Loud Clutch Sounds when sitting in Neural

DrRuckus07 · 01-02-2008, 5:44 PM

Need some help,

I have had a noise coming out of my 02 VFR800 clutch for about the last 8K miles. It happens when its hot or cold, when it starts or had been runing for 500 miles. It sounds like metal is sliding on a wheel or something. It only happens in neutral and does not happen when the clutch is pulled in. If i start the bike in neutral it does not do it but as soon as i grip the clutch, and let it back out, it will start making the noise again.

Any ideas on what it is? Should i not ride it until its fixed? My 2001 cbr 929 is also starting to do it now so it must be a common problem but i dont see it in the threads?

thanks

nedro · 01-02-2008, 5:56 PM

It would seem to be on the transmission side of things since removing the transmission from the crank solved the noise problem. Does it happen in any gear?

DrRuckus07 · 01-03-2008, 10:18 AM

It only does it in Neutral when the clutch is not pulled in. usually i am warming up the bike "which i usually start it with the clutch pulled in and then walk away". or if i stop to talk with it running and sitting in neutral. As long as the clutch is pulled in it is silent. And actually both bikes cbr929 and VFR800Fi are both doing it now, just the VFR is twice as loud.

DrRuckus07 · 01-03-2008, 10:21 AM

and both bikes have around 20K on them now.

nedro · 01-03-2008, 10:40 AM

The only thing I can think of is a bent shifter fork. Seems strange that both bikes are doing it unless you are banging gears on both bikes. Sorry I can't help.

Red Rider · 01-03-2008, 11:07 AM

Just curious...what kind of oil are you using?

DrRuckus07 · 01-03-2008, 11:19 AM

I use the regular honda GN4 oil. No fancy synthetics or anything. and a honda oil filter to. Changing it in the spring and fall every year.

Red Rider · 01-03-2008, 11:28 AM

Just trying to find a common denominator between the two bikes...

denzee · 01-03-2008, 1:32 PM

Maybe you just have Ducatis and don't know it Dr.

Seriously though I am stumped, other than to say your clutch itself is out of the equation I believe. With clutch out, your main transmission shaft is turning just supported by bearings. I'm thinking shift drum and /or forks but both bikes. Don't have any ideas just yet.

DrRuckus07 · 01-03-2008, 4:36 PM

Wow!! i wish i had a pair of Ducatis... trade them in for an 08 CBR 1000 !!!!
So you're thinking it could be bearings? That would make a sliding metal noise, I might just take it to the dealer but after paying $1000 for a not-needed Valve adjustment I just dont want to go back

Red Rider · 01-03-2008, 4:53 PM

Did you take both bikes to the dealer?

DrRuckus07 · 01-03-2008, 5:16 PM

I only took the VFR to have the Valve adjustment done. Funny story: They said to have it done on a VTEC at 15K but I took it in at 19K. That is when they told me it needed absolutly no adjustment and i should have waited until 30k!!! All the markers were lined up. But the funny thing was a month before i had taken the VFR up there and had them change a leaky fork seal and the honda service manger was telling me how he can smell the valves not closing right... ha ha jokes on me

So i never took the CBR in because its only recommended by dealers and the owners manual does not recommend it.

Red Rider · 01-03-2008, 9:07 PM

Well that rules out the dealer causing the problem on both bikes than...

Duke_954 · 03-14-2008, 11:29 PM

I have a similar problem. I just change the oil to Mobil 1 Racing 4T and anytime that the engine is idling in neutral with the clutch out below 175 degrees or so I get bad chunk chunk sound. It disappears if I raise the engine speed above 2000 rpms and also has no sound once the oil is up to temp. I am not impressed by the mobil 1 oil.

I just bought the bike recently and changed the oil so I don't know what was in there before. I am considering draining the Mobil 1 and switching it to something else but think I might have problem with another 10w-40 full synthetic oil. BTW I did change the filter also with the stock honda one.

Anyone have any problem like this using Mobil 1 Racing 4T? It's 10w-40 BTW.

I was thinking of going with a straight 40w. or a 15w-50?

Any advice? < Stupid question for a forum I know.

DrRuckus07 · 03-17-2008, 10:17 AM

When it comes to oil, there may be over 100 threads with every opinion imaginable.

The best luck I have had in all my bikes is just using the plain old Honda GN4 standard oil. The semi sythetic without moly works good do but i have never noticed my bike shifting or running different. so I like to save $2 a Quart and just use the recomeded GN4.

Funny you should mention that issue with your bike because my VFR ran on the same Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oil for the first 12,000 miles of its life. There must be some connection there. (it's the only bike i decided to play with synthetics oils on and not use Honda oil)