V7ii whine (with video link!)

[Error]

The Whine on my V7ii!

I realize this has come up before, but I’ve never seen a good video example. I’ve always thought the whine on my bike was way louder than it “should” be. 2016 V7ii. Bike has about 32k kms on it, I’ve put on about 12k of those.

All fluids have been serviced (proper fluids, proper levels), valves adjusted, clutch adjusted, etc etc  and here we are.

Have a listen in the video. Any thoughts if that’s “normal”? Watching videos of other V7i and V7ii bikes I don’t hear this at all. This noise has been there since I bought the bike, and nothing has blown up yet.


https://youtu.be/tfhq2CRxscg


Thoughts?

[Dirk_S]

The high pitch sounds like it could be tires singing.

[Error]

The high pitch sounds like it could be tires singing.

Interesting thought.

Tires were new when I bought it, and I have never changed them.

I’ve gotten so used to it I can’t remember if the whine changes with engine RPM or speed independent of moment.

Tires are Bridgestone Battleaxe 45f.

Ill investigate this when it’s back on the road after winter.

[John A]

Sometimes a tire will grow in diameter at speed so look under the fenders for rub marks. You may have to take the tire off to see it.

[guzzisteve]

I could hear no wine just a smallblock go by.

[Bulldog9]

12K miles on the same set of tires?

Sounds normal to me.

[Moparnut72]

Sounds like the typical small block transmission whine. However to me it seems a bit excessive.
kk

[Error]

12K miles on the same set of tires?

Sounds normal to me.

12k kms, not freedom units.

[Error]

I’ll check out any tire issues, but I am leaning toward this being engine or trans based, and not the tires. Bearings seem okay, no rub marks on tires or fenders.

As above, I’m aware there a normally a “whine”, but this does seem louder than any other I have heard.

[jcctx]

Ears not what they once were; but I did not hear anything I would want to "fix"!!!

[DoubleGuzzi]

To me, it does sound like a transmission whine, that could be pretty irritating on a longer run. I'd be inclined to go with a higher SAE gearbox oil, just to see if there's a change in noise level/frequency. The 900cc or thereabouts shouldn't set you back much cost wise, if you go for a non-premium though properly specified brand.
Good luck getting to the bottom of it.
 

[Huzo]

Have someone drive beside you in a car and do the video.
Your video is not long enough to find anything out. Does the whine alter pitch when you change gear ? That will indicate if it’s engine or gearbox.

[Kev m]

To me, it does sound like a transmission whine, that could be pretty irritating on a longer run. I'd be inclined to go with a higher SAE gearbox oil, just to see if there's a change in noise level/frequency. The 900cc or thereabouts shouldn't set you back much cost wise, if you go for a non-premium though properly specified brand.
Good luck getting to the bottom of it.
 

V7II = 6-SPD, so the transmission capacity is only 500cc and it uses an oil pump.

I too might be tempted to play with type or viscosity, but I don't know how they might affect lubrication via said pump. So do so with caution.

[Error]

Right now I’m running

Castrol Edge 10w60 in the motor (2L)

Motul gear 300 75w90 in the transmission (.5L)

BelRay hypoid gear 85w-140 in the rear hub (whatever it took to fill to the level)

Maybe I try the redline this time around and see what happens.

[Error]

Have someone drive beside you in a car and do the video.
Your video is not long enough to find anything out. Does the whine alter pitch when you change gear ? That will indicate if it’s engine or gearbox.

This is really what I need to test. As above, I’ve gotten so used to it I don’t even notice it anymore. With helmet on and earplugs in I don’t really hear it. No ear plugs, and I notice.

I will have to do some testing in and out of gear as I just don’t remember if the noise follows gears or rpm only.

Sounds like there are some that feel it’s normal. My opinion  for a while has been this is just part of this particular bike. But I thought I’d pick brains here as well.

[John A]

Sounds like a muffler is rattling. Slap the end of the mufflers sharply to see if it’s got a loose baffle. Check the license plate , sometimes they will rattle especially if only two mount bolts are used.
When you take it out of gear at road speed and coast, does it change? How about if you shut the engine off as you go down a hill?

[Moparnut72]

When I had my last Harley, the transmission was very clunky and rough shifting. I tried a variety of lubricants. I found the BelRay Vtwin transmission lube to be the best of all I tried and there were a few. I wouldn't use Redline, I tried that as well and didn't see much if any improvement. It was absolutely miserable trying to flush that stuff out. It might be worth a try in your case but just be aware it will take a few flushes to get it all out.
kk

[Bulldog9]

My V7ii Stornello transmission and rear diff make a ton of noise and whine, as do the others I have ridden. My Baby Breva (V7 Classic motor) has a much quieter driveline, but the motor has a whine and hum.

I always advise AGAINST using the Redline Shockproof Goo...... Sure it may quiet things down, but it is a sticky as molasses and never really comes out. I'd use it when a diff was ruined beyond saving and on its last legs, but not unless this was the case, or in a vain attempt to 'quiet things down'. Use what is spec'd. Change your oils, check for debris. If the gearboxes have been abused, you may need to do a couple changes to get things cleaned up, and MAKE SURE you remove and clean the pump filter in the Transmission!

Some of the best advice I got when I entered the world of Guzzi was from Dave Richardson  who told me "Guzzi's make weird agricultural sounds...... In fact, as long as they are making sounds things are fine. Start to get worried when the bike doesn't make weird sounds." **This was concurrent with the look of shock when I pulled the clutch lever on an 1100 Griso...

[pressureangle]

My '97 1100 Sport has a straight cut transmission, very noisy. I have used pretty much every premium gear oil in it, no difference in noise- until I used Chevron Delo ESI 85-140, a boron-based lube hard to find and meant for heavy trucks and offroad equipment. I chose it after a great deal of research about lubrication, but an unexpected side effect was an immediate reduction in whine, and after about 500 miles the transmission noise cut to literally half. I have no explanation for that. It also reduced the temperature of my rear bevel box by 15*F.

[Error]

Lots of interesting notes here. Thanks everyone.

Trans (front and rear) both don’t show much in the way of shaving or material during fluid changes.

I’ll note to stay away from the RedLine Shock proof product. What I was actually considering was the Red Line 75-140NS, which from my understanding is just a gear oil with no friction modifier, meant to be used in older cars without clutch LSDs.

I’m pretty certain the whine is the transmission, and not anything else. But I’ll do a bit more investigation when the bike is back on the road in spring.

[Moparnut72]

Red Line products are quite good, I just don't like the Shockproof.
kk

[Bulldog9]

Lots of interesting notes here. Thanks everyone.

Trans (front and rear) both don’t show much in the way of shaving or material during fluid changes.

I’ll note to stay away from the RedLine Shock proof product. What I was actually considering was the Red Line 75-140NS, which from my understanding is just a gear oil with no friction modifier, meant to be used in older cars without clutch LSDs.

I’m pretty certain the whine is the transmission, and not anything else. But I’ll do a bit more investigation when the bike is back on the road in spring.

Redline products are great, I just warn people off the Shockproof

[mechanicsavant]

Has anybody cleaned the Trans. Filter ? My experience with my V7II , 2nd gear is straight cut & whines . Above that much Quieter. Your results may vary !

[FarmallA]

My 97 Sport 1100i whines like a race car with its straight cut gears.  Fixed it with earplugs.




image uploader


FarmallA
Steve

[StuCorpe]

My 03 EV has a bad whine in the transmission, I was told it is because of the way the gears are cut.  I don't know this it's just what I was told.  I have tried all kinds of different lubes in transmission and never found anything that quieted it down.

[Huzo]

You still haven’t told us if the pitch changes with selection of a different gear at constant speed.
That tells you a LOT.

[John A]

Lots of interesting notes here. Thanks everyone.

Trans (front and rear) both don’t show much in the way of shaving or material during fluid changes.


I’m pretty certain the whine is the transmission, and not anything else. But I’ll do a bit more investigation when the bike is back on the road in spring.

We would prefer it if you kept in on the road this winter so we would have something interesting to speculate on.

[sign216]

I recall that for some of the early Breva/Nevada/V7 bikes had a transmission whine.  It occurred in a small minority of the bikes.  Some ran fine forever w the whine, and for others it meant problems.  I think the problem was well researched, but offhand I don't remember the findings.  Anyone remember?

Since your bike has the new transmission, it shouldn't have the trans problems of the older bikes.  The whine "disappears" with earplugs and a helmet?  I don't think it reaches the strong whine of those early bikes. 

[DoubleGuzzi]

No suggestions of using a friction modifier?
Example: Liqui Moly 1040 Gearbox Oil Additive 20g (enough for 1L of oil)

[sign216]

I looked through my notes.  On some of the older smallblocks, more than one rider has had pitting on the 5th gear.  Sometimes requiring replacement, other times minor enough that the gear can go back in.  When the pitting is very bad, 5th gear will whine “like a cop’s siren.”  Another rider had pitting on all the gears, although only 5th whined in use.  The whine does not indicate immediate trouble, but a "bag of marbles" sound does and is bad news.

The earlier version of the smallblock transmission was altered in the 1990’s, and the notorious 5th gear whine was reduced, but it still appears in some individual bikes.  5th gear whine may go away over 80 mph, so reserving it for highway is an option.  Guzziology has info on this.

Joe