New noise! Can anyone help!

arowan

arowan

XS650 Enthusiast
Messages
35
Reaction score
42
Points
18
Location
Belpre, Ohio
So far this forum has been helpful in getting my 1981 XS back on the road so i figured i would reach out for help again!!
First few rides went great other than my jetting is off. 4 th ride is started making a noise in first gear only. Stops with clutch in, gets louder with speed and goes away in all gears except first..... put it in the mock stand and the noise is all but gone with no weight on the rear wheel..... ideas?
 
Last edited:
Maybe, odd to go away in all gears but 1st and sounds more like gears or something hitting together to me.
 
Facebook wants you to log in to facebook before you can see the video. Would be much better to put it on youtube instead.
 
Since it goes away on the stand, if you're coasting in 1st, not pulling, does it go away then?
 
^to me it is bright sounding, not like something submerged in oil. Is there anything that can slap the case only when the tranny is in 1st gear?
 
arowan said:
Click to expand...

i hope you were looking where you were going whilst doing that !:laugh2:

like xjwmx says... the noise sounds like something very light rubbing like the chain on the front guide maybe.
Could it be the back of the clutch basket rubbing on the caseing ? .
 
A quick and simple test of the 1st gearteeth.
Engine in neutral.
Remove both spark plugs.
Slowly cycle the kickstart, by hand.
Feel and listen, note any clicks or skips...
 
TwoManyXS1Bs said:
A quick and simple test of the 1st gearteeth.
Engine in neutral.
Remove both spark plugs.
Slowly cycle the kickstart, by hand.
Feel and listen, note any clicks or skips...
Click to expand...
The kick start has not worked properly on the bike since i bought it. I can see a gear chipped when i pull the side cover and look back into the case with a flashlight. Is that first gear? I didn’t think the kicker engaged first gear.... but i am a newbie so maybe i am wrong? The gear has been missing teeth since day one with no noise.... maybe a broke some more teeth. Guess I’ll be pulling the cover to look.
 
Yup, yer gettin' closer.

The kickstart gear slides over and engages the 1st wheelgear (32 teeth) on the countershaft, which is in constant mesh with the smallest gear (1st) (13 teeth) of the mainshaft, which is actually an integral part of the mainshaft. The clutch mounts on the outer part of that mainshaft, and is in constant mesh with the engine's primary gear.

The rear part of the 1st wheelgear can be seen thru an opening in the case, just in front of the kickstart gear, behind the clutch.

Here's a cutaway view of the kickstart shaft, with kickstart gear on the spiral portion, which drives the gear inboard to engage 1st gear.
XS650-KickstartBush02.jpg


Here's where you can peek thru to catch a small partial view of the 1st gear's teeth. Easier to see if the kickstart assembly is removed.
XS650-Cutaway30a.jpg


Slowly rotating the engine will slowly rotate the 1st gear, to see all the teeth.

This shows where the kickstart gear slides over to engage the 1st gear.
XS650-Cutaway51a.jpg


Any missing and/or damaged teeth means, well, you know...
 
TwoManyXS1Bs said:
Yup, yer gettin' closer.

The kickstart gear slides over and engages the 1st wheelgear (32 teeth) on the countershaft, which is in constant mesh with the smallest gear (1st) (13 teeth) of the mainshaft, which is actually an integral part of the mainshaft. The clutch mounts on the outer part of that mainshaft, and is in constant mesh with the engine's primary gear.

The rear part of the 1st wheelgear can be seen thru an opening in the case, just in front of the kickstart gear, behind the clutch.

Here's a cutaway view of the kickstart shaft, with kickstart gear on the spiral portion, which drives the gear inboard to engage 1st gear.
View attachment 141233

Here's where you can peek thru to catch a small partial view of the 1st gear's teeth. Easier to see if the kickstart assembly is removed.
View attachment 141234

Slowly rotating the engine will slowly rotate the 1st gear, to see all the teeth.

This shows where the kickstart gear slides over to engage the 1st gear.
View attachment 141235

Any missing and/or damaged teeth means, well, you know...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation! I already knew i would be splitting the case this winter to fix the gear. Lord willing it will hold up through this riding season. My 82 year old grandfather bought a motorcycle as his birthday present to himself this year. He wants to ride to mid Ohio vintage AMA days next month which is why i have been scrambling to get my XS running. I’ll check the oil and probably pull the side case to see if the gear has gotten worse.
 
xjwmx said:
Since it goes away on the stand, if you're coasting in 1st, not pulling, does it go away then?
Click to expand...
Less loud but present even with engine off coasting downhill in 1st.
peanut said:
i hope you were looking where you were going whilst doing that !:laugh2:

like xjwmx says... the noise sounds like something very light rubbing like the chain on the front guide maybe.
Could it be the back of the clutch basket rubbing on the caseing ? .
Click to expand...
Eyes wide shut! Haha luckily the road i live on has a nice stretch with no side roads and is straight as an arrow. I will pull the side cover and see if i can find any running. Thanks
 

Similar threads

bosco659
Inconsistent shifting
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
bosco659
bosco659
750triples
Xs 750 won’t start after exhaust and intake modifications
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
750triples
750triples
Jim
Side Stand Blues
Replies
11
Views
609
JOHNDADDY
JOHNDADDY
RZEEEE
81 XS650 seizing bearing noise with hard braking
Replies
7
Views
957
RZEEEE
RZEEEE
L
Test rode a new Ducati Supersport 950.
Replies
7
Views
2K
arcticXS
A
Back
Top