AT Advise - Noise when run for a while..

[African Simba]

Hi Everyone, Recently I noticed a rather unusal noise out of my AT specially when hot. i.e. The noise appear after 20 - 30 mins riding. Its sounds rather strange, to describe it, it goes... Hoosh hoosh Hoosh..in intervals (Not so much one constant noise).. (Don't laugh).. A friend of mine thinks may be the chain is on its way out.. (True on that sense I think).. I put the bike on stand, try to fire up with back wheel off ground, but not agood idea..I hear nothing ..(I did very carefully)..

Also how much slack (Play) should the front sprocket have? Should there by any Slack or free play when pushed from side to side?

I will soon take the bike for service and have it checked but I need to hear it from the expert.. I May end up at a work shop where I may be given the wrong info, etc.

Any thoughts on this please ??

Many thanks...

[Zenarchy]

Does it happen in all gears, and does it happen only when you're accellerating or maintaining speed up gradients (stopping when you decellerate)?

I get a slight whooshing noise which sounds similar to what you're describing but it only happens in third gear when I'm accelerating (or sometimes when keeping the speed constant when I hit a gradient). It's very subtle but I can make it out above the engine noise just about. It sounds very similar to what you're describing and when you mention it being intermittent I'm wondering if you might be just noticing it when you're accellerating or keeping the revs up. When I back off the throttle it goes away on mine and its a little more noticeable when I'm accellerating hard.

I'm not sure why mine does that either, but I was guessing it was one of the clutch plates slipping or perhaps a slightly worn third gear (hopefully the former). I'm hoping that an oil change will sort it out but haven't got around to it yet (sometime over the next few days I'll do it all going to plan).

If it is clutch plates slipping or something like that rather than your chain, perhaps you can't hear it with the wheel off the ground as it's not under any real load?

Sorry I can't be much help, but I'd be interested to know how you get on and what's causing it on your bike incase it's the same thing on mine.

[Zenarchy]

Also how much slack (Play) should the front sprocket have? Should there by any Slack or free play when pushed from side to side?

Ah..Just noticed that bit. I think I read here that being able to move it in and out a little is normal, but there should be no or very little play when pushed left to right or up and down (a millimeter or two max).

It'd be best for you to check those threads though to be sure. If you do a search for 'output shaft' you'll find more advice about that. There are lots of posts here about the bearings going and I think that's what introduces the side to side play.

[African Simba]

Ah..Just noticed that bit. I think I read here that being able to move it in and out a little is normal, but there should be no or very little play when pushed left to right or up and down (a millimeter or two max).

It'd be best for you to check those threads though to be sure. If you do a search for 'output shaft' you'll find more advice about that. There are lots of posts here about the bearings going and I think that's what introduces the side to side play.

Hi Zenarchy,, The noise appears after 20 - 30mins while riding (When hot) as I said. You hear it on gears and off gears. The faster you go the more you hear of it and the slower you go the less you hear of it. My friend is an Ex bike mechanic and just on describtion he mentioned the chain. He recons when they are hot the tend to make this noise. Also he asked me to check wheel alignement too.
You see the Problem is with your helmet on and out on the public roads, its very difficult to pin point a specific area of where the noise is coming from. I was worried might be gears problem, but the gears are fine, clutch is fine. No knocking, slipping, etc..apart from the usual clunck when chaging gears.
I tried it on neutral and you still hear it.. the slower the speed the less noise you hear..

You are right, You can only hear this noise when under load. So taking the wheel off ground did not help.
I thought might be bearings , I checked front / rear bearings and all looks good.. wheels spin freely.(Visual inspection and hand shake/ spin)..

I will (this weekend) test ride and see if I can pinpoint the area of noise. Also I will take it in to be checked proper in due course..
I will give it a full service and change oils, etc.. Also I will go for new chain and front sprocket too. (Honda original) as recommended on this forum.

I read few threads on the subject of Front sprocket and I will go for original Honda (Mine is JT I think)..

I will keep you posted on mine..

I hope that your problem is simple too..

Cheers and thanks

[Zenarchy]

Ah..It sounds like it's quite different from mine. Sorry I couldn't be more help. One of the other guys will probably be along shortly who will be able to give you a better idea (I'm pretty new to bikes so only just learning about the mechanical side of things at the moment myself - there are lots more knowledgeable people than me around so hopefully someone will be able to point you in the right direction).