Noise? Yea, here too!

I have a 2004 VLX (583 cc) with just over 51,000 on it and I heard a rattling noise while riding in the mountains last weekend. Also experience a lot of spark knock as I climbed the mountains to elevations around 5,000 feet and the rattling noises got more often. I am a few thousand miles over the recommended valve adjustments so I am doing that first. Hope that rattling is related to the valve clearance being to close and it's not something else internal. (Fingers crossed.) I rode the bike in the mountains about 10 miles with the noise intermittently until I was blessed with heavy rain the remaining 30 miles in the mountains. The rain seamed to cool everything down and the noises quieted. Trucked the bike home and took it out a few days later. After about 4 miles the noises returned and the engine seamed hotter than normal but no cooling fan operation or Hot light illumination. Took the bike apart today and the exhaust valve clearance on the front cylinder at TDC should be .008" and I can not get a .005 feeler gauge blade in there, smallest blade I have. I will adjust the valves and see if the noises disappear and I will keep this post informed of what I find.

Have you had your valves adjusted or does your 1100 have valves with automatic adjusters?

Best of luck,
Pete

 

Re: Noise? Yea, here too!

Have you had your valves adjusted or does your 1100 have valves with automatic adjusters?

hydrolic adjusters. will ride this morning and post info.

maurice

 

it is a loud screeching type sound, very short, sometimes repeated 4 or 5 times. motor is perfect, no interuption. I was going to meet others for a ride, and on my way when i heard sound decided against a long ride. turned around to come home, and this time when it made the sound, front wheel/handlebar jerked a tad to the left. scared the pajeebers out of me. I rode for another 45 minutes with no occurance. then repeated sounds in short segments, lasting maybe 15 seconds total, with about 5 seconds of that the screeching sound. On one occasion felt it in my left handlebar, (could be right side also but did not notice) and all other occurances were only sound, no physical feeling of it. Happens at any speed, although faster hard to hear. Does this sound like wheel bearings? what are the symtoms?

maurice

 

Im leaning towards your brakes perhapes the caliper isnt releasing as it should?

 

Screeching sound

Yes, I agree, I would suspect the front brake.
Do you recall if the noise changes if you apply the front brake while the noise is heard?

Either way I would jack the bike up near the front of the frame to get the front wheel off the ground. Spin the wheel by hand and check for any popping. binding or play in the front wheel bearings. If there is play in the bearing the actual noise could still be coming from the brakes but caused by the bearing making the rotor not track straight and contact the pad or caliper housing on one side from time to time.
If no play detected I would remove the brake caliper and check again with out the brakes limiting the wheels lateral movement by the rotor. Also check the brake pads for condition including pad wear-out and uneven wear. Also look for any fluid leaks or wetness around the calipers.

Note: Many bikes require a locking agent be applied to the caliper to fork mounting bolts at assembly.

Pete

 

Yes... my first thought would be the front brakes. Especially since it jerked your steering a bit when you heard it.
How many miles on your bike? How many miles on the front brakes?

 

first thanks for the response. this is serious. no overlycaution paranoid reaction here.
bike has 26,800 miles. just took it out, and when i heard sound, squeezed brake, then let go. sounded again. Didn't seem to matter whether i squeezed or not. I put in neutral at about 40 mph, and sound occured there.
when bike at home, checked caliper for loose screws but all tight, rotor with allen wrench and all tight. Edge of rotor some spots look a bit chipped, just slightly, couple spots. When i was driving i leaned over front handle bars to look at rotor. (wouldn't recommend this). I may be mistaken but it looked like it was woobling.

How does one get the front end off the ground to check for wooble of tire? Get a couple of guys to pick it up while i check?
Does it sound like the bearings are shot, causing wheel to wooble and rotor not turning straight?
I know nothing about removing the caliper so if i need to do this, can someone point me to steps.

maurice

 

When my front wheel bearings failed it sounded like gravel was stuck in my tires and hitting my front fender.

I was also able to observe the entire wheel wobbling when I was riding at about 25 mph.

The definitive test was when I raised the front wheel off the ground I was able to move the front wheel side to side.

 

When my front wheel bearings failed it sounded like gravel was stuck in my tires and hitting my front fender.

I was also able to observe the entire wheel wobbling when I was riding at about 25 mph.

The definitive test was when I raised the front wheel off the ground I was able to move the front wheel side to side.

how do you raise front end? tire jack on crankcase with block of wood at rear tire or what? i would love to check this.

maurice

 

Just went to to the Dells and am experiencing the same problem. I, too, suspect the front wheel bearing, as I can move the wheel side to side with some preasure even while on the ground. SOOO>>> any suggestions on replacing wheel bearings ? Or am I going to take her to the shop ?

 

buy a manual and do it yourself. Check the steering head bearings while your at it.

Avoiding the shop just once will pay off that expensive HONDA!!!! shop manual

 

one of my neighbors who has a bike and does his own work said he would replace bearings, pads, for 60 bucks. sweet.

maurice