1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

Noise and Vibration While Riding

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Antothoro, Aug 27, 2021.

Tags:
  1. Antothoro

    Antothoro Member

    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    18
    I'm hearing a kind of whining and feeling a vibration in the clutch lever.

    Decided to take a video of the situation.



    Thoughts?
     
  2. JCH

    JCH Active Member

    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    68
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    seattle wash
    One of them is a exhaust leak and the whine noise I'm not sure about but maybe in the stator move around the engine with a piece of hose in the ear or long screw driver and see if you can duplicate the noise at idle to try and pinpoint both noises.
     
    StarGeneral likes this.
  3. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,647
    Likes Received:
    6,755
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    Can you duplicate the noise with the bike on the center stand, or does it only occur when riding?

    Also: Please keep all questions about your bike in one thread. It makes diagnosis much easier. The history of what's been looked at and done really helps.
     
    StarGeneral likes this.
  4. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,184
    Likes Received:
    1,192
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Scotland UK.
    Clutch basket bearing?
     
  5. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,191
    Likes Received:
    1,501
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nothern Indiana
    That sounds like the speedometer is making the noise, easy enough ...disconnect speedometer, ride bike see if noise stops . If that is it pull cluster open up lube the pinion and lube speedometer cable .
     
    Franz and Door dude like this.
  6. Antothoro

    Antothoro Member

    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    18
    It's the speedo. Unhooked the speedo cable and the noise went away.
     
    Door dude and Jetfixer like this.
  7. JCH

    JCH Active Member

    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    68
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    seattle wash
    Nice easy fix if your ok with out your speedo,you can just use your tach RPM for MPH
     
  8. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,191
    Likes Received:
    1,501
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nothern Indiana
    The first time this happened to me , I was slowing down for a stop light ...I thought I was dragging a tree branch it was so LOUD stopped looked over bike found nothing took off and it sounded like a jet engine , pulled over disconnected speedo cable ...no more noise. When I got home removed cluster , pulled speedo lubed the cable, the pinion inside speedometer, put it back together and no more noise. My theory is the pinion dries out after 30 plus years , all I know is it worked for me .
     
  9. Antothoro

    Antothoro Member

    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    18
    I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the pinion inside the speedo. Am I thinking about this correctly that I'll have to tear down the cluster ?
     
  10. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,191
    Likes Received:
    1,501
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nothern Indiana
    Yes the pinion is connected to the speedometer needle , your option is to try to open cluster or look for a used speedo. I believe you have a 550 is that correct? My xj750 Seca has a different cluster that can be opened fairly easy , as to the 550 I cannot say how easy this might be.
     
  11. Antothoro

    Antothoro Member

    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Been riding around without the speedo hooked up... The tach started whining. I guess I need to take them both apart ;-)
     
  12. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,647
    Likes Received:
    6,755
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    It's most likely just that the cables need to be cleaned and lubricated.
     
  13. Antothoro

    Antothoro Member

    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    18
    So, I pulled the speedo cable, wiped it down, sprayed cable cleaner in the shaft to lube it. nice junky liquid came out. Still got the noise. It's more intermittent now. So that's better. I'm still thinking that i need to lube the speedo itself. Can I just spray chain lube into the speedo?
     
  14. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,647
    Likes Received:
    6,755
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    The innards of the speedometer are sealed. The only thing that can be lubed from the outside is the socket for the cable end.

    Cable cleaner is not a suitable lubricant for a speedometer cable. It really needs to run in grease, or a sticky chain-lube.
     
    Jetfixer likes this.

Share This Page