80 GL1100 Transmission noise

[mafraziersr]

I'm new here and new to the Honda GL. I just purchased a very nice 80 GL1100 Interstate with 15000 miles on it. The previous owner addressed all of the typical 80's Honda and GL1100 issues ie; carbs, fork seals, timing belts, brakes, cooling system, battery. The bike runs great and get decent but not great mileage (45MPG HWY). Here's the problem, it is noisy (transmission) starting off from a dead stop especially on a hill or with a passenger and the 3-4 shift is very easy to miss. It does not jump out of gear. I originally wrote it off to age. I was wondering if gears 1 and 4 share the same shaft. If so, it may be a bearing on that shaft. Is there another GL issue that may explain the noise and shifting issue? I rode it for several hours yesterday with 0 problems.

[WingAdmin]

When you say noisy starting off...how would you describe the noise?

[mafraziersr]

Kind of like a chattering noise. Not terribly loud and once the bike is moving, the noise fades away. I should also mention that if I start real smooth with just me there is almost no noise at all.

[WingAdmin]

Kind of like a chattering noise. Not terribly loud and once the bike is moving, the noise fades away. I should also mention that if I start real smooth with just me there is almost no noise at all.

Very likely that's the hyvochain. You can fix that noise by doing a careful, accurate carb sync.

[mafraziersr]

What is a hyvochain?

[WingAdmin]

It's the massive chain (also called the primary chain) that connects the output of the engine to the input of the transmission.

GL1100 Primary Chain

When the carbs are out of sync, the power pulses from the cylinders are uneven, which causes the chain to resonate in low speed, high torque situations (i.e. when starting off in first gear), and it rattles loudly as a result.

[unsteadyrider]

My 81 does this and the carbs are synced.
What I've been told or heard is that is the reason Honda changed the trans ratios in 82. A little stall rattle is all.