Author Topic: Spooky sounds (Guzzi content) (Read 4806 times)

blakestree · « **on:** October 31, 2018, 09:25:18 AM »

The last few chilly mornings I've been hearing something quite disturbing... coming from my V7! Early in my rides, I'm hearing a creaking sound, like the door on a haunted house. It seems to happen maybe when I'm letting out the clutch lever. It only happens once, early on, and then not again for the rest of my commute. I always warm my bike up before riding, but this is the first time it has really been cool in the mornings since I got my V7. Could it be clutch plates not being lubed up enough? Sound like a throw out bearing? Indicative of something that's not clutch related?

FWIW, I have been feeling like I might need to adjust my clutch lever, lately. That may just come from reading threads about it. But, the bike has always been a difficult shifter. (can't find neutral, misses second, clonky) However, I've never been sure how much of that is attributed to my relative inexperience or just the nature of the beast.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

yogidozer · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2018, 10:03:09 AM »

With the engine off, pull the clutch lever in then release it normally a few times. Should help you track the noise down.
Might need a helper.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2018, 10:03:58 AM »

Quote

Could it be clutch plates not being lubed up enough?

No. They are dry.

It seems I have heard of this on the small blocks. Someone that knows will be along shortly..

Guzzi Gal · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2018, 10:47:37 AM »

Maybe try lubing the cable when you adjust it?

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2018, 10:49:50 AM »

Quote from: Chuck in Indiana on October 31, 2018, 10:03:58 AM

No. They are dry. It seems I have heard of this on the small blocks. Someone that knows will be along shortly..

ive heard of it too. Throw out bearing at back of transmission ?

malik · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2018, 01:37:03 PM »

It may be something more serious by now, but I'd try adjusting the clutch cable properly first. On the V7's the shift SHOULD be smooth & easy. The clutch should start to engage right at the beginning of the lever's movement. Pete Roper set out the definitive instructions for adjustment somewhere on here. It's almost impossible with the rear wheel in place, easier to get at the lever arm adjuster behind the axle with the wheel off. Really easy with the axle off, and on the V7, that's not actually a big job. Good luck.

Note: Sometimes creaking noises can come from the brakes.

Kiwi_Roy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2018, 06:52:08 PM »

My old California II would make a creaking noise as i pushed it around the garage. I finally found it was the wheel bearings moving in the cast wheels, must have been that way for years, 100k miles.[emoji354]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

oldbike54 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2018, 07:36:38 PM »

Quote from: Guzzi Gal on October 31, 2018, 10:47:37 AM

Maybe try lubing the cable when you adjust it?

New cables are nylon lined , wet lube will mess them up .

Dusty

stubbie · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2018, 07:51:49 PM »

I had a problem like that with my Ducati. It was the throwout bearing.

rodekyll · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2018, 08:33:50 PM »

I had it too. It was me.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2018, 07:22:08 AM »

I know the feeling, RK..

blakestree · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2018, 07:38:59 AM »

I've pumped the clutch a few times, before starting the motorcycle, and I don't hear anything. The brake suggestion is interesting. I have been hearing a bit of drag on the front rotor while pushing my V7 around, and I don't recall hearing it when I first got the bike back in July. This morning, before start-up, I also pumped the front brake lever a few times. AND, I didn't get the creak during my whole commute! However, it was a few degrees warmer this morning, so...

malik · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2018, 05:17:17 PM »

A bit of drag on the brakes? I don't know about you others, but to reliably check on pad wear, I have to remove the caliper - 2 bolts each so no big deal. If you do remove them, you might as well clean them & regrease the pins. Check the movement while in your hand, then try again. Note that rear caliper on '14 is a semi floating affair, sliding on two pins. On mine, one of the pin boots was managed on original assembly, so road grime accumulated & stopped the return slide, so fluid boiled. I have to remove & clean out the grime every so often - new boots don't seem to be a service item.

Initial test - wheel in the air & spin it. Should revolve freely. Brake on & off. Spin it. It should still run freely.

Moto · « **Reply #13 on:** November 02, 2018, 12:09:48 AM »

Could be suspension. I heard creaking and found out too late that my rear suspension and swing arn bearings were the cause. The swing arm bearings were completely shot by the time I noticed the sound they made. Get a helper to get on and off the bike while you try to locate the source of any sounds.

blakestree · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2018, 08:07:52 AM »

It is hard to be certain, with the bike running and helmet on, but I believe the creak is coming from somewhere up front.

Quote from: malik on November 01, 2018, 05:17:17 PM

A bit of drag on the brakes? I don't know about you others, but to reliably check on pad wear, I have to remove the caliper - 2 bolts each so no big deal. If you do remove them, you might as well clean them & regrease the pins. Check the movement while in your hand, then try again. Note that rear caliper on '14 is a semi floating affair, sliding on two pins. On mine, one of the pin boots was managed on original assembly, so road grime accumulated & stopped the return slide, so fluid boiled. I have to remove & clean out the grime every so often - new boots don't seem to be a service item.

Initial test - wheel in the air & spin it. Should revolve freely. Brake on & off. Spin it. It should still run freely.

Great advice, thanks. Yeah, I haven't bothered investigating the dragging further, after not being able to check the status of the pads without removing anything. Fluid looks good, bike still stops.

Do these types of pads have wear indicators in them?

malik · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2018, 02:13:47 PM »

Some do, some don't. The originals? I'm no longer sure - the fronts on my '14 lasted 77,000k (48,000 miles) replace with EBC FA244 or Ferodo FDB 2042P. Just unbolt the working body from the caliper. Supposed to be replaced if 2mm or less pad left, I think. Easily done, a couple of minutes. On mine, the inside pads seem to wear quicker than the outside ones.

A grating noise when you push the bike around the garage likely means there's no pad material left & the metal is grating on the rotor. Not optimal to leave it that late - rotors aren't all that cheap.

voncrump · « **Reply #16 on:** November 02, 2018, 02:21:40 PM »

I had a creak from the front end on my V7 when I held the front brake and pushed the suspension down, also I sometimes heard it when coming to a stop.
It turned out to be a slightly loose fork brace.
I tightened the 4 screws holding the brace to the fork legs and the noise stopped.
Cheers, voncrump.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2018, 11:17:39 AM »

It is irrevocably broken. The bike is unsafe. Send it to me and I will dispose of it for free.

blakestree · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:08:40 AM »

Thanks for the advice, guys!

I'll check the fork brace.

I spoke to a Harley tech friend of mine and he said that, as the pads wear, dust will build up around the caliper piston and can cause to them to make noises. He thinks this is probably where my creak is coming from.

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Author Topic: Spooky sounds (Guzzi content) (Read 4806 times)

oldbike54

Moto