Weird Squeaking Noise?

[wezx]

1993 GL1500 Ok guys, got a weird one here. Just noticed it today. Bike rides, shifts, behaves like normal. But under power I’m getting a weird squeaking noise…almost like a rubber squeaking noise? Pull in the clutch and it stops immediately so it’s not a tire noise or even an engine noise. It’s not a constant squeak, it’s an interrupted squeak but the squeaks are evenly spaced and get faster with speed. It does it softer when the throttle is driving you, but when you left off the throttle and the bike relaxes into gear it gets much louder. Seems to do it in every gear, but of course in 1st or 2nd you’re going slower so you can hear it more. Clutch does not slip at all…pulls totally normally. I’m fairly stumped? Can’t imagine what in the clutch/transmission assembly would squeak like rubber?

[Andy Cote]

My first suggestion is the regular driveline service.

Second is grease the speedometer cable.

[wezx]

Driveline was moly paste greased and differential fluid changed not too terribly long ago…maybe last year? Don’t believe speedometer cable because it goes away completely when pulling clutch.

There’s the grease seal where the drive shaft enters the final drive but that’s the only rubber I can think of in the drive line? The drive shaft goes up into the universal joint and then that onto the motor output shaft, all of which are splined…? The squeak doesn’t sound metallic, it really sounds like rubber…like if a tire was rubbing intermittently on something but I know it’s not that…?

[wezx]

Wonder if it could be the uni-joint? Seems a likely culprit and this is a ‘93 so it has the less substantial part. Sure is a weird sound though…like rubber squeaking?

Here’s a good question as I’ve looked real quickly…where the h@&$ are you supposed to find a new u-joint and boot?! No one seems to have any?

[FM-USA]

A quality mechanic or machine shop can install a new U-joint.
You may need to do the part size search unless they've done'm.
I've never done one, 250,000 miles mine is still OEM. [HINT, they last so Ebay can be viable]

.

[wezx]

I can do the install…just not many of them for sale new and the boots are apparently unobtanium. Not even sure it’s the uni-joint but I can’t imagine what else it could be?

[FM-USA]

For giggle test ride with the speedo cable off the meter.
Or side of the road, hand bend the cable opposite just above the forks. Mine went quiet until a few sizeable bumps.

Mine the angle of Accel & Decel produced 2 different squeaks.

[wezx]

For giggle test ride with the speedo cable off the meter.
Or side of the road, hand bend the cable opposite just above the forks. Mine went quiet until a few sizeable bumps.

Mine the angle of Accel & Decel produced 2 different squeaks.

If it was the speedo cable it would do it all the time. It wouldn’t stop the second you pull in the clutch.

[FM-USA]

It can, clutch in changes the front angle & bends the cable slightly.
IF you do change the cable, do both inner & outer.

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[Rambozo]

Does it change with heavy acceleration and deceleration?
I'm thinking the ruber buffers in the rear hub. Maybe some grease migrated in there?
Can you locate the direction it is coming from.
Have you looked for mice?

[FM-USA]

mice



.

[wezx]

Get a load of this! When I first noticed it, I was trying to think of places in the driveline where there’s rubber because it definitely sounded like squeaking rubber. Rambozo, I thought of the bumpers in the rear wheel hub, but it didn’t make sense why it would only do it on a hard deceleration and not on acceleration. So I put it up on the center stand started it and put it in gear and of course I couldn’t really get it to make the sound without riding it and I’m sure you can all relate to what a complete pain it is to try to figure out where a sound is coming from while you’re on the bike! LOL So I started riding around and it hit me that Sunday night me and the wife rode home two hours in the rain. It wasn’t a downpour, but it was definitely raining. Could those rubber bumpers in the rear wheel just be wet? Because wet rubber certainly squeaks! I’ve only ridden a couple of miles since Sunday night around town so I got out and rode for 10 or 15 miles. Got on the expressway and road all around. When I got off the expressway, Presto! no more squeak! Good grief…Much ado about nothing! LOL

“Mice” LOL This thing gets ridden nearly every day…mice would have a hard time taking up residence! LOL

[FM-USA]

Wet Rubbers?
Anyways...
I've ridden countless times in the rain, snow & hail, never heard my WET RUBBER squeak.
But there's always that possibility... I guess... if I have to.
Fingers crossed that IS it.
Keep us apprised, not surprised.

.

[wezx]

Well, the squeak is NOT gone unfortunately. A few things I’ve definitively observed.

It ONLY makes the sound in gear with clutch engaged. Pull in clutch handle and sound stops immediately. Definitely does it both under power and when letting off the throttle in gear. Seems to be louder when you release the throttle and the bike relaxes into the gear.
Coasting out of gear - no squeak at all. Coasting in gear with the clutch handle pulled in - no squeak at all.
It is much more pronounced at slow speeds 5-10mph and the frequency increases with speed. At 35-45 it is almost unnoticeable?
Braking has zero effect.
Turning or banking has zero effect.
Will NOT make the sound on the center stand with bike running and in gear.
Tire is not rubbing swingarm.
Clutch is not slipping at all.

It does not seem to be getting any louder over time from day to day? And it does seem to lessen the more time you’re riding.

Is there something in the clutch assembly that could squeak like this?

The kicker here is the bike rides and runs completely normally EXCEPT for this squeak. No weird vibrations or shudders. No weird sounds other than the squeak. I’m very stumped on this?

[FM-USA]

You seem to have it zeroed in.
Never heard this before on bikes, but sounds like clutch push rod squeak.
Take slave off & lightly grease the 2 ends assemble, ride.
FINGERS CROSSED

. .

[Rambozo]

How about if you run it on the center stand and add some load with the rear brake.
Then you can hunt around to locate the noise.

[wezx]

Well, cause it’s a fast and easy job I went ahead and pulled the slave cylinder and greased the push rod. Took the bike out and it’s still doing it, HOWEVER, like the other night I rode around for 20 minutes and the noise is practically gone. The only time you can even faintly hear it is if you are in first and use the engine as a brake. If it was something metal in the drivetrain I can’t believe that the noise would get better the more I rode it so I’m back to thinking it’s those rubber bumpers in the wheel and for some reason they’re squeaking and then maybe when they heat up a bit they stop. At least the squeak almost completely goes away instead of getting louder and worse, so I guess I’ll just ride on.

I did try putting load on the rear wheel on the center stand but no squeak…only does it when riding (of course LOL)

[Rambozo]

Maybe it is the u-joint. There should be no difference between riding and loading the bike with the rear brake, except the swingarm position. You could try lifting the rear wheel from the swingarm instead of the center stand and see if you can create the noise with the rear brake. Or run the bike on a dyno.

[wezx]

I’ve considered the U-joint. Even rode around tonight with the side covers off to hear better, but the sound doesn’t seem to be coming from there…it sounds like it’s from the rear wheel…?

[crusty1500]

Something I would try: put it on the center stand, put it in first and rock the wheel back and forth. Maybe it'll show the squeak there and narrow it down. From you description, it has to be something in the drive-line that's making that squeak.

[wezx]

Tried that…can’t reproduce the noise.

[FM-USA]

SHEEEESH, that mouse sure has your goat.
Can someone ride around you to help zero in the noise? Hopefully a huge empty parking lot or quiet & near empty multi-lanes so once the noise starts you maintain speed & position.

.

[Rambozo]

Another test you can try is to try it with the air suspension at zero and then at max pressure and see if the noise is the same at any pressure.