Any Opinions or Suggestions

[Bob D]

The last couple mornings while letting my bike warm up before riding, I’ve heard and felt a “clunk” coming from down below. The clunk feels and sounds similar to the front brake caliper noise when it moves. I’m familiar with the transmission noise when it sits in neutral with the engine running and this is not it. Any thoughts?

[Jess from VA]

Bob, a little more detail please.

One (or more) clunk?

Is it when shifting or clutching or just sitting on it.

[Bob D]

Just sitting on it, in neutral, clutch lever out, waiting for it to warm up. It "clunked" 4-5 times within a 3 minute period. Didn't notice anything while riding although I may not detect it while going down the rode. It's a 2001 Standard with 19,500 miles on it. 

[Jess from VA]

Well I'm stumped.  Sorry.


Sheared (clutch plate) rivets?

[3W-lonerider]

mine does the same thing.. has done it for a long time. i just consider it normal.what i think it is, is the dampners for the alternator get alittle play.
once reved up slightly it goes away.

[Pete]

Could it be 1 cylinder missing? occasionally while it is cold.

[h13man]

Could it be 1 cylinder missing? occasionally while it is cold.

My thought also as mine does it to especially without the choke. Full choke no problem. Nature of the beast so to speak

[98valk]

cold leanness miss.  mines been doing it since new, but only when 50F and colder. choke and higher cold idle and it will not do it.

[Bob D]

Thanks for the input. Maybe I'm making something out of nothing. I'll make sure there isn't anything that has vibrated loose. If it continues and/or gets worse, it should be easier to troubleshoot I suppose. As always, thanks again!!

[Moonshot_1]

The last couple mornings while letting my bike warm up before riding, I’ve heard and felt a “clunk” coming from down below. The clunk feels and sounds similar to the front brake caliper noise when it moves. I’m familiar with the transmission noise when it sits in neutral with the engine running and this is not it. Any thoughts?

I'll chime in as well. I get the same thing when starting up. Generally does it when it is cold or has been sitting for a few days or a while. It is just momentary and goes away in a second or two. Or it seems.
Once warmed a bit and rolling I don't hear it anymore.

 

[Punisher]

All of mine does that, especially if been sitting for a few days.   I always assumed it was the clutch plates in the pack loosening up after getting oil skeeted on them.

[cookiedough]

cold leanness miss.  mines been doing it since new, but only when 50F and colder. choke and higher cold idle and it will not do it.

both my valks do that as well as our 97 honda magna when first firing it up when colder temps in the 40s and low 50s, more so like said if letting off the full choke at idle.  It to me is more of a knocking noise than a clunk.  Once warmed up after 3-4 minutes, it goes away.  Been doing it as long as I have had the  bikes am sure is cold carb related.

[Bob D]

Ok, I feel better about it now that some have experienced the same. Thanks for putting my mind at ease!!!!!

[cookiedough]

I would not worry too much about it unless the knocking clunky noise becomes very loud or does not go away after even 5  minutes of idling after starting it up when colder out.  I can even feel the knock thru the handlebars on the valks and magna is much worse when letting up after 2-3 minutes the choke lever so I usually turn the choke on again all the way to keep the knocking noise not doing it as often then.

My 01 Valk I/S is more cold blooded (and knocks more when first starting up cold)  needing longer choke run times than my 98 tourer that has double the mileage on it for some reason, not so sure why though.  I even have when in the 40's out after only letting the 01 Valk warm up a few minutes have the engine die on me when upshifting from 1st to 2nd gear when the idle is too low when the clutch pulled in between gears.  Or, the bike sputters NOT wanting to GO forward in 1st or 2nd gear since NOT fully warmed up yet.  I should probably run it at 3/4''s choke for the first 1 mile or so to keep the rpms up since much below 900 rpms and the bike wants to die when very cold out at first startup.  It fires up fine and runs at nice high idle when fully choked just that when letting up on the choke even 1/4th of an inch on that choke lever, it idles down wanting to sputter and die when cold out.  That is when the knocking /clunk noise down low tends to be heard and felt.  I just put the choke lever on again for longer timeframe is all.

[Bob D]

Ok, I’ll try keeping the choke on a bit longer and see if that helps. If the knock goes away this summer, I guess it is just the cold weather. I don’t remember if it did the same or even noticed it last winter. Thanks!

[Moonshot_1]

Ok, I’ll try keeping the choke on a bit longer and see if that helps. If the knock goes away this summer, I guess it is just the cold weather. I don’t remember if it did the same or even noticed it last winter. Thanks!

Posted a similar issue on the gen. board. I ride with a Santa suit on sometimes when I can during the Holiday season and yesterday it was 20 degrees. The bike starts right up but clangs and bangs for a bit till it is warm. Only does this if has sat awhile or it is real cool or cold. Once warm, she runs fantastic.

[Jess from VA]

I don't ride in freezing weather, but if you want to, a little trick is to set one of those little ceramic heaters under the engine for a half hour or so.  They are about as safe a heater as you can get, but still don't start any fires.  Heat the engine and oil up before you fire up.  Most now have mercury switches, so you can't aim it up.