it's not octane ping

[tatco]

I thought I had the answer to the left side lower engine noise. But it's not octane related. I have now run three tanks of premium and the noise is still there. I had posted in a similar thread "08 Gl1800 Engine rattle maybe HELP
". So here is the full story. It's a 2008GW with a MotorTrike 2 X 2. Currently have 8200 miles on it. Just had the 8000 recommended service done. Advised the dealer about the noise. He said he and his tech had both checked it out but heard nothing unusual. I take the bike out for a ride and the first right hand sweep curve I hear the rattle. It never happens on straight roads or left turns. I can sometimes make the rattle by just leaning to the left. Really sounds like something is loose. I've looked but being new to the Honda Trike don't have a clue. Any help appreciated. The shop that did the conversion is 100 miles away. They told me to bring it in. But they can't get to it for a couple of weeks so I thought I'd get some ideas from the group. Thanks.

 

[Jenkinsrawhide]

I get a front end noise on my 2008 but I suspect its not the tire but the deer whistles I have on the front. I have been laying off putting some tape across their throats to see if that would cancel the noise.

 

[Bare]

I thought I had the answer to the left side lower engine noise. But it's not octane related. I have now run three tanks of premium and the noise is still there. I had posted in a similar thread "08 Gl1800 Engine rattle maybe HELP
". So here is the full story. It's a 2008GW with a MotorTrike 2 X 2. Currently have 8200 miles on it. Just had the 8000 recommended service done. Advised the dealer about the noise. He said he and his tech had both checked it out but heard nothing unusual. I take the bike out for a ride and the first right hand sweep curve I hear the rattle. It never happens on straight roads or left turns. I can sometimes make the rattle by just leaning to the left. Really sounds like something is loose. I've looked but being new to the Honda Trike don't have a clue. Any help appreciated. The shop that did the conversion is 100 miles away. They told me to bring it in. But they can't get to it for a couple of weeks so I thought I'd get some ideas from the group. Thanks.

Hey TATCO
If you live close by I would like to check your trike noise, at this point I am now a trike noise insulation expert, I very surprised all the noises I have located and insulated,
Bare

 

[tatco]

Bare thanks for the offer. But I'm afraid the distance it a bit much. I live in Castle Rock Colorado, about 20 miles south of Denver.

 

[tatco]

Today I did some experimenting while riding. I now get the rattle while going straight and while sweeping right. But the noise abates when I sweep left. There is no rattle when under half to full throttle, but as I roll off the rattle starts up. If I disengage the clutch the noise goes away. So I take off and roll throttle half to ¾. I’m going straight at 45mph and 2500rpm and start to roll off the gas, the rattle starts. If I disengage the clutch it stops. When I engage the clutch and hold the gas just slightly pulling the rattle starts. The rattle seems to be coming from the left side near the gear shift lever.
As if that isn’t enough, I’m cruising down highway at 55 to 70 mph and I feel a wobble. I roll off the gas a little and it dissipates. Then some time later it will do it again. Any ideas what could cause that? Tires are Front Dunlop Elite E3 Radial 130/70 R18 at 42 psi. Rears are BF Goodrich Radial T/A P225/60 R15 @ 22 psi. Tires only have 4300 miles on them. No noticeable cupping on front.
And the radio is not speaking to the helmets. That I’ve covered in a separate post.
So tell me again about the reliability of a GoldWing? Mine’s a 2008 with 8300 miles on it. New tires were installed at 3870 miles. The shop that triked it took it on a trip before I bought it and subsequently put new tires on it.
But it sure was swell for the first 4000 miles.

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

My 09 TriGlide developed a rattle that sounds a lot like yours. Clutch in, went away. Brake on, went away. Some days went away when I was traveling smooth surface roads. Sometimes it would start again after a curve in the road. I finally got on my hands and knees and started crawling around. I was missing a bolt to my engine mount bracket.

 

[jfingalls]

Hi Tatco, I have an 08 GW that was triked new. I have noticed the gear box produces a "rattle" under certain circumstances ususally associated with the clutch in or out on the climb through the gears. I have been told the gear boxes on all motorcycles are inexpensively produced and do not possess the technology automobile transmissions have (such as synchromesh) so I was told to live with the noise. I could not help to notice your comment/question about GW reliability; I must tell you that your GW has been transitioned drastically via the trike kit. When this is done I call the vehicle a "contraption" because it was not designed by Honda to be used as a trike. As an engineer (retired), I understand that Trike conversions will introduce unplanned and new dynamics to the vehicle that may cause situations we may want to criticize Honda for. By the way, I love my "contraption". Good luck.

 

[Bare]

I’m cruising down highway at 55 to 70 mph and I feel a wobble. I roll off the gas a little and it dissipates. Then some time later it will do it again. Any ideas what could cause that? Tires are Front Dunlop Elite E3 Radial 130/70 R18 at 42 psi. Rears are BF Goodrich Radial T/A P225/60 R15 @ 22 psi.

I don't think I shared with anyone what my rattle WAS .... Took off the left valve cover and there was what looked like piece of a valve shim,
who knows how it was left there. Was like striking gold.
During my search I found the right front outer bearing was loose in the race, Honda dealer replaced the wheel (Warranty)I should make a list of all the rattles and squeaks I found and fixed (insulated).
To bad you live so far away.Bare

 

[tatco]

jfingalls - your right about the added stuff and the Honda not being designed for a trike. Was just venting some. I'm sure I'll get it corrected. And as I become more familiar with the trike I'll be able to tinker more. But for right now I leave it up to the dealer/installer until the warrantys run out.
bare yes it's too bad your way over there, but thanks for the tips.

 

[tatco]

Got the answer to the "rattle" noise. Took it back to the installer Unique Rides in Fort Collins Colorado. He took the bike for a ride, came back and went to work on it. What he found was that the ladder bolts on the Motor Trike kit had loosened. These steel nuts have a nylon lock on them. He adj and used red loctite. Both the rattle and the wobble are gone. It was time to have the 5000 mile check done so we got that taken care of too.
Prior to takeing it to Unique I brought it to Fey Myers in Denver Colorado. Just like to say they did all they could in searching out the noise and tightened everything Hondan related up. When I asked for the bill, they said no charge. As far as the radio, it's bad and will be replaced when the snow flies here in Colorado. That's service! So thanks all for you input and if your ever in Denver and need service, give Fay Myers a try.

 

[Nana]

Wow, tatco...... you've given two excellent recommendations there! Thanks

 

[ejjr]

Got the answer to the "rattle" noise. Took it back to the installer Unique Rides in Fort Collins Colorado. He took the bike for a ride, came back and went to work on it. What he found was that the ladder bolts on the Motor Trike kit had loosened. These steel nuts have a nylon lock on them. He adj and used red loctite. Both the rattle and the wobble are gone. It was time to have the 5000 mile check done so we got that taken care of too.
Prior to takeing it to Unique I brought it to Fey Myers in Denver Colorado. Just like to say they did all they could in searching out the noise and tightened everything Hondan related up. When I asked for the bill, they said no charge. As far as the radio, it's bad and will be replaced when the snow flies here in Colorado. That's service! So thanks all for you input and if your ever in Denver and need service, give Fay Myers a try.

Exactly what was going on with my VTX 1300. Same problem same fix. Ride safe my friend!:yes: