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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: restinthesun on August 07, 2016, 11:39:41 AM

Title: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on August 07, 2016, 11:39:41 AM
Hi all, this may be a wicket noobie question, but thought I'd arsk before something funny happened.

When I'm stopped in neutral the bike makes a pretty good whackity-whackity-whackity sound, but if I put the clutch in it stops. Is it normal to have a funny noise change when clutch not in? without actually hearing it...

She's a '88 K75S...

Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on August 07, 2016, 01:02:12 PM
When I'm stopped in neutral the bike makes a pretty good whackity-whackity-whackity sound, but if I put the clutch in it stops. Is it normal to have a funny noise change when clutch not in? without actually hearing it...
You should  post an audio file. .mov formats have unexpectedly worked here sometimes. YouTube works. mp4 works.

It could a mummified mouse whose tail is caught in the driveshaft u-joint, or some other condition but I bet it will be identified by somebody once it's heard.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on August 07, 2016, 02:38:58 PM
It didn't seem so pronounced when I first turned it on but you can hear it build a bit in the recording (starts at about :10). It seems even louder once she warms up. I can get a recording of that if this isn't enough. You can hear I pulled in the clutch at :17 and :26.

Ideas?

Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on August 07, 2016, 02:46:34 PM
Ideas?
That noise wouldn't bother me. If it started to, I'd just wear earplugs.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on August 08, 2016, 06:51:52 AM
I realize denial isn't a technique that works for everyone, so for elucidation read this epic thread  (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7663.0.html)that includes audio.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on August 08, 2016, 07:20:47 AM
I'm not that concerned with it, but the fact that it stops when I pull in the clutch...I thought someone with more engine know-how might be able to tell me what processes are going on that could possibly make such a noise go away.

Or if, indeed, like the other thread you posted, it's just a quirk of the bike and won't affect anything execpt my sensitive ears at stop signs.

 :dunno

You'd think I wasn't the only one with such a noise...
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on August 08, 2016, 07:41:50 AM
I'm not that concerned with it, but the fact that it stops when I pull in the clutch...I thought someone with more engine know-how might be able to tell me what processes are going on that could possibly make such a noise go away.
 
You'd think I wasn't the only one with such a noise...
Let's face this head on. If you weren't concerned with it, you wouldn't have started this thread, :hehehe but it's an important topic that should be aired once in a while and I'm glad you did.

My know-how tells me that when pressure is applied to some rattling assemblies, they stop rattling. When centrifugal force is applied to some rattling assemblies they stop rattling. When attempts to make some rattling assemblies stop rattling, they won't; it's in their nature. When earplugs of sufficient density are applied, rattles aren't heard.

Surely, the one thing to be gotten from the epic thread is that your bike's not the only one with such a noise, but if that thread doesn't convince you, there are others that might—out there somewhere.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on August 08, 2016, 07:47:07 AM
Ha! Too true. Maybe "concerned" was too strong a word... it was a matter "of interest" to me and possibly the K-bike commune...

First world problems, eh?  :musicboohoo:

I'd happily take other theories and solutions other than the earmuff ideal, but will probably just ignore until winter when I dive into the bastard for other upkeep.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Jez on September 26, 2016, 12:54:28 PM
Not an expert  but there is a cush drive on the first motion shaft, it does wear but not a big issue. Jez
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Jonico on February 05, 2017, 02:57:23 PM

Hello from occasionally sunny Spain!
My 1986 K75F has the same problem as restinthesun mentions. The thing that raises my eyebrows is that, like he says, the thwacking rattle goes away when you pull in the clutch. In the "epic thread" they're careful to point out that in their case pulling in the clutch doesn't change anything. So is this a clutch related problem? Did anyone ever get to the bottom of it and solve it? I'm about as excited at the prospect of getting the clutch replaced as I am about getting a hip replacement.

John

Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on February 05, 2017, 03:39:09 PM
I'm about as excited at the prospect of getting the clutch replaced as I am about getting a hip replacement.
It could be a couple things. Earplugs and clutch lever usage are the way I would go.
Now that we are in the New Millennium, why not provide a sound file? Make one and paste its URL in the reply box, or use the Attachments and other options line under the box if the file is on your desktop. Your bike might have a sound that has never been heard in recorded history!


When is your hip replacement?
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Martin on February 05, 2017, 04:23:01 PM

The clutch noise is built in, mine has had it for the last 120,000 K's. You can also get alternator Monkey nut noises and balance shaft noise.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Jonico on February 05, 2017, 04:59:55 PM
Thanks Laitch and Martin. I'll get an audio clip tomorrow to delight everyone's ears. When it comes to mechanics, I'm as wrenchless as I am useless. I bought this K75 a few years ago, a total frankenbike as its VIM decodes it as a 1985 K75C but it has a police full fairing like an RT, and it has ABS (with the red letters on the cylinders--is that ABS1 or ABS2?). I didn't think you could backfit ABS onto a bike but... it kicks in fine and stops on a dime.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on February 05, 2017, 06:05:39 PM
I didn't think you could backfit ABS onto a bike but... it kicks in fine and stops on a dime. . . .with the red letters on the cylinders--is that ABS1 or ABS2?
I didn't think you could install a barbecue on the back of a bike but yours looks great. :giggles  Maybe it is the perspective. Anyway,  that's ABS I with red letters on your bike. Here are the particulars (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,538.0.html) from MB.C's Technical Library.

You've got a fine specimen there, John. Ride it, enjoy it, keep with a regular maintenance schedule and leave the obsessing to us. How many miles does it have on it and how many have you ridden it?

Please post some larger profile photos of the bike here or in the Klassic K-bike section—preferably in the K-bike section so we won't be distracted from the obsessing about your incoming audio file.  :yes
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: F14CRAZY on February 05, 2017, 08:04:45 PM
My bike has done the same thing...Oh well. I've put over 40k on the bike and nothing's getting worse
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Motorhobo on February 06, 2017, 11:41:54 AM
Well -- Martin says that noise is built in but I'm not so sure. Here's my story.

I had exactly what you are describing for a long, long time. I don't have it any more. Two things happened that made it go away:

First, I replaced my final drive and drive shaft with Bruno-rebuilt ones that I got off a parts bike I purchased just to get that FD and DS.

Second, my clutch disk splines fried, so I pulled the tranny off to discover that the splines on the input shaft had been damaged as well, probably because the clutch parts weren't centered properly when I installed it after the last spline lube. I installed a clutch disk and transmission whose splines are 100%.

So my conclusion is that the whacking is some kind of gear slap, either caused by the play that results from worn splines or from a clutch that's not centered properly. Martin -- I had that noise for many thousands of miles too, but I don't have it any more, and it can only be due to one of the two circumstances above -- I suspect it's the clutch disk splines whacking against the input shaft splines with every engine rotation in neutral, which is why the noise goes away once there's torque on the engine -- the splines lock in and the free-play is neutralized.



Comments welcome :-)
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Martin on February 06, 2017, 01:37:12 PM

I had a rear seal leak, so I ordered a clutch, seal and an "O" ring in preparation to changing the seal. Found hardly any wear on the clutch plate or splines no discernible wear anywhere. However due to the fact that the clutch plate was non returnable replaced it anyway. Lubed up the splines with optimal paste centred the clutch with the recommended tool. Still have the noise unchanged. :dunno I have not worried about it since.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Motorhobo on February 06, 2017, 02:16:02 PM
Well I don't worry about either because I never use neutral.

BTW I was wrong -- there's still a mild clanking on my 94 K75 that has the Bruno FD and DS. It didn't go away on my 95 K75 until I got a brand new OEM driveshaft and replaced the clutch disk and transmission.

Have you put a stethoscope on it to figure out where it's coming from? I hate that goddam noise. I know I'm not supposed to worry about it but I still hear it and I know it wasn't there 17 years ago when I got that bike.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Martin on February 06, 2017, 02:34:23 PM

Some Bricks seem to be noisier than others, I used to know a guy who was BMW trained, I got the bike on his recommendation. I looked at Guzzi's and  BM's ( moment of madness a Harley) and was pretty much set on an R80 until he told me to look at a K75. The more I read the better they looked, anyway I vaguely remember asking him about the noise and he said nothing to worry about, clutch noise. I thought you might have had the solution with a Bruno shaft, possible closer tolerances. I m getting close to doing another lube I will probably use the Honda moly paste this time as it seems to be preferred over the Optimol. Guard Dog no longer available apparently and never sold in OZ.
Regards Martin.

Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Motorhobo on February 06, 2017, 02:48:24 PM
Well, if you get it on the lift and have it running in neutral, give a listen with a steth or funnel to try to figure out the source. This issue comes up over and over again here and I'd sure like to know how to shut the danged thing up so I can give my clutch lever hand a rest when stopped every once in a while.



Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Martin on February 06, 2017, 02:55:01 PM

You need to use one of Laitches solutions ear plugs.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Jonico on February 06, 2017, 06:09:35 PM
Well I recorded it on video and have uploaded it to YouTube
https://youtu.be/uNQ-1SpjZLs
It sounds the same as the original poster's audio. I've decided not to worry about it, and my mechanic isn't the least concerned either.
I've had the beastie brick for two years now, am it's 8th owner since 1986. I've put about 30,000 km on it. I have no clue how many km it really has, since the clock said 12,450 when I bought it, which means it was a new instrument cluster. I have no clue who did the engine rebuild and abs and all, or when. But the damn thing runs like a champ!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: mystic red on February 06, 2017, 08:50:32 PM
Sounds like a good, strong brick to me.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: wmax351 on February 12, 2017, 04:18:56 PM
My guess with that sound (mine makes it too, 110k on the transmission, with 10k since I re-did the seals and inspected the internals) is that it is lash in the gears, made noticeable due to the lower RPM and therefore wider spread power pulses. When a cylinder fires, a jolt of toque goes through the transmission, and then after the initial power pulse, the momentum of the gears makes them continue onwards at the peak speed of the engine, until the reach the end of their lash, and are jolted to the slower engine speed. Since it is in neutral, all the gears are still engaged and spinning, but are not locked in their shafts.


Pulling the clutch on a BMW totally unloads the transmission due to the dry clutch: on a wet clutch bike, it would continue to make the same noises. On a BMW, the transmission will be totally stationary.


The noise disappears with load, as the impulse damper (in the transmission) takes up the intermittent torque peaks, and the transmission is loaded with forward acceleration.


If you put it on the center stand, and pop it into first, you should probably have the same sound, but amplified as the engagement of the transmission increases the inertia of the drivetrain.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: wmax351 on February 12, 2017, 04:33:55 PM
Other suggestion: Try riding a Harley Davidson Ironhead Sportster sometime. If it doesn't sound like it's about to explode, something is actually wrong with it.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on February 12, 2017, 05:23:34 PM
Well I recorded it on video and have uploaded it to YouTube
Thanks for the audio file. Not worrying is the way to go.  :2thumbup:
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on April 01, 2017, 09:59:07 AM
Good to hear I'm not the only one nuts enough to worry about this. Took Laitch's advice but still annoying. Not tech savvy enough to understand exactly what WMAX351 just detailed there, but sounds like she'll ride for a while yet before I should worry.  :2thumbup: [size=78%] [/size]
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Grim on April 09, 2017, 10:04:12 AM
Because of how these motors are built where the crank drives a gear to get to the clutch there is a little extra slack BMW put a spring in there to help a little.  What you may be hearing is a bit of slamming of gears. Pushing the clutch may be adding a little drag.

Things to check.
#1 Vacuum leaks. I've had to replace all the vacuum line and on 1100 there is a boot that the throttle bodies sit on. They were cracked in the folds.

# valve lash.

 Check that stuff then balance the throttle bodies.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on April 14, 2017, 06:29:29 AM
Thanks for the checklist, Grim. Will see about getting those assessed.


After the first few rides of the season, she still makes the noise – soft at first and louder as it warms up – but realized when I pull in/release the clutch it doesn't just stop and start... the 'thwacking' in question speeds up about double time right when the clutch starts to release if I do it slowly... then the thwacking slows to the usual pace as it's fully released. 


Others do the same? Any help in deducing the issue?    :dunno2:
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on April 14, 2017, 07:40:51 AM
Any help in deducing the issue? 
If you have read this thread (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7663.msg53840.html#msg53840), you'll get the idea that to isolate this sound might take some time, mechanical effort and and maybe a little expense. There are some excellent illustrations and sound files provided in it as well as astute observations, explanations and tips by some of the contributors. Gryph explains the technique used to eliminate a noise in his engine. goneape provides useful video and observations of his experience.

Deciding where you'll start with all this is a task only you can do.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on April 14, 2017, 08:13:56 AM
Copy that, Laitch. I read the first few paragraphs of that thread and realized the problem weren't the same...


"Pulling in the clutch makes no difference at all."


...was just offering another observation to what seems a most vexing problem...  :euro


Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Laitch on April 14, 2017, 08:28:04 AM
Copy that, Laitch. I read the first few paragraphs of that thread and realized the problem weren't the same...
"Pulling in the clutch makes no difference at all."
The whole thread covers the common irritating noise sources in these bikes and various attempts at quelling them. Reading all of it has the potential to increase mechanical knowledge in general.

If the noise has changed from the first video you posted, post another. Good luck.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: johnny on April 14, 2017, 08:36:54 AM
greetings. 

the only motobricks i have heard that did not sound like that were the ones not running...

trailbrake to the apex and whack that throttle... ride that motobrick till it wont move...

wear good earplugs and keep it revved and the only noise you gonna hear is the yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa between your ears...

make sure your aaa is paid up...

getts some techron in there and getts on your spaceman suit and commence to motobricking...

j o
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: Snowman on April 14, 2017, 08:58:06 AM
The older i get, the less i worry about odd noises. This applies to myself and my bike. In this case I hear a brick motor like any other and you may spend countless hours trying to figure it out and never find it. Take that time, strap on your helmet and go ride. My 1100 has had noises come and go, it is just the running in process of smoothing gears and setting clearances.
Title: Re: Thwacking noise when in neutral
Post by: restinthesun on April 14, 2017, 09:49:07 AM
I had taken Laitch's original advice but popped on my radar again when I saw others wondering wtf... got distracted by the pot of gold when I should just be admiring the purdy skies as they fly by...