big rattling noise from bike !!!??? =(

[ik97m2]

hey guys i have an 97 m2 and i think the transmission is goin out. in the middle of driving home the other night the bike started making a real loud knocking noise like some thing was dragging the ground so i stop and the muffler is on and nothing seems to be wrong on the out side. I can change gears and accelerate but as soon as i decelerate without the clutch being pulled in it makes a horrible knocking noise. Any ideas what the hell this could be ? Also i noticed that here seems to be oil on the drive belt, and leaking around the part where the belt attaches to the engine.

[onelogue]

Clutch plates bad.... Sounds like by buddies Ducati Monster when he pulls his clutch in. ( DRY Clutch). Check out your plates....

[ik97m2]

Thanks i did what the manual said and removed the drain plug. No fluid came out, could it just be completely empty?, or could the manual have shown me the wrong screw?

[RT Performance]

doubt the manual was wrong maybe you had an unoticed leak :o

[Buellysses]

Loud knocking noise on decel sounds to me like an out-of-adjustment primary chain.

Adjust your chain and re-fill the primary, see if that helps.

DEFINITELY need to find out why your primary was empty. If your seeing oil on the drive belt you most likely have a leak on the drive bearing seal, or the cam-cover gasket.

[ik97m2]

i found an itty bitty hole on my clutch cable that was leaking it. I work with a guy that does work on harleys and he thinks it is the primary chain also. i tried to get the cover off that lets you check the primary chain but it just bent the tip off the wrench i was using. Dont have a impact wrench any helpful suggestions

[1999 tubber S3]

how the heck do you start a new post on this forum????

[Stevenc150]

First, choose a Topic on the BuellXB.com homepage as shown below:

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/2339_20090812212344_L.jpg


Then, at the bottom of the Topic page, start your new Thread:

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/2339_20090812212356_L.jpg

[RT Performance]

need a impact drive.
use a bit smack it with a hammer.
can pick up a cheap one harbor freight ect for less tan 20 bucks

[Fock347]

while your at it get some new hardware, like allen key style or even hex **** those phillips **** garbadge[down]

[ik97m2]

Well guys i got of the primary chain cover off and it was really loose. So i had one of my friends from work who knows harleys real well help me tighten the chain. At first during idle it sounded better but still having the same problem so its def not the primary chain. I can change gears and accelerate but as soon as i decelerate without the clutch being pulled in it makes a horrible knocking noise. Any ideas what the hell this could be ? There is no problem at all as long as the clutch is pulled in or it is in neutral. I can pull on the throttle and rev it way up and everything is fine so the engine is running as good as can be.

[07Bolt]

Sounds like a retainer ring snapped. Something loose inside the clutch pack.

[ik97m2]

How hard is the retainer ring to fix?

[ik97m2]

Can you help me find a manual online that i don't have to pay an arm and leg for?

[07Bolt]

The clutch pack/assembly has a couple of retainer rings, holding different parts in place. Normally when decelerating, even to a rolling stop, the engine rpm's & the clutch fight each other b/c of the difference in rpm's. But shouldn't make noises like yours does. When you decel w/o the clutch pulled in (clutch engaged) there is still pressure on the clutch plates which are going the same speed as the rear wheel. Decel w/clutch pulled in, no pressure, clutch is free to rotate at any speed. Something is loose in the primary, which is causing it to clatter. It could be your clutch cable to. There are some free buell pdf manuals at this address: http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp... call your local shop,ask about recalls for your bike or take in for service.

[ik97m2]

the nearest dealer is about 80 miles away, there are some harley dealers near but i dont know how the feel about helping me. Plus i started to get into it and all i have are basic tools none of the special stuff to break down a transmission

[07Bolt]

If you trust your attention to detail, you might could do it yourself. Remove the clutch cover,note at how the cable is attached,loosen the screw (this adjusts your clutch lever)look for broken tips,cracks etc. If you threw a bearing,then its likley one behind all this. Here is a pic.

[07Bolt]

Damn it! [mad] I cant get the pic to load. Find an S1,S2,Firebolt manual and look up the primary/transmission part. You'll get the idea of what yours looks like.

[ik97m2]

ok i already got the s1 manual of the same year

[07Bolt]

u should have the basic tools needed to work with the clutch pack. CHECK all the specs for the primary before u start to proceed. i.e; chain,fluid,clutch lever freeplay,shifter; then take a look inside note anything obvious like worn teeth or rubbing marks. check everything front 2 back of the clutch pack.

[ik97m2]

hey guys i talked to one of my dad's friends who owns quite a few harleys and he told me that it was my primary even though i tightened it and it seemed fine. i did what he said and rubbed my fingers inside around where the chain runs and it had all kinds of knicks and dings in it. He said i need to replace the chain, what do you guys think.

[07Bolt]

thats a great fix. but find out why its slippin. i.e; broken teeth, worn out links, hub nut loose or tight,,,;)

[ik97m2]

well i talked to a few harley guys and they said they think it is the retainer that is connected to the primary chain adjusting bolt. That sound about right?

[07Bolt]

given that ur bike only made the noise @ decel, it could be the retainer is loose with no pressure against it. The faster the chain spins the more pressure it slaps on the shoe. The slower it spins the less pressure on it,,,

[ik97m2]

well i busted the whole side off and the retainer looks fine. i had a guy look at it and he said there is a lot of play in the primary chain and that over time they get stretched out. so my next step is to replace the primary chain and check from there. But my question is can those metal chains get strecthed out? it is like six bands across and seems pretty strong

[07Bolt]

the chain will fail quicker if; primary fluid breaksdown faster than normal; improper free-play; excessive rpm's; excessive speeds,,,look at the chain guide,is it worn down more on 1 side or bent, maybe not even worn in,,,

[ik97m2]

i figured that a chain stretching out would be a gradual noise that got louder as the chain got more stretched out. But it just started making a noise really loudly, all of a sudden, and while i was cruising at like forty-five miles per hour.

[ik97m2]

also any one know where i can get a primary chain for a 97 m2?

[07Bolt]

ur chain gets hot/cold/hot/cold plus it moves at various speeds; u might try this link::: http://www.uneedapart.com/

[ik97m2]

that link was a no go but thanks