Noises what is normal

[tech47]

Am a new user to this forum, hope this first post works,as not to offend the experts. I purchased a 1980 XS1100SG 3 weeks ago, haven't owned a bike since 1987. Have a manual and have been going through the bike maintenance because I don't know what maintenance has been performed in the past. The bike has 18000 miles on it and runs great. But the transmission whines through all the gears, but shifts fine. The engine has some clatter or slight knocking at moderate acceleration, more noticable after about 10 miles of driving. Under heavy acceleration seems to go away. Have adjusted the cam chain, and changed the fluids but nothing else. What noises are inherent with this model, and which indicate a problem that can be adjusted or repaired. Was thinking the valve adjustment could be one source, but not sure. Just don't want to worry about something that might be normal.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[tech47]

watched this forum for a couple of weeks, joined because there seemed to be a lot of knowledge out there, over 30 looks at this post and nobody responds, am I doing something wrong.

[TopCatGr58]

Originally posted by tech47
watched this forum for a couple of weeks, joined because there seemed to be a lot of knowledge out there, over 30 looks at this post and nobody responds, am I doing something wrong.

Well, you're not doing anything wrong!! Noise is a very subjective thing, and I think perhaps that others weren't as positive about telling/describing what they think are normal noises vs. what you are/were hearing. If your mufflers are in good condition, then you will be able to hear the various mechanical noises that emminate from the engine, like you mentioned, the gear whine, the cam chain, perhaps even the valves opening and shutting?!?!

You mentioned in your earlier post that you changed the oils, and it shifts okay, but still whines. Are you familiar with all 3 separate oil chambers for this bike, the main engine oil, the middle gear, and the final drive gear at the rear wheel?? If you have checked and changed all three with proper type(80-90 hypoid for latter 2 chambers), then I would suspect that the whine you have is relatively normal for a shaft driven bike with the middle gear/differential type joint near the upper part of the engine able to transmit it's sounds to your ears easily.

I have 4-1 pipes that are a bit more robust, and a snug fitting full face helmet that insulates me from the other engine noises. I would also think that with that low of mileage, that unless you are hearing an actual "grinding" type sound(bearings going out), that you probably have a healthy bike with a normal gear whine?
YMMV hope this helps??

[JP]

Well, not to put too fine a point on it but I don't think any of us can actually hear the noise your describing.

All engines make noise. I would venture to say that if something sounds horribly wrong then perhaps it is. But because this bike is new to you you're probably a bit hypersensitized to every little detail.

Just because you don't get a response in 24 hours doesn't mean anything. Of those 30 views, how many are yours? C'mon, guy, cut us some slack. If it's really that urgent you could see what your local dealer says.

(I really shouldn't go this long without dinner. It seems to make me cranky. )

[Mike Hart]

T.C. may have hit the nail on the head - be sure to check the middle and final drive gear oil. Middle will whine like crazy if low.

[tech47]

Thanks for the reply,will be more patient next time. Have changed all the fluids middle and final, and crankcase. I will call the whine normal and will just keep tuned to the clatter for any changes. Am an auto tech for a living and my ears are just tuned to listen I guess. P.S this bike has a 4 into 1 pipe also. Am no stranger to forums am a member of a RV forum with 500 posts,just have to get used to this one. Thanks for all the help.

[sixtysix]

Another thing that will whine is the HI-VO chain inside the engine. Mine sounds like a little jet engine winding up, could be the whine you describe. My XS engine is a lot noisier than the newer bikes I own, some clunks, rattle, valve noise, etc. is normal, knocking however is not normal. A knock will sound the same on an XS as a car, and means the same thing . My bike has 86K on it so at 18K, I doubt you are experiencing anything out of the ordinary. Get you valves adjusted, if you haven't already. Welcome to the group!

[skids]

OK, I'll bite. =:-) One of my 78E's has a transmission that sounds sort of like a truck's in granny gear. Make sure you change out the hypoid middle gear oil if you never have. I used Mobile Synthetic gear oil in it 75W-120 (?) just to give me a little more confidence in it. BTW, I have taken that bike on many long trips and now I no longer worry about the noisy transmission...maybe if I just got louder pipes!