Intermittent Grinding Howl

[Jersey Big Mike]

Ok, I have a grinding/howl that I think is in the primary/tran/rear wheel area.

Hard to tell while riding.

Started at the end of a run in the rain, riding 2 up.

Noise is intermittent.

I run the bike and I hear the noise in 1,2and maybe thrid (can't hear over engine after that).

Due to circumstances, I rode much further than I would normally with this.
Noise started, rode 10 miles, no noise, stop at lights pull out nothing.
40 miles later noise is back for a while, then goes away.

I've pulled the primary cover/plug - No metal fragments.

Getting ready to pull clutch assembly (bad fag bearing/cracked flange?) Thinking about EFM upgrade while I am in here (thougts)

Wheel bearings?

I'll take any and all serious suggestions to diagnose and fix this beast.

Riding season is upon us and I need to get up and running ASAP.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

just went out a little.
Can hear noise with clutch pulled in while coasting (noise is a little quieter) and in neutral.

 

[Mr. Wright]

My first thought was wheel bearing. That would be the easiest cheapest thing to check first.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

I'm going to order a set later, but AI'm pulling the clutch anyway since if its ok, I'll do the EFM upgrade.

 

[FrankBDPS]

Jack the rear tire up and spin it. You might be able to hear a bad wheel bearing. Good luck

 

[Little-Boo]

I'm going to order a set later, but AI'm pulling the clutch anyway since if its ok, I'll do the EFM upgrade.

Since you are pulling the clutch check the throw out bearing, that what it sound like to me.

Carlos

 

[ksmike]

JBM....my rear wheel bearing were gone at 10K miles. I didnt notice them till I got ready to change my rear tire. After seeing mine....I would safely say any late model BDM rear wheel bearing need to be changed at 10K miles. I only rode in the rain once and never pressure washed the bike. I have a feeling you put some miles on your bike.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

Well I bought the bike in the end of 2013 with only 1515 miles on it.
By the end of 2014 (when the noise started, just been too cold to work on it without a garage) I had 11500 plus miles.
Since 2003 and my first bike I average 10-14K miles a year.
When my first K-9 got squashed it was a 2008 that had about 56K miles on it by summer 2013 (and I have 2 other bikes)

 

[FrankBDPS]

That's a lot of riding Mike. Wish I could find the time to get half that many miles in.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

Wheel bearing it was

My first thought was wheel bearing. That would be the easiest cheapest thing to check first.

Brake side wheel bearing was SHOT! -- Missing bearings, a couple in half.

So bad that when I used the bearing pulling tool only the inner race and the rest of the bearings came out leaving the outer race still pressed in with nothing reachable to drive it out from the other side.

Had someone weld in a small plate into the race today and we tap it out with ease from the other side. -- What a relief.

Pulled the bearings ont he other side and they looked good but new ones are going in shortly.

 

[Brew]

Good thing you found that!

 

[FrankBDPS]

Glad you found it Mike. Ride safely