Last nite on my way home from work I started hearing this strange noise that seems to be coming from the front end. It sounds just like a piece of tire tread whapping against the fender, but I raised the front end and spun the tire by hand - did not notice anything abnormal with the tire and it seems to roll smoothly.
It is most pronounced just before I roll to a stop but I notice it when I am on the road too. If I am going about 50 mph it will give a quick whap whAP WHAP WHap. The frequency of each series of "whaps" seems to be related to some harmonic of the engine/frame/frontend vibration. I have tried applying light front brake pressure to dampen the sound but it seems to have no effect. If I increase the speed to about 55 mph I don't notice it.
It's really got me baffled (and a little worried). It's hard to actually observe the front end while riding and with a helmet on it's hard to tell exactly where the sound is coming from. I guess maybe I will ride around the parking lot with my helmet off to see if I can get a better idea of what it might be.
If anybody has any ideas bring 'em on.
Strange noise... cannot find it
Re: Strange noise... cannot find it
57Pan-
roll the fr tire again, up off the ground & use something to hold near the tread & check for a hump of run-out.
Had this happen & tuned out to be a broken belt in the tire.
Didn't catch it till I checked the run out (up & down) wasn't much, but drove me nuts & could have developed into a bad problem...
roll the fr tire again, up off the ground & use something to hold near the tread & check for a hump of run-out.
Had this happen & tuned out to be a broken belt in the tire.
Didn't catch it till I checked the run out (up & down) wasn't much, but drove me nuts & could have developed into a bad problem...
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Re: Strange noise... cannot find it
OK - I KNOW that I replied to this yesterday. I must have clicked the Preview button and then forgot to submit the post. Anyway....
I will try your suggestion BillyW, but it may remain forever a mystery.
When I left work (after I posted the original description of the problem) it was no longer making the noise. When I rode it to work that morning it was doing it and when I left work it was not. I have ridden to and from work again since then and it is still OK.
The only think I did was put about 8 squirts of grease in the front hub while I had the front end up trying to find the problem. But I did not mention that in my first post because the noise was still there the next morning when I rode to work. So, I figured that must not have been the problem, but maybe it was...
Go figure.
I will try your suggestion BillyW, but it may remain forever a mystery.
When I left work (after I posted the original description of the problem) it was no longer making the noise. When I rode it to work that morning it was doing it and when I left work it was not. I have ridden to and from work again since then and it is still OK.
The only think I did was put about 8 squirts of grease in the front hub while I had the front end up trying to find the problem. But I did not mention that in my first post because the noise was still there the next morning when I rode to work. So, I figured that must not have been the problem, but maybe it was...
Go figure.
Re: Strange noise... cannot find it
57pan-
I'd check it just for some "peace of mind" if nothing else..
BillyW
I'd check it just for some "peace of mind" if nothing else..
BillyW
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Re: Strange noise... cannot find it
I think that I would check for the "out of roundness" myself.
Do your front brakes still work after all those squirts ??
Do your front brakes still work after all those squirts ??
Re: Strange noise... cannot find it
As Side car says, check the tyre carefully, but if it is out of round, you will normally feel it bounce as you ride. This often happens around sixty mph.
I have just had a similar problem. As I accelerated through 45mph in top gear I had a loud noise like the primary chain scuffing against the chaincase, but it seemed to be coming from the front of the motor. It only happened under power. If I shut off, it stopped immediately. I checked the primary chain, nothing wrong. Checked the final drive chain, no problem. I pulled the cam cover off in case something nasty was going on in there. Nope.
This was a real head scratcher by now, and a real worry, as it sounded like something was about to let go in a big way.
I finally tracked the problem down almost by accident. Turned out that I had lost a retaining clip off the left side "Duo Glide" fender emblem and the other two clips were loose. As the motor went through a slight vibration patch around 45mph the emblem was rattling like crazy against the fender. New clips installed and peace of mind restored.
I guess the message here is that your problem may not be what you initially think and you may have to investigate other areas. Good luck!
I have just had a similar problem. As I accelerated through 45mph in top gear I had a loud noise like the primary chain scuffing against the chaincase, but it seemed to be coming from the front of the motor. It only happened under power. If I shut off, it stopped immediately. I checked the primary chain, nothing wrong. Checked the final drive chain, no problem. I pulled the cam cover off in case something nasty was going on in there. Nope.
This was a real head scratcher by now, and a real worry, as it sounded like something was about to let go in a big way.
I finally tracked the problem down almost by accident. Turned out that I had lost a retaining clip off the left side "Duo Glide" fender emblem and the other two clips were loose. As the motor went through a slight vibration patch around 45mph the emblem was rattling like crazy against the fender. New clips installed and peace of mind restored.
I guess the message here is that your problem may not be what you initially think and you may have to investigate other areas. Good luck!