Grinding, squealing, popping and slapping noises coming from the front end??

[GeoffreyB]

I've got a 97 Valk that I've had a little over a month.

Replaced the front brake pads and fluid a few weeks ago, have ridden a few hundred miles since then.

Saturday night I was coming off the highway and I noticed a noise from the front end - thought something was stuck to my tire and slapping the front fender - but the noise wasn't happening at a regular interval.

Pulled over and revved the engine, let it idle - no noise at all.  Looked for a loose piece of rubber from the front tire, or something stuck to the wheel.  Everything looks normal, rotors are not any hotter than expected, no signs of something rubbing together.

Started riding and the noise started up again - it's not constant, and it's not revolution-dependent, happens at speed, accelerating, decelerating, under power, clutch pulled in, riding straight or turning.

 I took it out again yesterday, same irregular sound, now accompanied by occasional squealing (different pitches) and grinding sound - all irregular, only heard while moving in the 20-45 MPH range.    I'm a little nervous to take it any faster with it sounding like this (plus - and this could just be placebo effect - front sporadically feels like it is a little "loose").  Grabbed the front wheel, and I can't shake it, but the bike is sitting on the ground (no jack - yet).

I can only suspect that it's the front bearings, but would appreciate input from y'all before I take it somewhere for service if required (bearing replacement may be beyond my capacity and current set of tools - plus the DFW area riders all warned me to get my valve stems replaced ASAP!). 

Thanks for your input/suggestions!

[Gryphon Rider]

Parts #3 & 4 below are rubber liners that are glued to the inside of the fender, and have been known to come loose.  If yours are loose, just pull them completely off, and re-install them (or not) at your leisure.

[Michvalk]

My bet would be the bearings. Could be the rubber under the fender, easy to check. Lift the front wheel off the ground, and spin the tire. Find loose rubber or bad bearings at the same time

[hubcapsc]

Mine does that, its normal   

OK... if you messed with your axle when you were changing pads or
whatever... make sure your axle is seated all the way... it needs to be
pretty much flush on the one side, if it is sticking out at all, stuff will
drag and make bad noises...

Here's the service manual: http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html

-Mike

[PatrickDoss]

Check the speedometer drive gear and cable. It would normally cause a wiggly speedo needle, but worth a look, anyway.

[trout dude]

My bet would be the bearings. Could be the rubber under the fender, easy to check. Lift the front wheel off the ground, and spin the tire. Find loose rubber or bad bearings at the same time
 Michvalk I would 2ND that . My brothers wing just did that this weekend on the way to trail of tears ride Got the bearings and all is great.
   Trout Dude

[GeoffreyB]

Checked the rubber liners under the fender, they are in place and look like new (bike has 33K miles on it).

I've not noticed any bouncing in the speedometer needle - and visually inspected the cable - no sign of fraying or damage anywhere - it looks like new.  I did move the cable when I changed the brake pads, but only enough to clean the calipers and reassemble with new pads.

I didn't mess with the axle at all when I did the brake job, so I doubt that's it, but I'll remove the chrome beauty caps at the fork ends and inspect the bolt location tonight.

Since I don't have a bike stand, I'll build the wood adapter that I've seen here on the forum, and try to lift the front end with a floor jack so I can spin the wheel freely to check the bearings - not sure if I can spin the wheel fast enough, as I've not noticed the sound below 10-15 MPH.  (Anyone have a suggestion on how to get the front tire high enough off the ground to check - is it safe to lift with a floor jack & 2x4 directly on the motor behind the oil filter??)

[Michvalk]

You can lift the bike that way, and put jack stands under the crash bars to steady and hold the bike up. I wouldn't try spinning the wheel just on the jack. You can check the wheel bearings just by taking hold of the tire and move it side to side. If you feel any movement side to side, the bearings are bad. You shouldn't have to spin the tire very fast to see if the speedo cable is catching.

[PAVALKER]

I bet it's is wheel bearings as well.  And the best way to check em is to pull the wheel and feel the bearings and how they roll by putting your finger in each side and turning the bearing.   But... from the way it sounds I'm willing to bet that you might even see a ball bearing fall out.    Don't laugh, it happened to me on the left rear wheel bearing.  It made those same noises you described and the bearing cage was all but gone, with balls falling out of the wheel.     Don't ride it til you check it.

[DenverDave]

Grinding, squealing, popping and slapping noises......,  Sounds like Stanley in one of his videos 


Sorry, I had to say it. 
Please forgive me.


Dave

[PAVALKER]

Grinding, squealing, popping and slapping noises......,  Sounds like Stanley in one of his videos 


Sorry, I had to say it. 
Please forgive me.


Dave

TMI TMI..... I didn't watch the video.... but  but... with that description I feel like I might have damnit.       

[GeoffreyB]

Well, looks like I'm going to have to find a shop - I can't take the wheel off at home, but it must be bearings.

I was going to give a heartfelt thanks to all - until Dave went "there".   I don't know what's worse - watching the video or the image I now have in my head.



Now I'll say thanks, and Dave - I owe you.........    

[GeoffreyB]

Good news - sorta.  It was the bearings, and I'm back up and running!!

I had called the local Honda shops, who wanted $$ for the bearings plus more for the dust caps and 4 business days to get the parts, so I took the bike to a local shop (two wheel world) here in Garland who had aftermarket bearings overnighted.  When they took the front wheel off, the bearings on the left side fell out -in pieces - except for the outer sleeve, which was firmly stuck in the wheel and ended up getting cut out.

The really good news is that the minor humming sound that I THOUGHT came off the engine/tires since I purchased the bike in July - must have been the bearings, because it's no longer making that sound.

As a side note - it was a nice little shop, been around for 30 some years, and he had quite a lot of Valk aftermarket parts hanging on the wall in original packaging - like the chrome intake spark plug covers, tank chrome and a Rivco Side Stand Pad (which I promptly purchased!).  Apparently the owner used to have a Valk...

[Jess from VA]

Geoff, if he does have a number of aftermarket Valk parts, esp parts no longer in production, you should have him do a list and post them on our classified.  Win - win.