VTX 1300R w motor trike noise?

[ejjr]

Where to start? Long story, please bear with me. Bought an 07 leftover in 08 and had it triked by a motor trike dealer. Since new I have had what I can best describe as a coffee grinder sound that starts in 3rd gear and through 4th and 5th. It may be doing it in 1st and 2nd but I can't hear it. I have had the valves adjusted - same. Noticed that the sound goes away when I pulled the clutch in so a new kevlar clutch was put in - same. Dealer said the drive shaft was loose so a new drive shaft (under warranty) - same sound. Had the whole set up re aligned by the dealer and Its slightly better but I still hear it. Here is my question - Do you think I'm just hearing the normal sound from the Ford Ranger rear end and drive shaft spinning? It runs awesome so should I be worrying? Also I just noticed that when the sound starts if I pull or push on the handlebars it goes away while I have the pressure on. It doesn't have an ez steer rake but I'm thinking the head wobble is causing this? Man I'm so frustrated....please help if you can decifer my rambling........thanks!

 

[katfish16]

Welcome to the board, sorry u r having so many problems with ur VTX. I cannont answer it for U but we have some very handy people on here that can.
Bazooka is a installer and has done some of the 1300's so he knows some about them. U might either PM him or give him a call. in fact he has a 1300 4 sale on here.

Good luck and keep us informed.. By the way we love pictures

 

[Nana]

Welcome to TrikeTalk! I also would recommend you get in touch with Bazooka, as he is someone who knows . However we have a number of well qualified and experienced members on here who should also be able to offer you some insight! Sounds as though you like the trike in general, and that is great. From what I have seen, the 1300 makes a wonderful trike!

 

[ejjr]

Thanks Katfish. I'll work on the pictures......

 

[ejjr]

Nana, I do love the trike. Its very responsive and has a ton of power even two up but I'm very into the sound of the motor as I ride and this sound is getting to me.

 

[Greydog]

It sounds as if your noise is being caused by vibration based on the fact that it goes away when pressure is applied to the handlebars. I have a similar noise on my Champion/Ultra Classic at idle when the engine is hot, caused by the lower fairing vents rattling, unless I keep either the front or rear brake applied. It did the same thing as a two wheeler. If it just does the rattle above a certain gear or speed some piece of chrome or plastic is probably sensitive to a specific engine "harmonic" (for lack of a better word) and only rattles when the engine is at or above that harmonic.

 

[Papa Zook]

Where to start? Long story, please bear with me. Bought an 07 leftover in 08 and had it triked by a motor trike dealer. Since new I have had what I can best describe as a coffee grinder sound that starts in 3rd gear and through 4th and 5th. It may be doing it in 1st and 2nd but I can't hear it. I have had the valves adjusted - same. Noticed that the sound goes away when I pulled the clutch in so a new kevlar clutch was put in - same. Dealer said the drive shaft was loose so a new drive shaft (under warranty) - same sound. Had the whole set up re aligned by the dealer and Its slightly better but I still hear it. Here is my question - Do you think I'm just hearing the normal sound from the Ford Ranger rear end and drive shaft spinning? It runs awesome so should I be worrying? Also I just noticed that when the sound starts if I pull or push on the handlebars it goes away while I have the pressure on. It doesn't have an ez steer rake but I'm thinking the head wobble is causing this? Man I'm so frustrated....please help if you can decifer my rambling........thanks!

ejjr,
Its likely that you have transmission issues and its nothing to do with the trike conversion. I went through the same exact thing two years ago with a new VTX1300 that was a MotorTrike factory conversion. We also replaced the clutch and driveshaft and made every adjustment possible. Turned out to have nothing at all to do with the trike conversion and was a transmission problem, something that rarely happens with the VTXs. They are the best selling bike in Honda's line and overall have fewer warranty claims than most any bike they build, I am told. This bike had very low miles. We took the trike to a friends Honda dealership and repairs were made under warranty. My dealer friend says he told them (Honda) it was a trike so luckily Mother Honda still did not deny the claim. I hope you can get some assistance from a Honda dealer as the right dealer seems to be the key in getting warranty work done, if it is under warranty. If I can be of any assistance to you call me at (334)648-0157.

Randy

 

[John Luciano]

Unrelated but it is . I had that noise( same issue ) in my 56 chevy and the tranny outlasted the car. the noise is a noise (u should get it corrected But all I am saying is you aint gona get left by the side of the road. Check with a few Honda dealers about them fixin it . If they give u static about it being a trike move on , don't let them say let me check . Once they send your ID # to Mother Honda and say it is triked you are a marked man . U are looking for a dealer that says sure we can fix it we don't care if it is triked or not.

 

[skuuter]

Just another 2 cents here......You mentioned having a Kevlar Clutch installed, I assume just the clutch plates were replaced. You also mentioned the sound going away if You pull in the clutch lever. A Friend of mine here had a "similar" problem once on a VTX1300 that was about 3 years old. I don't remember which gears it rattled/ground in for sure, but it was the higher one(s)......They replaced the clutch plates to no avail..I pulled the whole clutch assembly off for Him finally, and we found a cracked clutch basket.....Replaced it and it was fine.....might not be Your issue, but just another possibility...

 

[ejjr]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Question - if the sound goes away when I apply pressure on the handlebars wouldn't that elliminate a transmission or clutch basket issue? I mean the bike is still in gear when I do that? I have gone through running the trike without the radiator cover on which is pretty flimsy and potentially was the cause but it made the same sound. Took off my Switchblade windshield - same sound. Oh one other thing - we put the trike on the lift and ran it through all the gears and we could NOT hear the same sound. The VTX motor was so sweet sounding in every gear. Does that give anyone more ideas???

 

[John Luciano]

Good Call .. that pull in the clutch is on my mind too. If the bike is standing still in N is there a noise? When you are moving and going down hill and pull in the clutch do you still have the noise . If the answer to is yes to the first and no to the second than it is the clutch. Now Skuuter may be on the right track. Check everything with the clutch. Check plates for warping and springs and basket, any bearings (not sure what is in there )

 

[ejjr]

No noise when in neutral John. Sounds great. Never tried going down hill and pull clutch in, only did it on the flats???

 

[John Luciano]

Ok does it still make noise when it is rolling along in N or with the clutch pulled in

 

[Gorilla]

ejjr, Welcome aboard. Bazooka is the pro and is probably giving you the best answer to your problem. I don't think the streering head makes that kind of noise when it has an issue.

 

[Papa Zook]

Not saying yours is the same problem I had, hope its not. Do you have a good Honda tech anywhere close who will drive it and give you an opinion on the noise?

 

[skuuter]

Not saying yours is the same problem I had, hope its not. Do you have a good Honda tech anywhere close who will drive it and give you an opinion on the noise?

Yep, "Blue Screen Diagnostics" are tough....much easier when the bike can be seen and ridden......

 

[Smoken'JOE]

The VTX has a few Vib. noises from day one. There is the headlight rattle and the dash rattle. Then there is the lifter noise that is always there.

There is a constant problem with the neck bearings for the 1300 also. If you can get the bike front end off the ground and push pull on the wheel there should be no movement. Most of the 1300 guys have replaced Honda's flat neck bearings with tapered roller bearings.

All Balls Bearings Part Number: ALL-221020 (AA-416245) - Direct Line Parts

Good reading................
1800 Mods and Fixes: Headlight/Dash Rattle, Seat Pin Mod - VTXOA

vtx1300tips.htm

Neck bearing tools - VTXOA

Steering tree bearings - VTXOA

 

[ejjr]

Hi everyone, thanks so much for the feedback. It will take me awhile to digest all the comments etc. I'll let you know what we find. Comment - what a nice bunch of folks on this forum!!!!

 

[ejjr]

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Here is my coffee grinder. She runs sweet and there are no other issues other than the sound. I'm thinking of selling.

 

[Smoken'JOE]

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Here is my coffee grinder. She runs sweet and there are no other issues other than the sound. I'm thinking of selling.

Very nice lookin ride you got there. Why not find a TWT and see if there are other 1300s there. Then you'll know if this is common or just yours.
Here is the state board from the VTXOA site. Maybe you can hook up with someone close and get other opinions.
New York - VTXOA