Clunk when starting to drive forward in 1st gear?

Hey, this q is for the shaftie dawgs out there-

When starting out in 1st gear, there's always a pretty prominent 'clunk' coming from the rear end, like something is engaging. Is it normal for it to be so loud? I was planning to change the final gear oil to de if that helps.

What oil should I use that's available at any autoparts store?

Secondly, I changed the oil yesterday and all is well. But 2 q's -

Is there more than one drain plug? I know not to mess with the center drain under the collector box, but is there another besides the one directly under the filter housing?

Thirdly, sometimes the oil level light will cone on if I accelerate off the line quick, or if I'm riding 2up. But then it goes off after a bit.

Should I just add a little more? It's up to the line In the sight glass when it's on the center atand...

Thanks guys!

 

From what I understand the clunk is pretty normal. Mine does it too, but clutch adjustment is supposed to help. I am getting ready to overhaul my clutch pack within the next couple days along with a nice new OEM clutch cable, so we will see if it improves.

As far as the final drive oil, I wouldn't. Everyone one here seems to be fairly against it due to the drain plug.

 

When I put the transmission in 1st gear, I get a noticeable clunk. When I start to get underway and engage the clutch, there is no clunk at all.

The final drive oil is readily available. SAE 80 Hypoid gear oil.

 

You're thinking of the drain plug under the exhaust collector. Leave that one alone. The final drive oil (shaft drive oil) is easily changed.

 

Put the bike up on the center stand, put it gear and see what kind of play you have in the rear wheel. Rock it front to back. Look at your final drive and u joint. Make sure something is not loose.

Mn

 

I don't get a clunk unless my revs are around 2000 from the choke, or I'm just not noticing it and have zoned it out from familiarity.

You can find SAE 80/90 pretty easily, it's the most common shaft oil used if I'm not mistaken.

The only plug you should use to change the oil is the one directly beneath the oil filter housing. If you change the oil filter, you get a bit of oil in the housing, too.

Yes, add a little more oil. The manual originally mentioned to keep the oil level high to avoid the light flashing on when you accelerate. Common recommendation around here is to fill it until you only have a bubble of air at the top of the sight glass.

 

I don't get a clunk unless my revs are around 2000 from the choke, or I'm just not noticing it and have zoned it out from familiarity.

You can find SAE 80/90 pretty easily, it's the most common shaft oil used if I'm not mistaken.

The only plug you should use to change the oil is the one directly beneath the oil filter housing. If you change the oil filter, you get a bit of oil in the housing, too.

Yes, add a little more oil. The manual originally mentioned to keep the oil level high to avoid the light flashing on when you accelerate. Common recommendation around here is to fill it until you only have a bubble of air at the top of the sight glass.

 

The Final Drive is a Component Part that is very highly reliable.

The CLUNK may be occurring elsewhere and getting "Transmitted" to the Rear-end"

Peel the Drive Tunnel Boot away from the Rear of the Engine
Unhook the Retainer Spring and set it aside.
Push the Boot away from the Motor until you can observe the Universal Joint.

Probe, Look and Listen for Clanking and Ringing noise when the Rear Wheel is Turned, ... and also when Rocked.

While you are doing the U-Joint Test ... Apply forces to the Rear Wheel to listen and feel for Wheel Bearing play and noise.

 

Mine has the tiniest clunk when setting off from standstill. I think it's pretty common and just taking up a bit of slack through the final drive-train.

 

Rick's advice to inspect/diagnose the drive shaft components is spot on.

While it's possible that you may be experiencing a normal "clunk" it's also possible that something is loose/worn somewhere. Since the final drive "pumpkin" itself IS so stone reliable, the u-joints at both ends of the drive shaft would be the place to start.

 

I'm pretty happy with mine Fitz, as it's so very minimal. Just thought I'd mention it as it seems it's probably quite common - just varies in degree. I think if it seems pretty bad then it would need examining.

 

I get an occaisional clunk / click /notch just noticable, not every take off, i'm aware of it but thats about all and it doesn't seem to change. I'm fairly convinced it's in th diff'. Have had a look at th uni' and can't find any probs with. Only 1 uni' fitz'.

 

could be 4 and 5 because 6 is 30 years old, drive it, don't worry about it

 

Think that will be it Polock - worn gear or bearing would be noisy all the time, this feels like taking up the teeniest bit of play when loading up.

 

I realized today that I do always have a clunk, but I had just stopped noticing it since it was part of good/normal sounds for my bike to be making. But yes, there is a clunk into first gear after first starting up. Seems much more mild at lights, and having any choke on makes it much worse (as in higher RPMs makes it worse).

I have redone my clutch recently, do I don't think that 'helps' it, it's just a healthy sound for this engine... Unless some people have something wrong with theirs that I have never experienced, I guess.

 

..i reckon yr right polock, that makes sense to me with th 'occaisional' occurence of th symptom.