Low miles V7R developing engine noise

[Frulk]

2014 V7R, 3500 miles. Never abused. 600 mile service and 3K mile oil change all done by dealer. After it warms up and at idle in neutral at red lights its making a noise best described as a "screech" (like metal is dragging??). Put it in gear and it goes away. Just noticed this today. On the way home I downshifted somewhat abruptly due to traffic slowing and when I let the clutch out it made that same screeching noise only much louder. Went away immediately under acceleration. Pulled into the driveway, put it in neutral and the noise was there again. Pulled clutch and popped it in gear and it went away. Motor runs fine/no issue with RPMs etc. bike ran well otherwise.

Bikes under warranty so its being trailered to the dealer as soon as I have the time. Just looking for what the potential issues are so I know what I can expect for out-of-commission time.  Pretty bummed...bike is almost new, low miles and taken care of.

[Vasco DG]

Not enough oil in the gearbox. Was it serviced by a shop without much Guzzi experience. If so they may of just put 380cc of oil in the gearbox having confused the description in the service manual.

I hope not but if it is the case it'll need a new gearbox.

Pete

[Frulk]

Vasco....Was going to check it myself but Owners manual says this : To check, top-up and change gearbox oil, contact an Official Moto Guzzi Dealer. Any way I can confirm the level myself? Don't see any obvious caps to remove to check it...any step by step direction is appreciated.

[Frulk]

Damn! Between Vasco's and your post it doesn't look like I'll be canyon carving on the V7R anytime soon.   :'(

[Vasco DG]

On the right hand side of the gearbox is a round plug with a 10mm hex in the middle. That is the gearbox filler plug. Pull it out and tip the bike slightly to the right. Oil should dribble out. If it doesn't add 75/90 weight until it does.

The gearbox should take a full litre of gear oil. Much less is bad news.

Pete

[Frulk]

Thanks VDG. I'll check that after work tomorrow. Bike will go in under warranty regardless of the level as obviously the noise is not normal. At a minimum I'm expecting several weeks of shop time before I get it back. Thankfully I have a brand new CB1100 that will pull double duty until the V7R is home

[Kev m]

Is it a SCREACH or a chirp?

My Stone sometimes makes a chirping sound as I come to a stop, still in gear, clutch held in. It goes away if I put it in neutral and let the clutch back out, or sometimes it just goes away. Actually, it doesn't do it every time.

I'm positive my oil levels are fine.

[Frulk]

Kev....It's a screech.

Vasco...tipped it to the right side quite a ways before oil started coming out. Made an appt. for next Friday to drop it off. Under warranty.

[lucydad]

My V7R also chirps, whirrs, burbles and biddley boops.  Phase of moon has a lot to do with it.  Chunkey chunk going into gear from neutral.

Good luck, hopefully you don't need a complete new gearbox. 

[Kev m]

My V7R also chirps, whirrs, burbles and biddley boops.  Phase of moon has a lot to do with it.  Chunkey chunk going into gear from neutral.

Good luck, hopefully you don't need a complete new gearbox. 

Sounds like mine...

[Frulk]

Mine does all that AND Screeches now ::(

[Vasco DG]

I have, unfortunately, had this issue several times in the last few years. It's strange, it never used to happen, but it now seems that for some people logic just doesn't seem to work.

There is the confusion about the terminology used in the manual regarding what is a 'Transmission' but really? There are two quantities for gear lubricants. One is a litre, one is something much smaller (285cc?). Now surely when you drain the components that contain the oil it will be pretty bleeding obvious which one has the larger quantity in. So even if you are confused by the terminology you'd be able to say "Ah! So the larger quantity of runnier stuff came out of there so that's where the litre of 75/90 goes and the smaller quantity of thicker stuff came out of here so that's where the smaller quantity of 85/140 goes."

Also smallblock bevelboxes are sealed at the pinion. Even if you could pour a full litre of oil into one, (You'd have to add it through the vent hole and I'm not sure it's even possible, I've never tried!) the moment you tried to ride it it would spew it out all over the place!

Logic would also dictate that the 'Big' component with five gears and lots and lots of bearings would take more oil than the 'Smaller' component with four bearings and two gears but that I suppose requires knowing what is inside the mysterious alloy castings!

Anyway on the boxes I've seen that screech the cause has always been that the oil has been changed at a shop that is either new to Guzzi or isn't a Guzzi dealer and has no knowledge or experience of the marque. An entirely inadequate quantity of oil has been put in the gearbox, (285ml will hardly reach the lowest gears!) and the screeching is from bearings, (Usually the needle rollers under the pinions.) screeching as they chatter themselves to death through overheating and lack of lubrication.

Anyway I really hope I'm wrong and it turns out to be something simple but I fear otherwise. Also inadequate oil is not a factory warranty issue. It's something you'll have to fight out with the dealer.

Pete

[Chuck in Indiana]

Kev....It's a screech.

Vasco...tipped it to the right side quite a ways before oil started coming out. Made an appt. for next Friday to drop it off. Under warranty.

It ought to be just level when the bike is level. Or maybe dribbling out a little when the bike is level. If you had to tip it to the right

quite a ways

it was grossly underfilled.  Not good, and not your fault.

[Cam3512]

Dealer is suspect.  Changing oil at 3K miles?  Check your book...

[Frulk]

Chuck...Bike went in at 600 miles for initial service. Bike went in at 3000 miles for oil change. In Owners manual it states

Gearbox oil level
· To check, top-up and change
gearbox oil, contact an Official
Moto Guzzi Dealer.

It's still under warranty by a wide margin.  I'll give the Dealer the opportunity to make it right.

It's irritating to be without the V7R. I live in a beautiful part of the country and the weather is just perfect right now.

[Cam3512]

Chuck...Bike went in at 600 miles for initial service. Bike went in at 3000 miles for oil change. In Owners manual it states

Gearbox oil level
· To check, top-up and change
gearbox oil, contact an Official
Moto Guzzi Dealer.

It's still under warranty by a wide margin.  I'll give the Dealer the opportunity to make it right.

It's irritating to be without the V7R. I live in a beautiful part of the country and the weather is just perfect right now.

But there is NO 3K mile oil change on anything!  2nd service engine oil change is 6K miles, tranny and rear DOUBLE that.  Check your book.

[canuguzzi]

Don't worry, no question that you aren't going to be paying for the repair. MG seems to be pretty quick on authorizations right now, a day or so (my case anyway) They did have a dealer software snafu recently though.

In the USA authorized dealer acts on behalf of the manufacturer, they can figure it out among themselves but you're covered. Just document every time you do anything to it.

[Vasco DG]

It ought to be just level when the bike is level. Or maybe dribbling out a little when the bike is level. If you had to tip it to the right  it was grossly underfilled.  Not good, and not your fault.

Not suggesting it was his fault Chuck but if it was grossly under filled it isn't Guzzis fault either and they will be reluctant to give warranty, rightly so in my book. That unfortunately throws it back in the dealer's lap and they may be reluctant to do the right thing.

Look at the case of that 90th anniversary Cali I had come in for its first service with no oil in the gearbox or bevelbox. The selling dealer tried to shuffle it off as a warranty problem and told ME I'd have to deal with it! There were 'Words' exchanged and eventually they sent a pimply youth with a ute and two, (Count 'em! A whole two!) tie downs to drag it back to Melbourne. No way in the world was I going to touch it! If I had every other problem it may of had would of immediately devolved onto me as "I was the last person to have worked on it." Never mind that warranty work only pays about half my hourly rate, at book times, and is given to me only as a credit against my parts account! Screw that for a game of soldiers! :D

Pete