Eldo Clutch Noise When Warmed Up.

[Tom H]

I just installed a 5 speed into my '70 Ambo. All went well. Took it for a ride around a long block and all seemed fine.

Today I rode it to work, 20 mile ride. When I was stopped at a light near the end of my commute, I noticed a whirring like noise. Pulled in the clutch while in neutral and it went away. Next light noticed it again, while in neutral I tried just taking up the slack in the cable and it quieted down a bit. Pull the clutch lever more and it went away.

After it cooled down for a few hours, started the bike up and could ever so just barely hear it. You would only hear it if you were listening for it and that was after about 2 minutes at idle.

The clutch assembly is in very good shape and feels fine. The bike shifts beautifully. I think it may be the throw out bearing? It looked and felt fine, it is the needle style?? But the way the noise comes and goes it reminds me of a bad throw out bearing in a car.

I've never had this bearing go bad, so I don't know what a bad one sounds like.

I just wanted to ask as well. The throw out bearing is lubed by the gear oil right? I didn't remember greasing it when I updated my other 5 speed many years ago.

Any thoughts before I tear it down to get the battery tray out to get to the bearing? Tried it from below years ago, my fingers are not that darn small.

EDIT: 2 things I did do different than normal. Used the 6 proper size O rings for the push rod. Also I did not put a small dab of grease on the push rod end that fits in the cup in the pressure plate, I normally did that.

Thank you,
Tom

[pehayes]

Yes, it is a radial roller bearing.
Yes, it is lubricated by splash from the gearbox lube.
No, don't snug up the cable to control noises.  A snug cable is what leads to premature failure of this bearing.  It is supposed to be a 'momentary' application.  That is it is only under pressure when you pull the hand lever.
Pulling the swingarm would be a lot easier than pulling the battery tray.
The bearing consists of a set of caged rollers which ride on two, super-smooth and hardened race washers.  The hardening is very thin.  Once the bearing wears through the hard surface, the underlying race washer material erodes rapidly.
I suggest you join the LoopFrame forum on Yahoo Groups and ask for further advice there.
Bad bearings look like this:

Only two race washers are  used but this pic has images of three samples.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Tom H]

Those look bad. I don't think the one I have looked anything like that.

Thanks for confirming that the gear oil lubed the bearing. Also didn't plan to tighten the cable to stop the noise, just mentioned that lightly pulling the lever to take the slack out of the cable would almost stop the noise. About a 1/2 - 3/4 of the clutch lever pull does shut it up.

In the next few days I'll pull the bearing and re-check it. Maybe install a spare I have that is good. If that doesn't solve it, I pull the push rod and lube the tip that goes into the cup.

Could changing to the 6 O rings to seal the push rod cause the noise? Could they be holding the push rod so that it is not seated in either of the cups it sits in while there is slack in the cable??

Thanks so far!!
Tom

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Could changing to the 6 O rings to seal the push rod cause the noise? Could they be holding the push rod so that it is not seated in either of the cups it sits in while there is slack in the cable??

I used the six o-rings in a dozen or more bikes now and have yet to notice any noise due to them.

The five-speed you installed - just a good used one or did you open it up to check condition? Your noise sound more like a bad transmission bearing to me, not anything related to the clutch.

[Tom H]

The trans was just a good used one. It felt fine on the bench and it shifts beautifully installed. Evrything is quite until it warms up and then this whirring kinda noise. Again, just a feather light pull on the handlebar clutch lever to take up the cable slack starts to quiet it down, little more pressure and it's all but gone.

I would think a bad trans bearing would make noise all the time? I normally put a small dab of grease on the push rod where it goes into the pressure plate cup. Didn't this time, but that should not be turning in the cup, I think?

In a few days I'll work with the push rod and see what I find. Maybe I put something together wrong? Though, everything feels normal, just like my Eldo, but almost better.

Thanks again!!
Tom