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Gear Whine

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Gear Whine

Just bought a 1989 / 19k miles. Luv it, however a rather loud whine develops between 55 & 65 mph. It doesn't matter what gear your in. The noise is almost non-existent when the engine is cold, and grows louder as things heat up. After 15 minutes on the freeway you can really begin to hear it. Changed fluids in engine & final drive housing, no difference. What do you think is the cause?

Answers

My bike whines a bit in top gear at around 50 mph. However if I switch to fourth gear the sound goes away. I believe the whine in my bike is the gear on the crank......... There are only two gears that are connected to road speed. One is the Zerol gear (a specialized right angle gear that can work in engine oil) in the engine, and the other is the right angle gear is the final gear case. I assume that the replaced fluids were factory spec. ie 20w40 (or 20w50) in the engine, and a GL-5 rated oil in the final gear assembly (the final gearcase uses as spiral bevel right angle gear, which is less expensive to manufacture, but requires better oil to work) The only failures that have been discussed involve one of the bearings IN the rear wheel breaking up, thereby loading up the final gear assembly. If this is not the case, then this situation is beyond my experience. You might have a look at the rear wheel bearings though.... ..........Scott MacMartin Ottawa, Canada http://www.magma.ca/~macmarms/

On the rear-end whine, that is a problem with the gear lash between the ring gear and the pinion and can be adjusted by any good Yamaha-trained mechanic. I had one of my 91's drive me crazy where my other 83,86,91, and 93 were just fine. Of course this may not be a severe problem but you won't know until you have the case opened and lash checked. Rick Butler Rick.Butler@dal.frb.org

Rear Whine, Drive Spline

Dale, On the rear-end whine, that is a problem with the gear lash between the ring gear and the pinion and can be adjusted by any good Yamaha trained mechanic. I had one of my 91's drive me crazy where my other 83,86,91, and 93 were just fine. Of course this may not be a severe problem but you won't know until you have the case opened and lash checked.
Then on the drive shaft spline, you should grease it with a good moly every tire change. Like one of the other guys said, just undue the 4 acorn nuts attaching the assembly to the drive housing and slip it out and greae the end. Now getting it back in the u-joint at the transfer case can be a nice trick, but it will go back in. Just make sure you have it in gear. Another trick to get everything lined up is to leave the 4 acorn nuts on the housing a bit loose before you put the wheel on. When you get the wheel slipped in the housing and the axle in properly, go ahead and snug the axle nut up to where it's in all the way and then tighten the pinch bolt on the other side. Now torque the axle nut (1/4th turn from snug) and then tighten up the 4 acorn nuts on the housing. That will pretty much bring all the components in line with no bind............Good Luck, Rick Butler, Dallas Tx

Last update: 08:34 AM Sunday, September 26, 2004

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