Transmission noise......

[Chiefy]

I've had my used Valk about 10 days now.  Since the get go, I get some noise at stop signs and red lights after she's good and warm.  I thought it was the radiator fan, but today I identified it as coming from the transmission.  What happens is I'll pull up and stop at a light (doesn't happen at every light) and I hear a rattle as if something is low on oil.  It lasts about 10-15 seconds, getting slowly better until it's gone.  The way I finally identified it was I pulled up, heard it, and quickly went to neutral.  It disappeared.  I snapped it quickly back into first, and it came back then faded away.  Clutch in, in first gear it still does it.  Goes away in Neutral, clutch in or out.

The shop I bought it from makes good on their guarantee, but I'd like to have something a bit concrete to tell them.  So I'm wondering if this description rings a bell with anyone.

The bike rides great, and shifts fine.  And of course, I check the oil every time I ride, and it's fine.  The oil is fresh and clean, the dealer changed it when they put it out for sale.

Thanks for any input.

[Jess from VA]

Sounds like it might be the dreaded rattle (buzz) bolt. 

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/buzz.htm

[Chiefy]

Sounds like it might be the dreaded rattle (buzz) bolt. 

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/buzz.htm

Do you really think so?  I thought the in gear/out of gear business points towards the gear box.  (??)

[eric in md]

just the clutch rattling .. let it idle pull clutch in and listen. and let clutch go and listen.. also if you have tranny covers on there that make the noise much worse .. good luck

[R J]

Put full synthetic oil in it the next change and see if it doesn't go away.

Tranny is noisy on each and every one of these rides.......

Quit worrying about a little noise and just ride it like ya stole it.

My tranny has made noise for 242,000+  miles and it is still in service, I use Mobil 1 motor oil in it.  Used to be the red cap, but until I use up 5 more cases I won't know the cap color.

[Chiefy]

Problem is, I'm very hard of hearing, so for me to hear this over the engine really get's my attention.

I'm also not used to the unique noises this machine makes.

My dealer is good on his word, I'll play with it for another week, and if I'm still uncomfortable, I'll run it back in.  He'll probably give me that "Are you from the moon??"     look when I try and explain it though....

[Earl in Pensacola]

One of the very few "warts" the phat lady has is the straight cut gears and the bad bearing like sounds in the tranny.  I'd first check the cross bolt that likes to buzz, pull it, coat it and retorque it.   Also, as previously memtioned, those (if you have them) nice chrome tranny covers, need to have little rubber isolator type washers/gaskets on each side of each attachment bolt.  MY tranny grumbling at idle and all the howling in 5th gear between 2000 and 2500 rpms used to worry and annoy me.  That was 226K ago and it's still is there, no worse, no better.

[Chiefy]

One of the very few "warts" the phat lady has is the straight cut gears and the bad bearing like sounds in the tranny.  I'd first check the cross bolt that likes to buzz, pull it, coat it and retorque it.   Also, as previously memtioned, those (if you have them) nice chrome tranny covers, need to have little rubber isolator type washers/gaskets on each side of each attachment bolt.  MY tranny grumbling at idle and all the howling in 5th gear between 2000 and 2500 rpms used to worry and annoy me.  That was 226K ago and it's still is there, no worse, no better.

Will do, but if it's the gears just doing their thing, would it slowly improve, then go away after about 15~20 seconds?  Same with the rattling bolt?

[sandy]

That's just the Fat Lady singing. Synthetic oil dampens it a bit but the straight cut gears make noise. If you've ever heard trans am cars, you'll know what that sound is.

[Michvalk]

The only time I hear the tranny in my interstate is in neutral with the clutch out. In gear it makes no noise at a stop that I can hear. Other than the gear whine underway, the tranny rattles only when the clutch is out in neutral. I would pay close attention to the bike sound. I do have less noise after switching to synthetic oil, but that mostly reduced the gear whine.

[Chrisj CMA]

Does the bike have the chrome tranny covers.....if so check the right side one around where the oil filler cap is

[Chiefy]

No transmission covers.  While I'm new to the Valk, I do recognize normal gear and pressure plate whining.  This is more of a clatter.  As I said, for a few days I thought it was the cooling fan.  I can't think of a good way to record the sound.  I'll just have to bite the bullet and accept trying to explain this to the service writer at the Honda shop.  They are honest, and do their best, but they do tend to cop that "motorcycle shop" attitude too.   

[Trynt]

 I had the same noise.  I noticed it most when the bike was hot, in gear, clutch in and backing into a parking space.  I tried replacing the "clutch lifting rod". It wasn't it.  Turns out it was the rear most bearing in the clutch (#21  BEARING (6201)91008-MN5-003).  Had it replaced under warranty. The tech said the bearing was just a little rough. Noise was gone.

[Chiefy]

Well, my alternator cover was loose, but securing it good and tight didn't do anything. 

Trynt, the bearing you mentioned, being noisy..... is it a sign of upcoming failure?  Or just an annoyance?

[Trynt]

For what its worth, the Service department at Honda didn't seem all that concerned about it. Said if it were theirs they would  just run it. I said I have warranty, replace it.  While they were in there I had them redo the clutch at my expense.