*squeak* ... *squeak* ... *squeak* ... HELP!!!

[Finz]

I'm not very mechanically inclined, so I could really use the help of the Valk family here. I have a '99 Valk I bought last year with low mileage because it wasn't driven much. As I have put more mileage on her, there is a terrible squeaking coming from something in my suspension. It is worse when carrying a passenger (I was going to say my wife, but that would only get me into more trouble). It seems to be coming from the somewhere around the rear shocks, but I'm only guessing. It was noticeable at the end of last summer, and very noticeable now since I've got her out and riding her after she slept for the winter (the bike, not the wife). I changed the oil and did a seat swap over the winter and the Valk sounds and works fantastic. I am all set for a nice long summer of riding, save for this annoying squeaking.

It is not nearly as bad when there is no passenger, and from what I've been told when I called around is it doesn't sound serious, probably something in the shock travel being longer with the passenger, and not having been used much prior to me purchasing her, etc, etc. then the technic-lese language that goes over my head. Last week I took a short trip with the wife, about a three hour ride (no rough weather, the tiny Valk was not tossed and we didn't end up on Gilligan's Island) but we both agreed the suspension squeaking was a lot worse than last year. I told her it sounded like an old bed we once used in a cheapy motel just outside Toledo a few years back. She told me not to flatter myself as the bike squeaking was louder and lasted longer than I ever could, and didn't require nearly as much effort.

So short of a good comeback for her, I'm wondering if there is something I could check before taking it into a repair shop where they will no doubt charge me a fortune to look her over (again, the bike, not the wife) I appreciate any ideas the Valk family here might have to help me out.

Mike

[Bone]

You made me laugh a couple of times.

Can you make it squeak while sitting on it on the driveway ?

If so get someone a piece of clean tubing and have them do the search. One end of the tubing
to their ear and move the other around listening for the noise. You will have limited time to
do this you will be breathing to loud to hear the squeak.

[Jess from VA]

My seats squeek abit (backrest too), not a big deal (could probably put a dab of grease on the seat feet/bumpers). Hit the backrest mount with a spray lube. All temporary.

Top shock bushings also a likely suspect.  They may be worn and if so should be replaced, but can be hit with spray lube for temporary relief (grease is better).

If you have original shocks, they are worn with age if not use.  You can spray lube up in them.  And change the setting to next stiffer setting, or to the stiffest setting... at least temporarily to see if you get a noise reduction.  

Do some searching, get the wife (or someone) to mount the bike (seat) and wiggle and bounce around while you hunt for the noise.  You can do it on the jack, but I'd just get it level with tires touching, not up in the air.  Or jack it up and spinn wheels and work/search areas of the bike trying to replicate the noise. Tapping safe spots (tires) with a rubber mallet can reproduce noise.

Doesn't sound like brake noise, but brakes will squeak.  Pads are supposed to free float, but the pin the pads move on gets corroded and needs cleaned and lubed.

If you have hardbags, are the mount screws tight?  Are thier mice in the bags?  

Sometimes just a big soapy wash and clean (hose on mist only) will help with noise.

[hubcapsc]

I remember once when Robin had a squeak squeak squeak from the rear that
turned out to be a rear wheel bearing...

I remember him and Judy demonstrating it in the parking lot...

Here, I found his report on what it was after he discovered it...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,63103.0.html

The pictures are gone now, and he sez it was a clunk clunk clunk, not a squeak squeak squeak   ...

-Mike

[R J]

Many moons ago I had a squeak on MGM.

Like you said it was annoying.

Turned out it was a worn shock rubber mount.

I was out West, and one night at the Motel I pulled the shock off, knocked the rubber bushing out, greased it and put it back together.

I never heard it squeak again.   I've replaced them with Neoprene bushing and now it is a Trike, so those shocks are long gone.    OH, it was the upper one.

Happy hunting.

[Finz]

Wow! Thanks for the advice, guys! From what I've seen so far in the replies, I think it may be a shock/bushing issues. The brake squeak I am familiar with and understand. More specifically, this squeaking rears its ugly head more when the bike is up to speed and going up and down through those small little bumps and uneven road issues. It's definitely happening more when the bike suspension is 'travelling' through the up and down motions of the road, and more so with a passenger on the back. I barely notice it when I'm riding by myself. It sounds like I'm going to have to remove the shocks and take a look at the bushings by the sounds of the replies I'm reading. I guess its too easy and naive to think spraying the damn areas with WD-40 would do any good, at least over the long haul.

Once again, thank you so much for the advice, and more thanks to all who recommended synthetic oil. I replaced whatever was in there with Mobil 1, along with a Purolator Pure One oil filter (after spraying it, I couldn't stand the yellow colour *L*) on the advice of what I've read in here and definitely noticed significant less gear whine since I made that switch. This site is fabulous, and count me in as one very happy Valk owner.

Mike (Finz)

[Earl43P]

Do ONE at a time......

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,67036.0/topicseen.html

[rekit]

Mobil One filters are black, made just for my black Interstate!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

My bet is a left rear wheel bearing.

[BF]

My bet is a left rear wheel bearing.

Possible, but when mine went out it sounded more like it was rocks in the dryer....especially when I applied the rear brake. 

I'm leaning more towards upper shock bushings, but I'm wondering if his rear shocks arn't worn out. 

[Rio Wil]

Low mileage, not driven much......I would be suspicious of the final drive splines/pinion cup and drive shaft lube.  Not typically a squeak source......but......

[The emperor has no clothes]

My standard was doing this also. Very rarely when solo but with the wife on when going over dips more pronounced. Tried to play it off like it was normal so she wouldn't get her feelings hurt. All it needed was to remove shocks and put a very LIGHT coat of grease on the shock bushings . 

[lee]

I vote Seat Bumpers.

[alph]

My bet is a left rear wheel bearing.

also, could be the brake.  I get a squeak like that also, but if I apply the rear brake it goes away.  I know mine has to do with the rear wheel since the squeak increases with speed, so after 30mph, it's gone.

[Finz]

Thanks so much for all your input! I finally had someone 'mechanically minded' give it a listen and he said it sounds like it's in the shocks, probably the bushings. My uncle is pretty handy around bikes, so I'll drive it out to his place one of these days and see if it is the bushings first, hopefully, before having to do anything more serious like a shock replacement. That was his assessment as well, even though he hasn't personally seen the bike yet. But since everything on the bike is working perfectly, even with the passenger on it (save for the squeaks on the road dips and undulations), he assumes the added weight is making the shock travel further to a point where it may be contacting areas that are causing the squeaking, or that the bushings may need to be lubricated or replaced.

Thanks once again, folks, for all the support and suggestions. I can't say enough about this site and all the terrific people here. Must be the by-product of owning a Valk. 

[deadwood]

All you really have to do is pull the top shock bolt off and you can see if the bushing it trashed. No need to remove the shock (until you replace the bushing of course.)

[Ricky-D]

I really can't see the shock mounting bushings causing any squeaking.

It could be the spring rubbing on the inside of the cover of the shock.

Especially so if the shock is damaged.

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