Rattling noise in engine 1500cc

[Mike Over]

I'm new to the forum and new to goldwings. Bought a 94 1500 last fall rode the bike a few times, ran great no problems.

This spring changed the oil, used rotella T4. After couple of hrs of riding I started to hear a rattling noise, or a sound of something trying to mesh in the engine. This sound only happens when rolling off the throttle in first three gears. With the bike parked and bouncing the front end with the transmission in neutral, bike it will make that noise. When idling in neutral the bike occasionally will make this noise also. Bike doesn't make this noise in 4th or 5th gear.

I had a mechanic look at the bike he was mystified by the noise but determined it was coming from the back of the engine, where the noise was the loudest.

Has anyone experienced this problem before and point me in th right direction?
Is this a shifter fork problem?
Or open up the clutch and see if there is an issue there.

Thanks for the help

[WingAdmin]

Try this: get the engine good and warm.

Then park on a steep hill or driveway with the front wheel pointing down, in neutral. Do you hear it?

Then turn around and try it again with the front wheel pointing up, also in neutral.

[Mike Over]

The bike makes the noise pointed up hill haven't checked pointed down hill. Will do the test in the morning.

[Mike Over]

Took the bike for a short ride and warmed up the engine.

With bike parked in driveway pointed up hill no noise,
With bike parked in driveway pointed down hill there was constant rattling.

Conclusion shifter forks are worn needs engine replacement?

[Mike Over]

This test was done with bike in neutral

[WingAdmin]

Took the bike for a short ride and warmed up the engine.

With bike parked in driveway pointed up hill no noise,
With bike parked in driveway pointed down hill there was constant rattling.

Conclusion shifter forks are worn needs engine replacement?

That's generally the case. Often caused by resting your foot on the shifter, it wears the shift fork to the point that there is enough free play that the shift dogs can partially engage when they should be held apart by the shift forks. The result is the rattling noise. When pointed uphill, gravity pulls the gear away, when pointed downhill, gravity pulls the gear towards its mate, and the worn shift fork allows them to slightly engage.

If the dogs aren't already worn and rounded, they will be soon, which will cause it to pop out of gear under acceleration.

[Mike Over]

Thanks for the help I guess I'm looking for a used motor.

Mike

[Dilltm]

You don't need a new engine. the shift forks can be replaced along with the shaft.

[Mike Over]

Yes I understand that the shifter forks can be replaced, going inside the engine is a bit over my head.

[WingAdmin]

You don't need a new engine. the shift forks can be replaced along with the shaft.

Correct, but the amount of labor a shop would charge to do this work far exceeds the cost of a new (used) engine.

If you can do the work yourself, and have the time, then yes, they can be replaced.