fjr1300 - noises

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defretted - 28 Jul 2007 17:00 GMT

Recently bought an '07 FJR1300. I have put about 1000 miles on it so
far, and am happy, despite how quiet the pipes are compared to past
cycles.

My real question: after starting with the engine cold, the
transmission occasionally makes a thumping sound, as if it's settling
into gear (but isn't). It;s hard to predict when it will happens, and
I'll hear it once or twice before the engine begins warming up. I
first noticed this after 100 or 200 miles. Have other FJR owners had
similar observations? How much do I need to worry about this?

Lew

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Albrecht - 28 Jul 2007 19:08 GMT

>after starting with the engine cold, the
>transmission occasionally makes a thumping sound, as if it's settling
>into gear (but isn't). It;s hard to predict when it will happens, and
>I'll hear it once or twice before the engine begins warming up. I
>first noticed this after 100 or 200 miles. Have other FJR owners had
>similar observations? How much do I need to worry about this?

Does the sound quiet down when you pull the clutch lever in? That's a noisy
clutch basket. There has to be *some* play between the clutch basket and the
other parts, or you wouldn't be able to disengage the engine from the
transmission.

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defretted - 29 Jul 2007 13:33 GMT

On Jul 28, 2:08 pm, "Albrecht via MotorcycleKB.com" <u33665@uwe>
wrote:

> Does the sound quiet down when you pull the clutch lever in? That's a noisy
> clutch basket. There has to be *some* play between the clutch basket and the
> other parts, or you wouldn't be able to disengage the engine from the
> transmission.

There's no easy way to test that -- the klunk noise happens once or
twice while the engine is sitting in neutral warming up 9first thirty
seconds after start). I will try sitting on the bike with the clutch
engaged for a few days and listen for the noise, maybe that will test
for this?

I do expect some noise when shifting gears, but when it's in neutral,
should the play in the clutch basket be audible?

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Albrecht - 29 Jul 2007 14:17 GMT

>There's no easy way to test that -- the klunk noise happens once or
>twice while the engine is sitting in neutral warming up 9first thirty
>seconds after start).

Clutch baskets will get noisy as the miles accumulate. It's normal for the
big nut that secures the center hub to the main shaft to get loose, the
bushing inside the
clutch basket wears, and the whole clutch assembly flops around on the
mainshaft. Also, there are shock absorbing springs in the clutch basket that
rattle around.

>I will try sitting on the bike with the clutch
>engaged for a few days and listen for the noise, maybe that will test
>for this?

Riders tend to notice clutch basket noise when the engine is warmed up. So
listen for strange sounds then, and pull the clutch in.

You might also be hearing the crankshaft counterbalancers, or the compensator
cams on the middrive shaft, or even the idler gear in the starter clutch.

You could also be hearing one of the upper gear pairs clunking. There are no
bearings in any gear except 2nd.

The thing about motorcycle engines is that they are not in a sound proofed
engine compartment and the rider can hear all the little mechanical bits
whirring and whizzing and clunking.

And, since most riders have no idea of just how crude motorcycle drive trains
are, they are mystified by the noises.

Drawings of some of the noisy bits:

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/showschematic.asp?dept_id=850577

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/showschematic.asp?dept_id=850625

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/showschematic.asp?dept_id=850575

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/showschematic.asp?dept_id=850549

>I do expect some noise when shifting gears, but when it's in neutral,
>should the play in the clutch basket be audible?

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Motorcycle Forum / General / Yamaha / July 2007

fjr1300 - noises