Driveline Whine (driving me nuts!)

[39 Chev]

I'm a relatively new member with a recently purchased 1998 Tourer with 28K on it, but I had a problem with the starter switch and got LOTS of help.  THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT REPLIED TO THAT THREAD!

Another thing I'm experiencing is a driveline whine.  Riding at 60 to 65 MPH, I get a fairly loud driveline whine.  I know it's driveline, because when I pull in the clutch at 65 the whine goes away and if I keep the clutch pulled in and rev the bike up to about 3000 RPM the whine is still gone.  Is this normal?  Could it be a worn diff?  I haven't changed fluid in the differential yet (I normally use Amzoil synthetic gear lube), but that's the next thing I'm going to do.

I just came home from a 35 mile ride and when I parked it in the garage I felt the rear diff.  It was fairly warm, you could hold your hand against it, but it was pretty hot.  Should it be that warm?

One more question (for now  )  when I peg the throttle in 5th gear at about 60 MPH, there is some vibration or something like that.  It's hard to describe, not really a vibration but the bike kind of "buzzes" until you get to 70 or 75 MPH, then it smoothes out.


Thanks for any help or advice you have!!!

[Hoser]

The buzz under throttle at 60 is normal, usually the whine is at 50-55, Synthetic oil will quiet it some.  Does it have the chrome engine covers?  Some complain about resonations from the covers, most folks put a sound deadener such as  used under carpets in a car on the inside of the covers. Hope this helps. Hoser

[39 Chev]

Hoser,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, it does have all the chrome engine guards.  I'll have to buy some sound deadener to stick on the inside of them.

I'll get the diff changed to synthetic and report if that helps.

[Printer Mike]

...I'll get the diff changed to synthetic and report if that helps.

Are you running synthetic in the motor? I just bought my first Valk...had dyno oil when I got it. Just changed to syn last night and it seems quieter.

I think the warm differental is normal. There is some energy lost there and it turns to heat.

[Robert]

The whine you are talking about is pretty normal but you can quiet it down some by using a synthetic 20/50 oil. If you are using a 20/50 and synthetic and you still have a whine then try changing to a different oil. I had tried the 10/40 and didn't like the whine so I changed it out for the 20 50 and was happy and quiet. You will find that different oils in even the heavier weight will perform differently because of the different base stocks and additives that are in the oil so keep trying till you find the one that works or take suggestions from all the oil threads that have been on this board. As for the rear its pretty much the same story and normal, I use the Mobile One 75/140 and it really helped the temp. I never get to the point I cant put my hand on the rear. I did use Mobil in the regular weight which is the 90w and it worked ok but I just decided to try the heavier one and haven't looked back. Some have also put like you are going to, padding inside the covers and have also had good results.  

[ricoman]

When I got my new to me 98 I heard the same gear whine. Thanks to this place I learned it is normal and a result of the straight cut gears. Have switched oil as noted above and the whine lessened but is still there. It will always be there-just think of it as a song from "the fat lady"!
Have never felt my rear end after a ride (leave that alone you guys), now I'll have to check. I did go with Mobil synthetic gear oil when I changed all the fluids right after I got her. Be sure not to over fill, just 150cc's I think.
I have the same "buzz". There are posts here and info in the tech section that talk about how to deal with that-look for "buzz bolt". Checked mine and it is tight but still have the buzz-maybe a small amount is normal?

[Patrick]

Like the guys say, these 'transmitters' do 'whine'.. Thats normal..  If the noise seems to be excessive, one quick thing to try is to check the tightness of the rear axle and then loosen and re-tighten the 4 differential retainer nuts.. Sometimes these nuts get tightened before the axle nut and put undue strain on the drive splines.. As for your vibration, I wonder if your bike has had an aftermarket trigger installed..Too much base ignition advance will cause some of these bikes to have a very high pitched vibration[these engines do not like a lot of ignition advance] and to also start harder in the cool weather..

[Steve K (IA)]

I agree with the others...put some DynaMat or equivalent stuck to the back side of the trans covers.  You will always have some whine...that's just Honda.   Or add some tunes.  On my I/S I never hear those sounds, I'm always groovin' to the music.   

How hot your rear end feels, sounds about how I would describe both of mine, Std & I/S.  I use Valvoline Synthetic gear lube...change it out once a year.

[sandy]

The Diff Lube/oil has to have a GL5 rating. I use Pennzoil Marine synthetic from Wal Mart. 75Wx90

[asfltdncr]

Honestly,ear plugs are a great solution.
If your bike made no noise, the wind noise alone is at a decibel level to cause hearing damage.
It also helps with music quality from helmet speakers.

[39 Chev]

Ear plugs are not an option for me.  I have fairly bad tinnitus in my left ear (ringing) and ear plugs makes it worse.  Too many days of shooting prairie dogs over the hood of a pickup when I was young.  Of course, back then I was indesructable and never wore hearing protection.   

What's the saying?  If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. 

Patrick...yes the bike has the 6 degree wheel.  I only use premium in it, but that could be contributing to the vibration.

I will do the stuff suggested in the thread and let everyone know whether it helps of not.  THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE.

[DFragn]

Yep, rear diffs can get quite toasty. Especially at sustained highway speeds. A good reason to check the rear splines for lub and wear. Honda' recommended moly 60 paste will actually evaporate by 10k miles or sooner with heavy highway speeds. Then the dry splines rust and chew themselves up. A real danger for high mileage MC tires & Car tire users. Ya got pull the wheel and inspect them regardless of tire wear. Or use Guard Dog products that seem to protect for much longer. http://guarddogmolylubricants.com/gd525.shtml I blend my own high temp bearing grease and Moly 60 paste [about 60/40%]. I haven't pushed the inspection beyond 10k, but I'm in excellent shape @ 75k miles.

BTW Me likes da whine...

[Patrick]

39,, nice lookin' car, by the way.. Some of these engines do have a very high pitched vibration when the ignition timing is advanced.. I can generally feel it in the grips and have had it disappear when I removed the aftermarket trigger.. Sometimes these don't want to start in cool weather with an aftermarket trigger either and I've never taken the time to try and figure out whether it was due the amount of advance or maybe excessive pulse generator gap due to the smaller diameter[or tooth shape] of the aftermarket trigger..

[39 Chev]

Thanks for the compliment on the car.  It's a lot of fun.

I changed the diff fluid to Mobil 1 synthetic and changed the oil (even though it was just changed) back to synthetic.  I used Rotella Syn-T like I used in my VTX.  Just doing those 2 things have helped a little.

I ordered some closed cell sound deadener and, once it gets here, I'm going to put some under the chrome engine covers, etc.

I'll let everyone know how it works.

[Michvalk]

Put 20,000 miles on it and you won't even notice the noise anymore. Especialily in the tripple didgets

[Earl in Pensacola]

Let me add one more little tip.  Those tranny covers do tend to magnify the already existing transmission noise, which in my case only occurs between 1900 and 2500 RPMs mostly in fourth and fifth gears.  In addition to sound proof coating the inside of the tranny cover, I added rubber gaskets to the tranny cover bolts so as to further isolate the cover from the transmission.  Every little bit helpes.   BTW, above 2500 RPMs, I have never had any transmission noise!!