Final Drive noise Issue? Maybe?

[Hotrodwing]

Change my rear tire and lubed everything put her all back together  same as always but noticed something.   While seated on bike motor off in 1st gear if I rock the bike front to back there is a little play.  Normal right. but if continue to push it rearward some more there  is a Click noise. The bike is a 97 standard with 76000 miles on her.  I changed the pinion cup and shaft 3yrs ago at 50,000  for piece of mind.  everything is lubed and cup holes are clear.  any ideas.  I also followed the rearend tightening sequence as always.  Turning the wheel forward makes no noise and is smooth.   Going on a  2500 mile trip next week and don't want any issues.

[Ricky-D]

Of course you know, that when you're pushing the bike forward, you are on the backside of all the gears and connections.

***

[Hotrodwing]

Oh I know , it just something I noticed for whatever reason, never thought about it or rocked the bike like that before.   Was just wondering if it was common to our bikes

[indybobm]

Of course you know, that when you're pushing the bike forward, you are on the backside of all the gears and connections.

***

Thought he was pushing it backwards when he heard the click.

[Hotrodwing]

yes pushing it backwards

[salty1]

Is that clicking noise associated with the brake caliper or the pads?

[Chrisj CMA]

Rolling the bike backwards is how I discovered my first bad rear wheel bearing

[Hotrodwing]

Chris I hope your wrong I just installed new bearings

[Chrisj CMA]

Chris I hope your wrong I just installed new bearings

I sure hope you don't have the problem my friend had.  Similar clicking turned out to be a wallowed out wheel bearing seat...needed a new wheel

[Tfrank59]

This is a funny thread, because once I read your post I had to go out and check my bike – I don't hear a thing when I roll forward or backward in gear, so I guess that's good.  I'm also guessing what you're hearing isn't good. I wonder if it could be the U joint clicking or some part of your drivetrain that's worn.

[Hotrodwing]

TFrank  I replaced the u joint 2 years ago so I don't think that it could be that at least I hope not.  Here's the kicker last night after work I tried to rock it and now no noise WTF??  I was thinking it may be just the position of the u joint. Wanted to take it out for a ride but it started to rain and will be for the next day or 2. 

[nogrey]

Just my 2 cents here, but I had just installed a new rear tire on my '97 and noticed a new vibration when I rode it. Now, whenever I have the rear wheel off, I go through all the final drive maintenance, from the drive shaft down to the final driven gear and everything in between. So I pulled it all off again. Checked the drive system, bearings etc. Nada. Everything looked fine. Put it all back together (not tightening the 4 bolts on the final drive until axle installed and tightened, after rocking bike and getting alignment set). Took it for a test drive and yup, still there. Very minor but noticeable especially when slowing and turning.
Fast forward 3 months. Put a new tire on my '01 I/S. Same make and model tire as well (Michelin commander). Put her all together and wham-bam! Same vibration. Pulled it all off again and checked everything. All good. Rode her to Inzane this year. No issues whatsoever. Just that little vibration when slowing and turning (slowly). Now, the I/S has 50K miles on her but the '97 has only 8K. I finally had to conclude that it was the Michelin Commander's tread design. Only thing I can come up with.
Great tire by the way. Tread is harder in the middle and progressively softer as it goes to the sidewall. Great idea.

[Jess from VA]

I have noticed a click on pushing bikes around, and it was a stone in the tire tread.

Would that things were always that simple (I've lost a Ujoint and wheel bearing too).

[Hotrodwing]

Jess no stones in the tire, brand new avon.   Probably making a big deal out of nothing.

[Jess from VA]

Well, a brand new tire holds little stones best.  Yes it was a longshot, but if I get clicks, that's the first place I look. 

Next, I attribute strange noises to (and go looking at) brakes/calipers/pads/rotors.

Sometimes you just have to ride/drive it till it breaks, to find something.  Esp when you are a shade tree tech like me.     

[Tfrank59]

Well what I was wondering is can you be more exact on the location of the clicking sound?  If it does it again, maybe you can get down there with a stethoscope or something and have somebody else rock the bike.  That way maybe you can figure out exactly where the clicking sound is coming from – the driveshaft, u joint, the pumpkin, the rear wheel bearing--Unless you're not worried about it now 

[Hotrodwing]

Update :-\Removed tire again everything looks good , relubed everything and put her back together and tightened her up in the proper sequence.  She  turns easy and smooth.  Rides fine no noises just the click noise   when trying to push backwards in 1st gear.  So now I just ride her as usually Hard and Fast.   She likes that.

[Chrisj CMA]

Put the bike on the lift and grab the bottom (6 o'clock) position of the wheel.  Try to move it side to side.  If there is a faint "tic, tic"movement, its a bad wheel bearing.

[Hotrodwing]

Chris just tried it nothing . not that I am sorry its not a bearing. tickedoff that I still not sure what it is.   One thing I noticed  and maybe this is the issue but when I had the tire off. I put the wheel hub in the final drive and  while moving it back and forth it seemed that there is some play in the teeth between the hub and the drive gear.   Is it possible that this is worn.   The teeth look good and were always lubed and never rusted.  I bought the bike with 24000 she now has over 76000. Now what ??

[The emperor has no clothes]

I wonder if worn dampeners would give you that noise when going backwards ?

[Bighead]

My question why would you try to roll it backwards in gear?

[da prez]

Roll it forward or backwards and lightly apply the brakes to see if the noise changes. A brake caliper will rock in the bracket and give you that noise. If on a stand or with just the rear tire up , hold the brake on and rock the tire back and forth. (direction of rotation) You will probably hear the noise.

                                          da prez

[carnett2]

I had a 97 Tourer, heard a similar noise every now and then.  While rolling down the road at 55MPH I sheared two teeth off the front end of the drive shaft.  It made a horrible noise.  I put in the clutch and coasted to a stop.  Trailered it to Honda dealer.  It was $120 to get the drive shaft replaced. 

[Hotrodwing]

Meathead, the dampers are brand new just installed at this tire change. Bighead, never rocked it back and forth before it is just this time after I got everything back together I rolled my bike backwards  in gear with the motor off,  clutch in, down a slight incline. I just happened to let the clutch out before I was fully stopped and that's when I first heard the noise.  Maybe it was always there it's just that I never heard it before.  Da prez I will try with the brake applied tomorrow.

[Hotrodwing]

Ps Carnett2  it does not make the noise going forward.  It is nice and  tight , no slop.