Intermittent Noise

[RockportDave]

My 1999 has started making a noise from the rear lower right side when barely moving. It doesn’t do it all the time and it radiates through the right side saddlebag. It sounds like something rolling back a forth in the saddlebag. The wife says she feels it through the passenger floorboard on that side and I can feel it sometimes also. Seems to only do it when warm, after about 5 miles.
I had the rear wheel off last November to install a new tire and greased the driveshaft and splines with Honda Moly Lube. The rear drive oil was changed about a year ago.
Any ideas will be welcome.
I’ll be removing the saddlebag soon to get a better look at things.
Dave

[Erdeniz Umman]

It may be the universal joint going bad.

[RockportDave]

It may be the universal joint going bad.

Erdeniz,
I believe you hit the nail on the head.

I took the saddlebag off and couldn’t get it to make any noise, but when I checked the U-joint, there it is...we’re just glad it got us home.
Thanks,
Dave

[RockportDave]

I ordered a u-joint, boot, rear drive seal and 2 tubes of moly paste. I have changed, rebuilt and flushed just about everything on my bike except the u-joint in the past year so it should be in top shape after this.
Dave

[Mh434]

SHHHH!!! NEVER tempt fate like that!!

As a friend used to say, when it was blessedly quiet at work, "Everyone knows that unspeakable evil will befall anyone who actually says the words "Gee, it sure is quiet around here!"

[RockportDave]

Received my new u-joint, boot, seal and moly lube. Gonna finish tearing it down tonight using WingAdmins great how-to. Will have it back on the road Saturday if all goes well.
Mh434,
You’re right! But I pray a lot, so it’s always in the Man upstairs hands. I’m not sure the u-joint is bad, but the boot is torn so I’m not gonna “tempt fate”. Might as well replace the u-joint while I’m there. You just never know...
Dave

[RockportDave]

Got the driveline back in. New u-joint, boot and fresh Honda Moly Lube. I ordered the parts from Partzilla and the u-joint and boot were exact replacements.

The old u-joint was trying to give up the ghost. The bearings on the transmission end were binding in the middle.
I used WindAdmins how to and all went well until I got to installing the rear drive and drive shaft. After two unsuccessful tries to get the u-joint on the transmission shaft, I lined up the swing arm and started the bolt. It slid right in. I had the swing arm pushed over too far and it wouldn’t line up.
It is late and I’ll get the rest of the plastic on tomorrow.
Dave

[Erdeniz Umman]

I wish you have ordered the bigger size boot for Valkyries shown below. I had to replace it one year later because it was torn apart again.

[RockportDave]

I wish you have ordered the bigger size boot for Valkyries shown below. I had to replace it one year later because it was torn apart again.

By the time I realized the bigger boot was a different part number,I had already received this one. With the u-joint the same size as the old one, I’m hoping both will last another 20 years. I also changed the rear end fluid while there, it was too easy to get to. The old fluid only had about 5,000 miles on it and looked ok.
I got all the plastic back on and we’re back on the road.
Still has the intermittent noise. Just know it isn’t the driveline. It didn’t do it with the saddlebag off, so I’ll continue to look for it.
Dave

[RockportDave]

Took the air shock off today and changed the fluid. The old fluid was light brown and smelled like burnt transmission fluid. It wasn’t real smooth and would slightly get stuck. Filled with Honda fork oil. After new oil, it was smooth. Put a new boot on I got from O’Reilly’s. No more noise.
Dave