, 2013

Mav said:
My suggestion - stop worrying, and get out riding. There are plenty examples of high milers out there, myself included, who've not had issues. I just keep riding mine to I have a problem that actually affects my riding

You only go to Tescos on yours!! or Waitrose

Sgt Bilco · Jan 11, 2013

IJGser said:
Give it a run, switch it off wait say 5min hold level with bars whiles looking at the sight glass. I think?

Checking engine oil the Sgt Bilco way:

1) Get bike gear on and go down to bike. Bollox, forgot the keys so back inside to get them.
2) Take cover off bike roll up and put in boot of car.
3) Wipe the shit off the sight glass and check level.
4) If there is something black and slimy in the window, the job's a good un and we are good to go.
5) Start engine and have a great day

It's worked beautifully for 88,000 miles

Mav · Jan 11, 2013

Sgt Bilco said:
Checking engine oil the Sgt Bilco way:

1) Get bike gear on and go down to bike. Bollox, forgot the keys so back inside to get them.
2) Take cover off bike roll up and put in boot of car.
3) Wipe the shit off the sight glass and check level.
4) If there is something black and slimy in the window, the job's a good un and we are good to go.
5) Start engine and have a great day

It's worked beautifully for 88,000 miles

That's about as much bike cleaning as you and I do chap

Sgt Bilco · Jan 11, 2013

Mav said:
That's about as much bike cleaning as you and I do chap

Final Drive paranoia

bess the newf

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Beemerman59

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bess the newf

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G5RJO

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(RIP) Miff

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Mav

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Humbug

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AberdeenAngus

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davegs

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bess the newf

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IJGser

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david a hall

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Sgt Bilco

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Mav

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Sgt Bilco

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