Final Drive-Any Noise Permissible

[britman]

Another first "Goose" owner question, sorry in advance.  Should the "bevel box", "final dive", "transmission",(please pick the correct terminology that applies to the part), have any noise at all when spun by hand on the center stand.  My 2000 Bassa is quiet as church mouse when cold, but after warming up there is a clicking sound that seems to be coming from the  box internally.   Of course the unit is full with the correct amount of dino gear oil and moly.  New rear pads have been installed I am relatively sure it isn't brake noise. Installing the pads is really when I took first notice of the sound.  It is not a grinding or clunking sound,  like I said best described as a click. Unfortunately I am not able to post a sound video, hell I still carry a flip phone.  Not a lot in the search function here, other than never run the bike on the center stand.   Thanks for any input.......

[pete roper]

Remove the brake caliper and see if it still does it.

Is it regular or irregular? My biggest concern would be it might be the cage breaking up in the 'Big' crownwheel bearing but I doubt it.

Pete

[pehayes]

To verify that it is NOT brake noise, just un-bolt and remove the caliper and dangle by its hose.  Don't activate the brake pedal while the caliper is thus loose.  Make sure you remove the caliper mounting bolts and not the caliper's two-half clamping bolts.  You can turn the wheel by hand and see if the noise continues.

How many miles on this machine?  Bearings shouldn't be any issue for 50K.

I had a similar clicking noise on my SPII.  Although it was clearly more forward at the shaft joint area.  Turned out the u-joint carrier bearing had come to pieces.  The framework which holds the ball bearings in position was ground to pulp.  The balls were all together on one side of the bearing when I turned the wheel, the balls would rise to the 12 o'clock position and fall down the other side.  Click, click, click.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[britman]

Not what I wanted to hear.  I went for a short ride this afternoon, again rear drive silent while cold on center stand.  As soon as I returned noise was back.  Dropped the caliber, and it still persisted.  I pulled the fill plug for a closer listen and I am pretty sure it is internal in the drive box.  Going to be a while before I can get back to the issue, going to do some further reading and research before pulling the unit.  Thanks for the input guys and certainly welcome any further suggestions........ .

[Triple Jim]

Is it possible you're just hearing a little gear noise, rather than something out of the ordinary?  When the oil is hot and thinner, any gear noise would be easier to hear than when cold.  I can hear gentle mechanical sounds from my Mille's rear gears if I turn the wheel.  I'll be riding it later today, I'll try to remember to see if the sounds are louder when I get back.

It really would help if you'd get someone to record it and post the noise here.

[kirby1923]

It really would help if you'd get someone to record it and post the noise here.


« Last Edit: Today at 10:57:45 AM by Triple Jim »


 

Yeah, don't pull it! until someone else gets a chance to hear it. My CX does exactly the same thing as you describe but not, what I would call, "clicking". U joints have about 10K miles on mine. It is however some sort of mechanical noise. I won't worry about it unless its accompanied by some weirdness while spinning the wheel.

I figure if its a bad thing it would make the same (maybe not as loud) when cold. Also feel it as you turn the wheel, it should be very smooth hot or cold. (might be good to also pull the caliper while your doing it.)

[pehayes]

Would still like to know the mileage.  Did I miss that somewhere?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[britman]

Sorry mileage is around 13 K, barely broke in as I understand from other owners......

[fotoguzzi]

has the drive ever been removed>?  when mounting it certain steps need to be done in order, tighten the axle nut before or is it after tightening the pinch bolt, Ive heard a clicking in the rear drive on one of my past Bassa's.. IIRC I loosened everything and followed directions putting back up.. so, may be you could just loosen it and retighten.. Not sure if that should include the 4 nuts holding to swing arm but there is another place alignment could be off?  also is the swing arm centered?

[John A]

you are sposed to tighten the 4 mount bolts as well as the axel pinch bolt, if there is one, after the axel nut is tightened

[Triple Jim]

OK, I got back from a ride and the rear drive is warm.  With the Mille on its center stand and turning the rear wheel by hand, there is only a soft whirring noise, nothing clicky at all.  This is true in both directions.

[britman]

has the drive ever been removed>?  when mounting it certain steps need to be done in order, tighten the axle nut before or is it after tightening the pinch bolt, Ive heard a clicking in the rear drive on one of my past Bassa's.. IIRC I loosened everything and followed directions putting back up.. so, may be you could just loosen it and retighten.. Not sure if that should include the 4 nuts holding to swing arm but there is another place alignment could be off?  also is the swing arm centered?

Fotoguzzi,

I don't know, but all of the caliber bolts, axle nuts, both front and rear are safety wired.  Don't believe it factory policy so the PO must have been damn safety conscious...... I will give the re-tighting of the unit a try as soon as I have a chance and run down the procedure. Right now I am nursing a Wife who just got home from a total knee replacement, Lord help me please........

[oldlegs]

How about dropping the oil and checking for any bits. Steve.

[britman]

How about dropping the oil and checking for any bits. Steve.

Already done, nothing of magnitude I could see.  I was using 80/90 Amsoil with the moly per the Guzziolgy book.  Put dino 80/90 back with the right amount of oil and moly and no change. 

[Kiwi_Roy]

I had a ticking noise from the back wheel of my 72 Eldorado when I pushed it.
It turned out to be a couple of loose spokes, they were tight when I re-spoked the wheel, can't explain why they come loose but after I re-tightened, never happened again.

[britman]

Thanks one and all for the input, as usual no lack of folks on this site willing to help.  I am going to take this plan of action for the time being before going through the hassle of pulling a final drive unit.  Since I still need to do an oil change and air filter check to complete the winter maintenance schedule, I will just add these to the list:

1. Pull the rear wheel and check the splines for grease.  (Wheel needs a good cleaning anyway.)

2. Loosen the rear drive bolt up points as Fotoguzzi suggested and re-tighten in order. 

Looking to the bright side, since the unit is completely quiet when cold and the noise is not horrendous even when hot, I am prepared to live with it even if this doesn't cure the fandom click. (Recalling a few shot wheel bearings I have replaced over the years, they don't care about the temperature.)  Of course I will listen to see if the noise gets any worst, but for now the bike runs like a striped arse ape and I am going to enjoy it.   

[fotoguzzi]

you are sposed to tighten the 4 mount bolts as well as the axel pinch bolt, if there is one, after the axel nut is tightened

[britman]

Fotoguzzi,

I owe you a beer of your choosing.  Dropped the rear wheel last night to check the grease on the gears, it was fine but I cleaned everything and applied a new coating. I loosened everything to include the four shaft bolts and re-tightened everything in order after the axle nut, and I'll be damned if the noise didn't disappear, hot or cold.  Must have been a very slight alignment problem.  Happy "Goose" owner again, thanks one and all, but Fotoguzzi gets the brew......

[fotoguzzi]

I just copied what John A said so buy him the beer..