Hitchcocks Forum

Sorry folks, its me again with ANOTHER head-scratchingly strange situation... please tell me if this is something you have experienced.


For the last few days ther has been a squeaking noise from the gearbox, which doesn't bother me, but amused me as I thought a mouse had snuck in there. The noise disappeared when I wiggled the clutch cable a bit. Yesterday and today this noise has turned uglier and now it is an unpleasant kind of grinding sound, which doesn't amuse me as much. I topped up the gearbox oil this morning but only a drop was need (I thought it may have run dry, but how?) so it wasn't lack of oil... gearbox technology is obviously something I need to dive into I suppose, at some point. Why did I buy an Enfield? To learn about proper bikes and the more things that go wrong, the more I have learned... I got what I wished for!

Peter, I think I'd drain the gearbox oil and see what's in it. Some slight hint of bronze in the oil is probably normal but big lumps of bronze or any sign of shiny steel slivers or flakes is not! I'd do this before any further riding, an oil change is cheap but bearing failure will probably kill some gears as well!


REgards, Mark 

 I had a grinding noise on an Inter dox turned out to be the drive side bearing was loose in the housing and was moving back into the box and hitting the low gear pinion. New bearing and Loctite fixed it. Just a thought but as the noise has intensified quickly I would be having a look inside. When you pull the primary just make sure the clutch isn't the cause of the problem. Kick it over to make sure it isn't floppimng about and the clutch hub nut is tight

Cheers lads, as always, much appreciated.


I did manage to remove the inspection dog-tag things to see if it would reveal anything... whilst idling the noise stopped if I pulled the clutch in, so I would think it is something touching the (what's it called?) clutch-adjuster-arm-thing. This may be a clue; if I tightened the clutch cable the noise went back to squeaking; if I slackened the cable it started grinding. It don't sound right, and is it normal after an oil top-up to not see any oil at all  when looking into the lower inspection hatch?I got to learn here!

Peter - You won't see any oil through the adjuster covers (or inspection hatch) as there are outer and inner gearbox covers. You are peering into the outer, dry area. The fun starts in the inner area or gearbox proper - that's where the oil is!


Cheers


Riggers

------------------or isn't !!!

So what is touching the arm when it shouldn't be?


I will try slackening off the clutch cabel and re-adjusting it in the morning and see if it makes any difference... otherside it might be a case of diving in at the deep end again...

 Peter,


       Sounds like the clutch is over adjusted and the rod is spinning constantly. Pull the rod out have a look at it, it will probably show marks where it had been running dry and possibly each end will shos signs of getting hot. Be aware that some rods go all the way through the box and som are 2 part with a ball in the middle. Grease it up and put it back and it should be quieter

The clutch pushrod and ball need to be removed and the pressure points greased every 6000 miles/ 10000 kms. Don't lose the ball if the rod is in two pieces.

Peter you have received some good advice as usual on here, however Mark says "....Some slight hint of bronze in the oil is probably normal...."


At the risk of being controversial, NO IT IS NOT.


Metal of any type in the oil suggest a metal failure somewhere in the bearing surfaces. So if there is any metal, no matter how fine, stop the bike. Drain the oil/grease. strip the relevant area, in this case the gearbox. Replace any suspect bearing surfaces, bushes etc. Metal in the oil will create a form of grinding paste which will damage anything which runs in it.


With regard to the noise, check that the clutch pushrod is OK. Whether it is a one piece or a two piece rod check the ends. If they are starting to show signs of mushrooming or burring replace them immediately. Check that the clutch drum has not worked loose. Incidentally the clutch bearing may produce the noises and symptoms you describe.


Then the gearbox itself needs addressing. Noises which can be made to disappear are the most difficult to identify as once you start the strippng process you cannot replicate the symptom. So before any of that listen to the box! This is easy to do by getting somebody to operate the clutch whilst the engine is running. Then you merely take a large screwdriver and place the blade on the gear box whilst you put your ear to the handle. As you move the blade along the gearbox you will be able to identify where precisely the noise comes from. A stathoscope works just as well but unless you are a doctor I guess you probably won't have one! 


HTH.