'77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

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Ben Diss
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'77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#1

Post by Ben Diss »

I've had this '77 GL1000 for about a month now. It has about 19,000 miles on it. It was in good condition when I got it, so there wasn't much that it needed. I replaced the tires and on the ride home as I pulled up to the garage going slow I heard a ticking sound coming from the rear end. It sounded like a bad bearing and a search here and on other forums seemed to indicate it was bearings. Found some Federal Mogul 6204-2RS/6304-2RS bearings locally and replaced them this afternoon.

Trouble is, the sound did not go away. I just went for a 20 mile test ride and the ticking sound when hot is still present. I didn't notice it until about halfway through the ride. On a side street I accelerated to about 20 mph and killed the motor. The ticking was still present. It's not consistent and it louder during part of the wheel rotation. Yes, I examined the tire carefully for anything on the surface and it's clean. Applying the rear brake makes it sound a bit muffled but it's still audible. In the garage, on the center stand I can spin the wheel freely with no wobble, but I do hear what kind of sounds like a BB inside the tire. If this wasn't a tubed tire I'd think maybe they put beads inside it to balance it, but I'm pretty sure they didn't.

Any idea what it could be or where I should look next? Could it be the final drive unit? I haven't put any grease in the zircs yet if that matters.
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
2014 Honda CTX1300A
Ben Diss
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#2

Post by Ben Diss »

One more thing, I did go around the whole wheel and tapped each spoke. They all sound nice and tight.
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
2014 Honda CTX1300A
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Whiskerfish
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#3

Post by Whiskerfish »

Did you lubricate the driveshaft when you had the tire off?? I would do that and inspect the front U Joint for any evidence of failure. http://www.randakksblog.com/driveshalf- ... nspection/
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
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calif wingnut
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#4

Post by calif wingnut »

The 75 had a service bulletin on clicking rear wheels which pertained to dis-similar metals in the bearing hub.

I have the service bulletin here somewhere.
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#5

Post by Ben Diss »

Here's a video that captures the noise. Turn your sound up. It's most noticeable in the first few seconds and then again towards the end.

https://youtu.be/tm6hbIacF_I
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
2014 Honda CTX1300A
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#6

Post by Ben Diss »

Whiskerfish wrote:Did you lubricate the driveshaft when you had the tire off?? I would do that and inspect the front U Joint for any evidence of failure. http://www.randakksblog.com/driveshalf- ... nspection/
Nope. Didn't think of that. I didn't pull the final drive unit. Just left it on the bike.

Just now I pulled the boot back from the u-joint. All looks good in there! Clean, no metal, no wear, tight all around.
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
2014 Honda CTX1300A
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#7

Post by Ben Diss »

Drained the final drive unit. No difference in the sound. It almost sounds like a broken tooth from a gear loose inside the case. What I could see of the teeth from the fill hole looked good. Filled it and still no change.
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#8

Post by Whiskerfish »

Did you make sure the tube spacer was inside the final drive before you put the wheel back on? There is a spacer maybe 3 inches long that holds the wheel in the proper position.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#9

Post by Ben Diss »

Whiskerfish wrote:Did you make sure the tube spacer was inside the final drive before you put the wheel back on? There is a spacer maybe 3 inches long that holds the wheel in the proper position.
Yes, thanks. What does that do?

I'm thinking at this point I'm going to have to pull the wheel again and pull the drive unit.
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
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calif wingnut
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#10

Post by calif wingnut »

Have you tried running it with the wheel off ?
Last edited by calif wingnut on Sun Jul 23, 2017 12:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#11

Post by 77Gowing »

Whiskerfish wrote:Did you make sure the tube spacer was inside the final drive before you put the wheel back on? There is a spacer maybe 3 inches long that holds the wheel in the proper position.
WF, now you have me wondering about the tube spacer. Is this spacer forward of the final drive? I don't recall a 3" spacer being involved with pulling the rear tire. Sorry for asking, but you have me wondering about my rear wheel installation. And BTW, my bike seems to track just fine in the rear.

Sorry for hyjacking, back to the click. confused22
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#12

Post by Whiskerfish »

It goes over the outside of the axle but lays just inside the Final drive. Often will fall out when the rear wheel is removed. Just a stupid steel tube 2-3 inches long but critical in holding the wheel in proper position. I believe the proper terminology is "Distance Collar"
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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John Schmidt
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#13

Post by John Schmidt »

Hope it's not this but on a friend's Valkyrie with a tick like that, I finally found it to be the bearing land was slightly out of round. That let the bearing "wiggle" ever so slightly as the wheel turned. The only way I found it was with a stethoscope while turning the wheel, then used an inside gauge to check for trueness(is that a word?) of the circumference of the land once the wheel was removed for the Nth time along with the bearing. A little backyard engineering got him back on the road while waiting for a replacement wheel. I cut a ribbon out of a beer can and placed it in the low area of the bearing opening, letting it extend above the land and it pressed into place with the bearing. He actually left it in there until his next tire change since it didn't seem to create a problem, not sure I'd have done that however. :IDTS:
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calif wingnut
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#14

Post by calif wingnut »

Can't beat the price of this rear end ...might even have GEM gears installed ~:<)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1977-honda-gl10 ... 2208840089
Ben Diss
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Re: '77 GL1000 Rear End Ticking

#15

Post by Ben Diss »

calif wingnut wrote:Can't beat the price of this rear end ...might even have GEM gears installed ~:<)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1977-honda-gl10 ... 2208840089
Thanks for the link. What are GEM gears?
1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1986 Honda Magna VF700C
2014 Honda CTX1300A
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