Odd thunk?

[Iron Mike]

I am a bit stumped by this.  I have a 99 standard with 23,000 miles.  It happens occasionally when cruising in 5th gear between 45 and 65 mph.  The bike goes thunk and it is almost like it dowshifts for a second or pops out of gear?  Almost like drive train backlash?  What do you guys know about this one?  Thanks, dont be shy I need some input!  ----Mike

[R J]

I am a bit stumped by this.  I have a 99 standard with 23,000 miles.  It happens occasionally when cruising in 5th gear between 45 and 65 mph.  The bike goes thunk and it is almost like it dowshifts for a second or pops out of gear?  Almost like drive train backlash?  What do you guys know about this one?  Thanks, dont be shy I need some input!  ----Mike

Quit babying the firkin gears, SLAM em in.........  If you ease the gears in they do not set like they are supposed to and every once in a while it will jump or lose a gear on ya......

I used to be lazy on shifting until I got Chet's kick shifter.  NO more thunk, clunk, or gear swapping since then.  Used to miss 2nd gear alot also before the kick shifter............  Don't ask what happened the last time I missed 2nd gear.  If is another story and I ain't a talkin right now...........

[Iron Mike]

Its not doing it when I shift.  It is at odd times cruising in 5th only.  The first time I did it i thought maybe I bumped my foot on the shifter.  Nope.  These Valks are very clunky shifting might I add.  I think some better oil would help.  Lord knows what the stealership put in this thing before I got it!   

[Iron Mike]

I will try that by the way, but i dont think that is the problem. I have been wrong before (just ask my wife)! If my race bike did this i would be splitting cases and having a look.  This motor is more of a winter project!

[MP]

Try a full synthetic oil, NOT energy conserving.  The gears are straight cut, so are a little clunkier and noisier.
I agree with RJ, shift hard.  When I first got my valk last year, I too once in a while had it pop out of gear, or make a noise.  Not when shifting, a while after.

After I have been shifting with authority, I have NOT had a single problem. I run Amsoil 20-50 motorcycle oil.
MP

[Momz]

Mike,

At 23K most Valks are fine, however you my have worn rear wheel dampners. Mine were toast by 25K, found out when my left rear wheel bearing failed.

You might want to familiarize yourself with the rear wheel removal/spline lube proceedure, and then check out the rear dampners.

If you are not sure about doing this; call Birch Run Honda and talk to Cory in their service department. He will answer all your questions and help with any assistance you may require.

Sorry that I did not see you at the "Q".

Ride happy

[longrider]

iron mike

Lots of good advice from everyone but I think they are going in the wrong direction.  I know what you are feeling as I have had two Valks do the same thing.  For some strange reason the bike will cut out for a split second at any time but seems to show up cruising in fifth. This momentary loss of ignition could be caused by a dirty kill switch, bank angle sensor.  etc.  On my previous 98 I disconnected the kill switch and used it for my driving lights and it still did it so my guess is the problem is in the bank angle sensor.  So, Just ride it.  Nothing to worry about.

warren

[R J]

I will try that by the way, but i dont think that is the problem. I have been wrong before (just ask my wife)! If my race bike did this i would be splitting cases and having a look.  This motor is more of a winter project!

If ya got the balls to come back and admit you is wrong, GOOD.  That is what we appreciate when we try to answer your questions with out really hearing what the bike does.

Udder wise, no problem, we just tried to hep ya out.

[Iron Mike]

RJ,I know you guys are trying to help and it is much appreaciated!  It is hard to describe a noise or other problem as well.  The first time it straight up popped out of gear I believe.  Second time it felt like it cut out or drivetraine backlash.  It was different than normal get off/on the gas feel.  I was wondering about the cushuions as well.  I have had the rear wheel of my Dads Valk a couple times.  No big deal.  I have had a kill switch go bad on my dirt bike.  That was crazy, it would cut out on every bump.  I need to spend a couple dats going over it.     

I sure wish i could have made it up to the Q!  My wife was having some issues from her surgery and needed help. 

[prc1950]

  Torque damper doing its job,dont worry.
  Paul in Iowa

[wizard -vrccds#125]

I will take it for a ride when I get there in the morning

[Ricky-D]

I tend to go along with the idea that you're not shifting positively enough and the dogs on the gears are jumping slots.
But you say "backlash" and that would suggest slop coming from a worn out universal joint.
You can elevate the bike and turn the rear wheel and feel the slop, especially if it's a lot of slop. You can peel back the boot and see the universal and deduce whether the slop is due to a bad universal joint. I think all the dither about the dampers is off the mark.

[Iron Mike]

Well I still dont think its my shifting.  Bent shift fork?  Its likke it drops of of gear for a second and pops back in.  It sucks, I cant get it to repeat. If I have to shift harder than that no wonder Honda quit making them! LOL! 

[prc1950]

 Like i said in previous post its the torque damper.Its not comming out of gear and going back in.
Its job is to damp out engine pulses when you are not accelerating or decelerating.
 When you are in between those conditions it tries to smooth things out (six cylinders still firing)
  It feels wierd,but is normal. Mine has done it for 40k. Its not your shifting,if not aggressive enough
shifting it will pop out of gear or fall in between gears. You cant hurt this trans.
  Paul in Iowa