2008 Norge CARC noise?

[ratguzzi]

Hey, just got back from my working road trip. Owned the bike less than 3 months and added 10,000 miles to the clock.
While riding near El Centro, California a couple weeks ago, I noticed a few oil spots on the rear wheel. It was around 110-115F at 80mph for about 90 minutes.
Well, after that, started slowly but when I decel and only with zero throttle, I get a grind/whine sound which sounds like the final drive but maybe the transmission. I can downshift and the rpm doesn't change the sound. The sound slows with vehicle speed and only with a back load on it. Under 15 mph, I can't get it to make the noise.  Which makes me lean toward the final drive. I just changed the gear lube, it was about 60% full so I lost more than I thought. The drain plug had about a q-tip amount of metal bits like coarse ground pepper.
Anyone go through something similar?
I see a few on ebay between $750-$1200.
JB

[pyoungbl]

JB, I'd contact Pete Roper.  The metal bits, combined with the fact that you are hearing a noise that changes with road speed but not rpm....sounds like you have caught a serious problem before it locked up.  As I recall, Pete has some CARC final drives that have been rebuilt. 

[PJPR01]

I just changed the fluids on my Norge this past weekend, while the rear drive fluid was still very clear and not murky, there was a small amount, not much though of magnetic particles on the drain plug.

Just curious...are the tires worn out and possibly making the noise...

Did you also put fresh fluids into the gearbox?

[ratguzzi]

Without a doubt, not the tires!!!
I just talked with Jim at Rosefarm and he assured me it's the CARC. He had one sitting there from a customer that had the same issue. The tab holding the nut tight wasn't peened over enough and the nut backed out.
I see a few on Ebay, will buy one here shortly.
Unless someone on here has one................ .

JB

[pete roper]

Yup, the pinion nut has lost its preload. Do NOT ride it any further. I’ve in the past written a How To on  fixing it. If you can’t find it I’ll see what I can do tonight but right now I’m in the middle of Manitoba heading east! If you can’t find it I’ll explain tonight.

Pete

[ratguzzi]

Yup, the pinion nut has lost its preload. Do NOT ride it any further. I�ve in the past written a How To on  fixing it. If you can�t find it I�ll see what I can do tonight but right now I�m in the middle of Manitoba heading east! If you can�t find it I�ll explain tonight.

Pete

Hey Pete,
I saw your write-up. Well done!
I luckily made it another 2000 miles to get home. I changed the oil earier today, rode it around the block, drained it and more metal bits.
I just bought a whole drive from Pinwall Cycle and I will inspect the preload before swapping them out.
Thanks.
JB

[pete roper]

Unless you're lucky if you want to inspect the peg nut you have to split the two case halves.

What you can do is get a long, thin screwdriver and slip it down the throat of the seal holder and see if the peg nut moves at all. If it doesn't a few drops of Loctite 'Super Wick-in' dribbled down the pinion onto the threads is as good as you'll get.

In all honesty the nut loosing it's preload is pretty rare. What I'd do is split the old unit and have a look at the crownwheel and pinion. If they still look OK get a new nut and washer and install and tighten to 70 inch pounds with some green 'Never coming apart again you bastard' Loctite on the threads. You'll need to borrow the seal holder removal tool but its easy once you have it. Replace the nose seal too.

Pete

[ratguzzi]

I pulled the drive off and the pinion nut was just laying there. Not a thread left on it.
I guess I am lucky I made it home. Over 2000 miles with it howling.
Glad I bought another one.
JB

[Gliderjohn]

WOW! Amazed that you made it home. 
GliderJohn

[pete roper]

Yeah, I know that look.



Once the nut looses it's preload it just rattles around until the thread disappears. You can see this on the nut in the pic above.

Pete