Bad countershaft bearing???

[tkent02]

Got the '78 1000 engine in the '79 750 frame, been riding it around a little bit.

The engine has sat idle for years, but runs well enough. Powerful, runs correctly, no real problems with it. Compression was low but is starting to come up as it gets run, almost within limits now. Needs a few tweaks still, no big deal.

When starting out from a stop there is a growling noise/vibration, coming from the whole bike. Feel it in the bars, pegs, seat. Low speeds make it worse, more acceleration makes it worse. It is also worse if you let the rpms come down too low when starting out, not sure if this means its the main transmission shaft?
No vibration at all in neutral, or in gear with the clutch in while standing still.
Can't feel any play in the sprocket, it turns smoothly.
Don't know about the other end of the shaft.
The tone of the vibration does not change with gear changes, only seems related to speed over the ground.
This vibration is always present when the bike is in motion at any speed.

There was a lot of play in the clutch bearing, the big needle bearing that the entire basket rides on. I put a tighter bearing from a newer clutch in today, the noise is still there.

Any ideas?
Any common failures here?
Thanks.

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

frozen chain links ????

 

[Nessism]

Not sure. Does it make the same noise if you run the bike in gear while on the centerstand?

 

[tkent02]

Not sure. Does it make the same noise if you run the bike in gear while on the centerstand?

Hmmm, good question...
Now the bike in question is buried behind the other 1000 I'm currently riding, and it's behind the 185 I've been working on, and they are all behind a car in the garage, and we are heading out in the hills for a couple days.

I think it would make the noise but not very loud.

Will check for sure Friday.

 

[tkent02]

frozen chain links ????

No the chain is good, aligned, sprockets are both good.

 

[Guest]

Could it be a cam timing vibration?
A carb sync vibration?

 

[tkent02]

Could it be a cam timing vibration?
A carb sync vibration?

No, it's just not like that, those are vibrations I am familiar with

 

[Guest]

I had to have a clutch basket balanced one time. Talk about chasing my tail!
I had extreme bar buzz though.

 

[tkent02]

I had to have a clutch basket balanced one time. Talk about chasing my tail!
I had extreme bar buzz though.

I actually used the spare clutch, the whole thing.
No change.

 

[Guest]

You got yourself a mystery! I wouldn't expect it to be a simple solution because judging by your posts you know your sh!t!
Bad crank bearings or as you say counter shaft bearing.

 

[TheCafeKid]

I actually used the spare clutch, the whole thing.
No change.

Any chance its starter clutch or primary gear? My 1100G is currently experiencing some clatter and vibration from the going starter clutch and likely damaged primary gear. There is a definitive buzz from it, and i have super sensitive ears to odd sounds made by my bikes and cars. It drives me nuts. Took me a while to figure out where it was coming from too. I first thought it might have been some cam chain slap, or the clutch basket rattling. Checked both, none of the above. After some tuning to the carbs to get it running super smooth by the fantastic Mr Steve, it became immediately apparent where the noise was actually coming from. If i put my hand on the stator cover, while the bike was still cool enough to touch, i could feel it tapping in time with the buzz and noise. Just a thought.

 

[tkent02]

Any chance its starter clutch or primary gear? My 1100G is currently experiencing some clatter and vibration from the going starter clutch and likely damaged primary gear. There is a definitive buzz from it, and i have super sensitive ears to odd sounds made by my bikes and cars. It drives me nuts. Took me a while to figure out where it was coming from too. I first thought it might have been some cam chain slap, or the clutch basket rattling. Checked both, none of the above. After some tuning to the carbs to get it running super smooth by the fantastic Mr Steve, it became immediately apparent where the noise was actually coming from. If i put my hand on the stator cover, while the bike was still cool enough to touch, i could feel it tapping in time with the buzz and noise. Just a thought.

I can check, sounds easier than splitting the cases to fix some big bearing.
Starter works perfectly, if that matters... And the sound really depends on the load on the tranny, wouldn't think the starter clutch would know anything but RPM...

 

[TheCafeKid]

I can check, sounds easier than splitting the cases to fix some big bearing.
Starter works perfectly, if that matters... And the sound really depends on the load on the tranny, wouldn't think the starter clutch would know anything but RPM...

Well suprisingly, i thought the same thing, but it cares for some reason. At 40-45MPH in ANY gear, it wails like a banshee, remember me asking about the head fin rubbers? the noise i thought was that, is my primary gear/starter clutch whining. Only does it loud enough to hear it at that speed...odd, but true.

 

[tkent02]

Well suprisingly, i thought the same thing, but it cares for some reason. At 40-45MPH in ANY gear, it wails like a banshee, remember me asking about the head fin rubbers? the noise i thought was that, is my primary gear/starter clutch whining. Only does it loud enough to hear it at that speed...odd, but true.

Could you feel it through the footpegs, bars, tank and seat?
My nads are getting a real vibro-massage out of this deal.

 

[Guest]

Could you feel it through the footpegs, bars, tank and seat?
My nads are getting a real vibro-massage out of this deal.

And this is bad because.................

 

[TheCafeKid]

Could you feel it through the footpegs, bars, tank and seat?
My nads are getting a real vibro-massage out of this deal.

Ohhh yeah. Like i said, it drove me absolutely nuts, i tried hunting down everything. Started freaking out thinking my secondary bevel gears were dying or mis lashed or something. I tossed it up on the centerstand one day, and ran it thru the gears while OFF the bike (had a friend on the brake just in case) and started listening, cos ON the bike, at speed, i could never tell exactly where the noise and buzz what eminating from. I found the whine instantly when i was off of it. Just KNOWING that its not nearly as detremental as i thought it was takes a load off my mind. I want to learn to split the cases, but not on my daily rider! Im not saying im positive this is your situation, but its worth a check for sure.

 

[tkent02]

And this is bad because.................

Only because all the time I am enjoying my vibro-massage equipped 750/1000 in all it's beautiful GSness going down the road at a high rate of speed, I am picturing where I will end up when the whole works seizes up, the rear wheel locks, my new Avon gets a flat spot and so does my head.
It's a long ways down from the side of some of these roads around here.
Besides, this bike is much too pretty to dump.

 

[Guest]

Good point

 

[tkent02]

Im not saying im positive this is your situation, but its worth a check for sure.

I will be checking, for sure!!!

 

[Nessism]

Pulling the stator cover will give you a chance to check the stator as well as the starter clutch. No personal experience but some people have reported stators coming loose.

One other thing to check is crank twisting. I "think" you can pull the plugs and check the piston position in pairs with some sort of measuring device down the hole (calipers maybe?). Long shot but maybe...