- Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:49 pm
#3749
I have completed 1242 km in 4 days on my 1953 Model G. I thoroughly checked and serviced the bike before I left home, changing the rear tyre, topping up all fluids, checking every adjusment etc. etc. After about 500 km, a new, so far unheard rattling noise started to come from the gearbox area when I was going downhill, using the engine as a brake. After a while, some noise was also there on level road and uphill. Not good! .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- Being "cursed" with several gearbox breakdowns in the past I immediately assumed that the gearbox was about to "retire", and expected to fint the oil full of metal chippings. That turned out NOT to be the fact when I drained the oil. It was good as new, to my surprise. The gear shift etc. were allso OK, so i rode along to the next stop trying to figure out what else could make the noise. .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- It finally occured to me that the primary chain might have something to do with it, and YES! It was very loose, probably rattling against the chainbox or something else inside! (Can it really loosen up that much in 500 km?) .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- The chain was tightened, and also the rear chain as it becomes loose when I tighten the primary chain, but still some noise were present. Noticeably less, but still too much. This was before dinner. It was not until the evening I finally had come over the gearbox worries and started thinking normally and not too complicated: What about the primary chainbox oil level? .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- Guess what: The primary was empty..... No oil. Well, that was easily cured, the bike started, and Voila! No more noise! .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- Isn't that typical for those of us that are born pessimists and assume that a major breakdown is just around the corner? Worrying about a complete gearbox breakdown, instead of just checking the primary chain tension AND oil level! But I am probably the only one doing that...... Regards, Anders F. R.
