Strange

[donebysunday]

noise at speed on my XJ 1100. Sounds like nails on a chalkboard only much deeper. Only happens when I reach 30 mph. or more (not consistent) and stops once speed slows to less than 25 mph.
I think I remember this sound (hard to say) on my 64 GTO when the starter would not disengage.
Any thoughts kind sirs ?
Thanks, Don

[motoman]

noise at speed on my XJ 1100. Sounds like nails on a chalkboard only much deeper. Only happens when I reach 30 mph. or more (not consistent) and stops once speed slows to less than 25 mph.
I think I remember this sound (hard to say) on my 64 GTO when the starter would not disengage.
Any thoughts kind sirs ?
Thanks, Don

Hmmm.......my starter actually fell out of my 64Goat......for reals...as was the 70'Judge motor I installed. front or rear wheel bearings?..........alt.assembly?...........speedo cable spinning in housing?...............just some thoughts.

[3Phase]

Don, I don't supposed you could localize the sound a bit to the engine or running gear?

Like, does it go away if you pull in the clutch and let the RPMs drop like a stuck starter would do or does it keep going while the bike's rolling faster than 30 which is just about every single thing in the wheels and the running gear past the clutch and primary shaft?

[donebysunday]

Strange noise

I'll try this, pulling in the clutch letting the engine slow while keeping speed up seems like a good way to narrow it down !

Thanks

Don, I don't supposed you could localize the sound a bit to the engine or running gear?

Like, does it go away if you pull in the clutch and let the RPMs drop like a stuck starter would do or does it keep going while the bike's rolling faster than 30 which is just about every single thing in the wheels and the running gear past the clutch and primary shaft?

[donebysunday]

Strange noise

I talked to the guy I bought it from, he says he heard it on occasion, thought it was speedo cable he says. I'll post results.

My starter was to tight (must have been really close to the flywheel) one thin shim (at the time did not know about these) and was fine. I'd say you had more clearance than needed ?
64 with 70 Judge engine, I like ! 455 how many and or how big was the turbo ? ? ?

Thank You

Hmmm.......my starter actually fell out of my 64Goat......for reals...as was the 70'Judge motor I installed. front or rear wheel bearings?..........alt.assembly?...........speedo cable spinning in housing?...............just some thoughts.

[donebysunday]

Strange

noise only sounded itself once on a ride I just got back from (rained everyday since I posted this).
The noise started and though I pulled the clutch and let the engine slow the noise was there until speed dropped below 30mph.

This means the drive line or maybe the speedo are culprit ?

Don, I don't supposed you could localize the sound a bit to the engine or running gear?

Like, does it go away if you pull in the clutch and let the RPMs drop like a stuck starter would do or does it keep going while the bike's rolling faster than 30 which is just about every single thing in the wheels and the running gear past the clutch and primary shaft?

[GLoweVA]

I had a sound like that once, just before my speedo grenaded. Basically the 35year old gears ground up inside and then i had no output of speed.

[3Phase]

I had a sound like that once, just before my speedo grenaded. Basically the 35year old gears ground up inside and then i had no output of speed.

That's what I was thinking too. Sorry, I've been out riding today and shopping for a new motorcycle cover, then stopped for dinner. These little XJs are fun!

So anyway it could be the speedometer, cable, or the drive down on the front wheel. Cable will usually kind of do a wind up/wind down rattley howl, speedometer or the drive will mostly just hoot, then break.

Ah, dinner's served.

[soccer4m]

unscrew the cable

Try unscrewing the speedo cable at the bottom or the top going into the speedo and if it stops sqeeling it either the cable or your speedo. THen pull out the cable and lube up the cable with some grease and if it still squeels its probably the speedo unit going into destruct mode. As a last resort, take apart the speedo,,,pain in the axxs,,,,,and lube it up with some good silicone grease and if that is too much work,,,I just drilled a big hole in the back and shot silicone grease all over the gears and it worked fine...........keep us informed,,,,Mike in Sun Diego

[motoman]

I had a sound like that once, just before my speedo grenaded. Basically the 35year old gears ground up inside and then i had no output of speed.

.....actually a 35+yr. old housing spinning a likely 35+yr. old cable. No lube and resistace soon will find the weak piont.

[donebysunday]

Strange

noise stopped when cable disconnected, so glad it seems to be speedo or cable not gears !
I can't figure how it could be so loud, Olinrj (Bob) said he could hear it on our short ride.
Now to lube and test, (looks like rain again).
I'll post next results.
Thanks all !!!!! Don

I had a sound like that once, just before my speedo grenaded. Basically the 35year old gears ground up inside and then i had no output of speed.

[3Phase]

noise stopped when cable disconnected, so glad it seems to be speedo or cable not gears !
I can't figure how it could be so loud, Olinrj (Bob) said he could hear it on our short ride.
Now to lube and test, (looks like rain again).
I'll post next results.
Thanks all !!!!! Don

Speedometer drive --> cable --> speedometer --> speedometer housing bell

My original speedometer on the '80G screamed once, then grenaded. It is truly amazing how well sound can be mechanically transmitted and amplified by what amounts to a Gramophone made out of a mechanic's stethoscope connected to a megaphone:-


His Master's Voice



You may be able to grease the speedometer without taking it apart.

Wear eye protection.

Trust me.

Wrap a small piece of cloth or plastic tightly around the threaded speedometer input and the red straw on a can of lithium grease. That will seal the input and help convince the grease to go up under pressure and around the input cable drive adapter and onto the speedometer worm gear instead of shooting back out of the hole into your remaining eye. Don't overdo it or you'll fog the glass and faceplate with lithium grease, then you will have to take it apart.

The speedometer drive at the front wheel is a little more complex if you want to clean it and grease it but oil or a couple of shots of lithium grease may work for a short amount of time and hopefully keep it from seizing and stripping.


Finally, pull the inner speedometer drive cable out of the cable sheath to grease the cable and see if it's shredding, then thread it back into the sheath. Gently twist the cable until you feel it engage and drop into the speedometer drive down at the front wheel, then put the cable into the speedometer input and cinch up the sheath.


I dug up the pictures of the speedometer drive from when I put the SS brakes on my '80G and did a lot of other work while I was at it. I've made a separate post so it won't get buried:-


XS1100 Standard Speedometer Drive Maintenence

[jetmechmarty]

My speedo screamed and then grenaded too. I'm on my third one as far as I know.

[donebysunday]

Strange

noise will not show it's ugly head since I lubed the cable

Now why can't I find my post about anyone using needle bearings in the brake and clutch levers ?
Thanks, Done

[3Phase]

noise will not show it's ugly head since I lubed the cable

Now why can't I find my post about anyone using needle bearings in the brake and clutch levers ?
Thanks, Done

Go to the User CP field on the upper left of the page. Click on it and when it opens, click the Show All Subscribed Threads button and it should show up.