[gretsch58]

Rode the bike to work this week and noticed this morning when I pulled up after 20 miles or so, I heard a faint clanking noise from the primary, even while in neutral. Never heard this before. Almost like there was something loose.

Left work 10 hours later. Didn't hear again until after 20 miles. I let the bike idle and could hear it again when listening around the primary area. I will inspect this weekend but thought I would ask you guys what you think it might be or what I should be looking for.

It's a 93 FXR. Any help or suggestions is appreciated.

I know I may have posted this in the wrong place. But I just wanted help from the FXR boys.

Let me add that you don't hear it at full speed. Just when slowing and down shifting, say around 10-15 miles per hour.

 

[Michael Psycle]

Seems like the right place to post this. I can't help with the answer but I will be curious as I have a 92 fxr.

 

[cwilks]

it's a belt drive primary Bob?

 

[gretsch58]

it's a belt drive primary Bob?

no sorry, chain. I didn't explain very well.

 

[cwilks]

no sorry, chain. I didn't explain very well.

I would guess compensator is loose or there's an issue with the adjuster...not much else in there to go wrong. I guess it could be a clutch plate...take the outer primary off...you'll see it I'm sure.

 

[lucille]

Three possible sources......loose compensator/nut, clutch pack/nut counterclockwise to tighten, chain adjuster/loose-re-adjust.

 

[gretsch58]

Thanks guys, I guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

 

[CuMoFo]

It's the compensator nut come all loose on ya. If the bike is kinda shimmy-ing and surging while this is going on, it's because the rotor is clanging around into the alternator too.




:boom:






:boom:






:boom:

 

[plugeye]

check the chain play, if its in spec, pull the primary cover

 

[gretsch58]

It's the compensator nut come all loose on ya. If the bike is kinda shimmy-ing and surging while this is going on, it's because the rotor is clanging around into the alternator too.

No shimmy or surge at all.

 

[Thermodyne]

If it will make the noise on the stand, take a wooden dowel and listen to the noise by touching the case at the same time you hold the other end of the dowel to your ear. You might be able to locate it front to rear. You can also listen to the cam cover, comp clatter will travel through the crank and be audible in the cam cover.

 

[gretsch58]

If it will make the noise on the stand, take a wooden dowel and listen to the noise by touching the case at the same time you hold the other end of the dowel to your ear. You might be able to locate it front to rear. You can also listen to the cam cover, comp clatter will travel through the crank and be audible in the cam cover.

Yeah it makes the noise just running idle. I hear it more up front on primary side. I'll try the wooden dowel trick as well. thanks.

 

[HILLBILLYROB]

its normal to hear a lil noise, either way its easy to pull the outer primary and inspect the chain and tensioner. that whole are is very simple

 

[Lakerat]

I don't mean to cry wolf, but I had a noise that would come and go and just knew it was coming from the primary. Used the poor man's stethescope and listened all around it, but couldn't hear anything unusual. Of course it wouldn't make the clanging noise while doing this. Tore the primary cover off and found nothing out of whack. Put it back together and rode it down the road and after awhile the noise started and didn't go away, plus I had a dead miss. Then was when I tore into the cam chest to find the totally destroyed lifter roller and flattened cam. Just my experience with my FXR.
Just after trading for the 97 Ultra Classic, it started sounding like it was grinding gravel from the primary area. Pretty easy to diagnose that one because the volt meter was dropping. When I tore in to it, either a magnet came off the rotor or the screws holding the stator broke off. Autopsy was unclear as to which happened first but it sure made a mess of things.
From your symptoms, the primary would still be the first place to look because mine was making noise at varying engine speeds.

 

[PanScott]

I am guessing an issue with primary chain/adjuster at least that's an easy fix.I'm sending ya positive mojo.

 

[gretsch58]

I am guessing an issue with primary chain/adjuster at least that's an easy fix.I'm sending ya positive mojo.

Hey, thanks for the positive mojo. Hopefully this weekend I will figure it out. Supposed to have snow so it's a good time to work on the bike.

 

[gretsch58]

Inspected clutch, primary chain and adjuster. All good and within spec. I guess now time to pull the whole cover and inspect compensator nut.

 

[gretsch58]

Actually the more I listen to it, is seems to be coming from the front cylinder rocker box.

 

[Thermodyne]

Actually the more I listen to it, is seems to be coming from the front cylinder rocker box.

Rocker box noise on an Evo is usually something in the cam chest. Lifter would be the first thing to look at.

 

[gretsch58]

Rocker box noise on an Evo is usually something in the cam chest. Lifter would be the first thing to look at.

Yeah thanks, from what I have red I figured that may be the case. Is it usually a lifter that needs replacing?