Valk vibration

[Gary W]

I am having a problem with the interstate, when I shift up gears and accelerate, there is a very loud vibration or pinging noise.  You can feel the vibration in the handlebars.  Does anyone have an idea or have had this problem?  I have changed the trigger wheel and that did not fix the problem.  After I get the rpm's up above 2 or 3000 it goes away.

[John U.]

If you give it a lot of throttle at low RPM you will get vibration, the answer to that is shift at higher RPMs and downshift when accelerating from low RPMs. 

The pinging is a concern. It may just be from lugging the engine but if it happens often it may be that you are running an after market trigger wheel or the ECT mod turned to 10 degree advance. Either way, if not lugging the engine doesn't fix it, you need to be using at least mid-grade gas to stop that pinging.

[Patrick]

Which trigger wheel did you install and which did you remove ?? Like John said,, have any other mods been made ?? While these engines should accelerate properly from above a fast idle speed,, there is a big difference between 2000 and 3000 rpm accelerations.. When does your spark knock start and when does it stop ??
If this thing is all as Honda intended [ factory trigger and ICM] and it spark knocks,, then,, something is wrong or you have some really poor fuel.. It should run on 87 octane,, but,, try a higher octane and see if that stops the spark knock..

[Gary W]

Thank you for all the info you have provided.  I put a stock Interstate trigger wheel on and there was no difference in the vibration.  My standard Valk does vibrate some when accelerating but nothing like the Interstate does.  I have changed all drive line parts and it still vibrates.  I have only owned the IS for 2 yrs and don't know what was done to it before that.  It feels to me like the timing is off.  Putting the stock trigger wheel on did not change vibration. The vibration starts at below 2000 rpm's and it depends on how fast you accelerate as to when it stops. It also doesn't matter what grade fuel I put in. Could it possibly be the timing sensor or coil?

[Promagnaman]

I am having a problem with the interstate, when I shift up gears and accelerate, there is a very loud vibration or pinging noise.  You can feel the vibration in the handlebars.  Does anyone have an idea or have had this problem?  I have changed the trigger wheel and that did not fix the problem.  After I get the rpm's up above 2 or 3000 it goes away.

Between 2000 and 3000 RPM's you will get some gear whining from the straight cut gears under acceleration...this is normal for the Valk.

[olddog1946]

I think you're on the right track with the timing wheel..sure sounds like the timing is too far advanced. There is a distinct possibility of burnt valves, melted pistons if it's bad enough and continues to do this. IF a higher octane fuel stops or lessens it, it is indeed timing.

[ValkFlyer]

Thank you for all the info you have provided.  I put a stock Interstate trigger wheel on and there was no difference in the vibration.  My standard Valk does vibrate some when accelerating but nothing like the Interstate does.  I have changed all drive line parts and it still vibrates.  I have only owned the IS for 2 yrs and don't know what was done to it before that.  It feels to me like the timing is off.  Putting the stock trigger wheel on did not change vibration. The vibration starts at below 2000 rpm's and it depends on how fast you accelerate as to when it stops. It also doesn't matter what grade fuel I put in. Could it possibly be the timing sensor or coil?

So to be clear what you're talking about here is 1st gear acceleration, right?  Shifting to 2nd and above should require accelerating to higher RPM's  (above 2000 and closer to 3,000 and more).

[Gary W]

I know it is not gear whine.  It is a vibration and it does it in all gears while accelerating.  Just more so at low rpm's. Thank you everyone for your input.  I know that all Valks do this a little but this is much worse.  I appreciate all the comments and will consider all.

[Patrick]

I thought we were talking about a spark knock/ping as well as a vibration.. After market triggers have been known to cause a high pitch vibration and a spark knock..
Which ICM do you have ?? Have any other mods been performed ??

[salty1]

You mentioned you've changed out the driveline components, did that included a new u-joint?

[MP]

My IS does it between 2000 to 3000 rpm too.  It is NOT gear whine.  It is also NOT pinging.  Just vibration and noise.  I checked, and it has a STOCK trigger wheel.

NEITHER of my standards do this.

MP

[Hoser]

If you give it a lot of throttle at low RPM you will get vibration, the answer to that is shift at higher RPMs and downshift when accelerating from low RPMs. 

The pinging is a concern. It may just be from lugging the engine but if it happens often it may be that you are running an after market trigger wheel or the ECT mod turned to 10 degree advance. Either way, if not lugging the engine doesn't fix it, you need to be using at least mid-grade gas to stop that pinging.

+1 Hoser

[Tailgate Tommy]

My IS does it between 2000 to 3000 rpm too.  It is NOT gear whine.  It is also NOT pinging.  Just vibration and noise.  I checked, and it has a STOCK trigger wheel.

NEITHER of my standards do this.

MP

Same for me. My IS does it and my std does not.

[Gary W]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions on fixing my Interstate vibration.  I will try several of them and see if that works.  If not will probably give up and live with it. I haven't changed the U joint yet but may try it yet. I have changed everything else in the drive line.  Sounds like I am not the only one with a vibration problem.  I do really appreciate your great responses.

[HayHauler]

I try not to put a load on the fat girl rpm's under 2,000.  Valkyries like rpm's and don't really like to be lugged.

Hay
Jimmyt

[PhredValk]

You keep saying 'at low RPMs', what RPMs? Knowing the range you're having a problem with could help. And where are you? There may be someone on this boar that is close to you and can check this out.
Fred.

[Ricky-D]

With the constant velocity carburetors that are on the Valkyrie

There should be very little to none (throttle hesitation).

For the same reason there should be very little to none (compression vibration).

If the Valkyrie experiences throttle hesitation and/or compression vibration.

My feeling would be that the Valkyrie is improperly tuned and/or jetted.

***

[Paladin528]

Sorry for resurrecting such an old thread.
I have a new to me '99 I/S this year and it has the same vibration as described above.  PO says it has always done it.  It just doesn't seem normal IMHO.
Here is the specifics.
Vibration can be likened to a severe PING in the engine during lower RPM under load.
RPM <2500 Vibration get worse with Throttle application
RPM >2500 Vibration lessens even with throttle application
With Throttle and Brake applied, loading the engine with the clutch will produce said vibration/ping with bike stationary.
There is no deficit of power.
Trigger Wheel unknown but having a cursory look it does not look like the wheel has ever been off.
Tensioner pulleys are smooth and clean
Ran bike with Rad decorative cover removed and engine covers removed with no change.
Alternator smooth and no vibration there.
Plugs are clean and indicate a slightly lean mixture but not excessively lean.
Buzz bolt not a factor.
There is no difference from 87 octane to 94 octane fuel or fuel with no ethanol added.
From the above this is not a drive line issue and not a frame issue but an engine issue. which I simply cannot isolate.
My next step is to do a Carb sync and set the pilots to the factory setting to get things back to zero and go from there.
Any other suggestions?

[Patrick]

We haven't heard from him in almost 3 years !  It seems to me that he is no longer worried about it.

[Firefighter]

2000 IS, made it detonate one time when I took a intersection turn in 5th gear to see if it would pull out smoothly. I never lugged it again. Mine was more of a valve rattle, and was very easy to identify. I never run any thing but regular fuel.

 I keep hearing this RPM and that, but RPM should not matter if you are in the correct gear. If it does detonate  I would offer bad or strange blend of fuel, raised compression (been modified), wrong timing (modified or ICM, or Pulse Generator), too hot of an ignition spark (modified?, wrong plugs?) carbon build up on piston dome (hot spot), possible lean fuel (doubtful) Carbs.

I have lots of questions, but did this just start happening or always vibrated. Seems to me if you feel this in the handlebars it would be an engine miss or drive train more than detonation. If it is detonation as much as you say, you will ruin the engine if you keep riding. Keep us up to date so we can help and best of luck!

[Paladin528]

As I said in my original post.  NOT drive train.  Only occurs at or below 2500 RPM.  1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th it doesnt matter.
Launch from a light it sounds like a bag of hammers to 2500 rpm then smooths right out if I keep the rpm above 2500 it is as smooth as silk.  Cruising at 80Km/H in 5th at about 2300 rpm under no load its fine but if I accelerate from that point it again sounds like a bag of hammers until I am over 2500 RPM.

Rest assured that the RPM has something to do with this.  I cannot say for certain that it is a Detonation but it sure sounds that way only louder. it also definately has a physical vibration.  I took it to a local bike mechanic to give it a test ride and he found it strange and had never heard one like that.  Problem is it would cost a lot of $$ to start digging.  HE did agree that there was no loss of power and everything else seemed fine except the hard shifting which we attributed to the Barnett Clutch.

[Ricky-D]

What you're experiencing is simply the power development vibrations of the engine

under any type acceleration which is not harmful as long as the is no pre-ignition or detonation

pinging. The engine is simply wanting to develop more power than the bike is able to absorb

in the form of quicker acceleration.

***

[Patrick]

Sorry for resurrecting such an old thread.
I have a new to me '99 I/S this year and it has the same vibration as described above.  PO says it has always done it.  It just doesn't seem normal IMHO.
Here is the specifics.
Vibration can be likened to a severe PING in the engine during lower RPM under load.
RPM <2500 Vibration get worse with Throttle application
RPM >2500 Vibration lessens even with throttle application
With Throttle and Brake applied, loading the engine with the clutch will produce said vibration/ping with bike stationary.
There is no deficit of power.
Trigger Wheel unknown but having a cursory look it does not look like the wheel has ever been off.
Tensioner pulleys are smooth and clean
Ran bike with Rad decorative cover removed and engine covers removed with no change.
Alternator smooth and no vibration there.
Plugs are clean and indicate a slightly lean mixture but not excessively lean.
Buzz bolt not a factor.
There is no difference from 87 octane to 94 octane fuel or fuel with no ethanol added.
From the above this is not a drive line issue and not a frame issue but an engine issue. which I simply cannot isolate.
My next step is to do a Carb sync and set the pilots to the factory setting to get things back to zero and go from there.
Any other suggestions?

My recommendation would be to have a real close look at the trigger wheel. Many have been changed and many liked to install the 6º on the IS models. The thing that confuses me is that high octane fuel doesn't change anything. Is there a very high pitched vibration felt thru the hand grips ? Is this thing hard to start in cool/cold weather ?
I'm not a fan of the aftermarket triggers.
An engine can run for a long time with light detonation, but, will self destruct fairly quickly under heavy detonation.
These monsters should accelerate with no argument, noise or trouble from a fast idle in high gear.

[Paladin528]

Just had the trigger wheel off to look to see if it was original or not.  Well.  I have no idea.  Usually Honda marks their parts but all this one has is the OUTSIDE marking and nothing else.  There is no indication as to whether it is stock or after market.
Everything else in there is just peachy.
I verified that the Buzz Bolt was in fact tight and the spacer tube was solid.  That is not the issue.

Now I tried something else to see if I could narrow it down.
I started the bike and put it in gear.  With the rear brak held I reved her to 1500 +- RPM.  Then I slowly released the clutch to drag the engine down.  Keeping the rpm up just a bit.  When it started to pull I would get the (knock, ping, vibration whatever you want to call it) it sounded like the noise was originating in the Valve area. Right from the valve cover.  Sounded like both sides butr I really payed attention to the right.

I am going to let the bike cool down over night and adjust the valves once its has cooled down.
Just for sh!ts and Giggles.

After that I am just going to turn the radio up and ignore it if it still does it.

[Paladin528]

Ok so google is my friend...
I googles VALKYRIE TRIGGER WHEEL IMAGES.
FRom what I can tell my Trigger wheel is the Stock Honda wheel. So not an advance issue.  (the key has not been filed)

[Patrick]

Hmmm, OK.  From what you're saying I guess you do have an original trigger. I'll assume you also have an original ICM, so, your problem is a wonderment.
Checking the valve lash is a good thing to do every now and again, but, if one is loose it should make noise at idle.
A noise like that would drive me crazy, I hope you find it.
One thing I've found over the years is that the exhaust gaskets will leak making a ticking noise and they can be a royal PITA sometimes to fix.

[Paladin528]

Exhaust gaskets were one of the fort things I did when I got the bike.  I pulled the exhaust when I did the rear tire and polished it up good while it was off. 
I don't have what I would call a valve tick at idle.  I do have a ticking pair valve.  I haven't de smogged and don't have the intention to.   I will however be replacing all of the vacuum lines with good silicone ones. 
I am perplexed by the whole thing.  The bike rides fine this is just " not normal".
And yes it drives my OCD. Crazy.