loop gearbox whine

[lazlokovacs]

ok, just fixed my engine oil leak on the V7 speciale.

I have a whine coming from the gearbox though. My observations;

-ts definitely not 'normal',
-it's at its worst in 3rd gear at around 3500rpm, can also hear it in 4th but not as bad... 1st and 2nd sound fine
-it goes away when the clutch is pulled in, so it's definitely drive train related
-I live next to the mountains so I went down a very steep hill with the engine off in neutral, got to around 40mph, no noise whatsoever, so I guess it isnt rear drive related either?

Recent work has been done - gearbox fully rebuilt and new rear drive from Charlie Antietam Classic Cycle. I also swapped out my failing generator for an alternator as per thisoldtractor.

I really took my time on the transmission and followed the roper article and the various bits on thisoldtractor to the letter, but it was my first gearbox rebuild so maybe I could have messed something up. Unlikely, but I won't rule it out.

Could an overloaded thrust bearing make a whining sound?

I actually tried adjusting the clutch while riding in 3rd (dialling in more freeplay at the lever) but the noise didnt go away...

The bike is feeling really good, shifting great and I'm super pleased to have her running again, but I can't say I trust her with that noise going on...

Any advice gratefully appreciated

Thanks

[Wayne Orwig]

Not a true 'fix'. And not to go down that path of lube, but....

On my EV, I usually ran a popular quality gear lube. I used to tow a HUGE camper, tens of thousands of miles at highway speeds. Eventually, fifth gear would start to whine so bad, even I could hear it. So I replaced fifth gear. The gears are not really worn, but you could see small 'cracking' in the face of the teeth. Over heated I suspect.

Fast forward a few years, and it starts to do it again. About a year later I got tired of hearing it, so I put in Redline Heavy Shockproof. The thick pink milkshake stuff. The noise was gone.

I eventually had to pull the transmission for other reasons and again replaced the fifth gear set. I put in the pink goo again.

Not a fan of it, but it worked.

[John Ulrich]

Redline works in mine.  HD dealers use it in customer bikes who think their bike is too noisy

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Every 4 spd. seems to have it's own range where it makes noise/whines. Some only do it in 4th, others do it everywhere, some in gears other than 4th. Just seems to be the "nature of the beast".

My personal favorite for noisy or clunky shifting 'boxes is Royal Purple Max Gear - it has worked where others didn't.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

will any of these fantastically colored and named lubes make it magically shift into 1st gear a little better????????????????

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

will any of these fantastically colored and named lubes make it magically shift into 1st gear a little better????????????????

No, but having a fully releasing and properly adjusted clutch will. 

[lazlokovacs]

just my luck that the whine is right in the sweet spot of third gear!!!

Will try and find some of that lube and see if it helps at all

thanks for the input guys

[Cam3512]

Every 4 spd. seems to have it's own range where it makes noise/whines. Some only do it in 4th, others do it everywhere, some in gears other than 4th. Just seems to be the "nature of the beast".

My personal favorite for noisy or clunky shifting 'boxes is Royal Purple Max Gear - it has worked where others didn't.

Hey Charlie, is the Royal Purple gear oil okay in the 4 speed tranny with brass components?

[radguzzi]

Hey Charlie, is the Royal Purple gear oil okay in the 4 speed tranny with brass components?

Not Charlie but I have a question about the Loop gearboxes... 

Probably Bronze and not Brass components... What are those items that require the Loops use GL4 and Not GL5...?  Shifting folks, collars..? Bushings..?

Thanks, asking for a friend, no kidding.

Thanks,
Rob

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Hey Charlie, is the Royal Purple gear oil okay in the 4 speed tranny with brass components?

Not Charlie but I have a question about the Loop gearboxes... 

Probably Bronze and not Brass components... What are those items that require the Loops use GL4 and Not GL5...?  Shifting folks, collars..? Bushings..?

Thanks, asking for a friend, no kidding.

Thanks,
Rob

Cam: Yes. Royal Purple is "safe for yellow metals", otherwise I wouldn't use or recommend it.

Rob: Every gear runs on a bronze bushing and the thrust bearing is bronze as well. Shift forks are steel. GL5 is fine as long as the manufacturer notes as above.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Every 4 spd. seems to have it's own range where it makes noise/whines. Some only do it in 4th, others do it everywhere, some in gears other than 4th. Just seems to be the "nature of the beast".

My personal favorite for noisy or clunky shifting 'boxes is Royal Purple Max Gear - it has worked where others didn't.

I remember stories of people pulling to the side of the road when a V7 was following them, thinking it was a cop's siren.. <shrug> 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I remember stories of people pulling to the side of the road when a V7 was following them, thinking it was a cop's siren.. <shrug> 

Early V700s have all straight-cut gears and are a *bit* loud sometimes.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yeah, mine was a *bit* loud..