2009 alternator drive gear

[allyda511@gmail.com]

Does anyone know why Honda uses their short life alternator drive gear disaster? Not interested in a because but a genuine engineering reason. Has anyone tried welding the thing and running it direct? $500 for a part that will fail again doesn't make sense!

[newday777]

A failed one on a 2009?? That's a first for me to here of. 2001-2005 yes lots failed. 2006 and up honda changed them.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Does anyone know why Honda uses their short life alternator drive gear disaster? Not interested in a because but a genuine engineering reason. Has anyone tried welding the thing and running it direct? $500 for a part that will fail again doesn't make sense!

"Does anyone know why Honda uses their short life alternator drive gear disaster?" Yes ... because there is no room for fan belts, so they use a "drive dampener" to keep the alternator shaft from breaking in half.

"Has anyone tried welding the thing and running it direct?" Yes ... a guy in the UK tried that, and because it then had no dampening, the alternator shaft sheered in half.

[newday777]

"Has anyone tried welding the thing and running it direct?" Yes ... a guy in the UK tried that, and because it then had no dampening, the alternator shaft sheered in half.

What year was this UK bike?

[WingAdmin]

The output of a gas engine is not rotation. It's a series of incredibly powerful pulses, as each cylinder fires off. Coupling this directly into gears and mechanical devices is an excellent way to have those devices fail.

Couple it directly into an alternator, and the pulses will break apart the alternator or shear the shaft.

Couple it directly into the driveshaft and final drive, and the final drive will shear hypoid gear teeth off. That's why the shaft drives of all Goldwings have springs in them, that allow the shaft to compress against the spring to absorb the pulses.

[GoldWingrGreg]

"Has anyone tried welding the thing and running it direct?" Yes ... a guy in the UK tried that, and because it then had no dampening, the alternator shaft sheered in half.

What year was this UK bike?

I don't recall, but since most ADG problems are from 2001-05 it was most likely during those years.

[newday777]

Does anyone know why Honda uses their short life alternator drive gear disaster? Not interested in a because but a genuine engineering reason. Has anyone tried welding the thing and running it direct? $500 for a part that will fail again doesn't make sense!

Welcome to the forum allyda511
Do you have a failed 2009 alternator drive gear?

[Asphaltmaniac]

It went in my 06 at approx 190000 miles. I saved a ton of cash by stripping the bike myself, leaving the engine in the frame for Honda to pull and do their thing.

[GoldWingrGreg]

It went in my 06 at approx 190000 miles. I saved a ton of cash by stripping the bike myself, leaving the engine in the frame for Honda to pull and do their thing.

What were your symptoms ???

[Asphaltmaniac]

It went in my 06 at approx 190000 miles. I saved a ton of cash by stripping the bike myself, leaving the engine in the frame for Honda to pull and do their thing.

What were your symptoms ???

Hi Greg. I could hear a growling rumbling noise only when I came to a stop. Not all that loud but enough to irritate me. Ha!
So listening carefully around while it idled it was obvious the noise was coming from in front of the alternator.
The mechanic at Honda said yep thats it.
Sorta disappointing it failed as I don't abuse the bike. I'm no ricky racer and don't wheelie it and have always done oil
changes on time or a bit early. I'm sure the factory service manual oil schematic shows it get a flow of oil if I recall right.
Anyway my major concern was it would start spitting metal shaving into the engine or would come apart like a clutch at the drag strip.
Yikes!
But he no that wont happen.

[GoldWingrGreg]

It went in my 06 at approx 190000 miles. I saved a ton of cash by stripping the bike myself, leaving the engine in the frame for Honda to pull and do their thing.

What were your symptoms ???

Hi Greg. I could hear a growling rumbling noise only when I came to a stop. Not all that loud but enough to irritate me. Ha!
So listening carefully around while it idled it was obvious the noise was coming from in front of the alternator.
The mechanic at Honda said yep thats it.
Sorta disappointing it failed as I don't abuse the bike. I'm no ricky racer and don't wheelie it and have always done oil
changes on time or a bit early. I'm sure the factory service manual oil schematic shows it get a flow of oil if I recall right.
Anyway my major concern was it would start spitting metal shaving into the engine or would come apart like a clutch at the drag strip.
Yikes!
But he no that wont happen.

All 2006-17 5th gens have ADG noise. Some are noisier than others, and some occur when cold while others when the oil is hot, while others have it all the time. Usually the grumble is heard at idle. All of what I just described is normal, and determining what is not normal can be challenging. It can also change with new/old oil and various weights.

The main clue is that the noise does not get louder over time. Since the "normal noise range is so wide" the problem with replacing an ADG with another, especially if it was miss diagnosed as being bad, is that the one being installed might even be noisier then the one being removed.

Was your new ADG quieter ???

[Asphaltmaniac]

What were your symptoms ???

Hi Greg. I could hear a growling rumbling noise only when I came to a stop. Not all that loud but enough to irritate me. Ha!
So listening carefully around while it idled it was obvious the noise was coming from in front of the alternator.
The mechanic at Honda said yep thats it.
Sorta disappointing it failed as I don't abuse the bike. I'm no ricky racer and don't wheelie it and have always done oil
changes on time or a bit early. I'm sure the factory service manual oil schematic shows it get a flow of oil if I recall right.
Anyway my major concern was it would start spitting metal shaving into the engine or would come apart like a clutch at the drag strip.
Yikes!
But he no that wont happen.

All 2006-17 5th gens have ADG noise. Some are noisier than others, and some occur when cold while others when the oil is hot, while others have it all the time. Usually the grumble is heard at idle. All of what I just described is normal, and determining what is not normal can be challenging. It can also change with new/old oil and various weights.

The main clue is that the noise does not get louder over time. Since the "normal noise range is so wide" the problem with replacing an ADG with another, especially if it was miss diagnosed as being bad, is that the one being installed might even be noisier then the one being removed.

Was your new ADG quieter ???

Ive had this bike since it was in the box and never ever heard, to my level of notice, any noise from that area hot or cold. Then suddenly one day, pulled into a parking lot and there it was!?!
Since it was replaced I am 100% happy with how my bike sounds. Believe me I'm not just saying that.

[a little on the side]

I'm late to the party, but to those who worry about the various noises a gl1800 makes need really not worry. These bikes really clunk and thunk. ADGs make a normal amount of noise that varies frome one bike to the next. I've heard pulse secondary air injection solenoids make noise. I've heard fuel injectors make popping sounds and be fine and normal. This is to name a few systems that make a normal amount of various noises. There are other normal noises these bikes make. With a 1.8 liter 6 cylinder engine it's in car territory in terms of engine size, power, and number of cylinders. The gl1800 is just about a two wheeled car with fun handling. That said imagine if the driver and passenger cabin of a smaller sedan shared the engine bay. What engine and drive train noises would you hear that you normally don't? My point in this is do not let all the various noises the bike makes drive you crazy. Just ride and enjoy the thing. If a major mechanical part is failing it will most definitely let you know quickly and obnoxiously. You won't be able to ignore it. I wish you guys and your bikes many safe miles. Happy trails.

[Asphaltmaniac]

I'm late to the party, but to those who worry about the various noises a gl1800 makes need really not worry. These bikes really clunk and thunk. ADGs make a normal amount of noise that varies frome one bike to the next. I've heard pulse secondary air injection solenoids make noise. I've heard fuel injectors make popping sounds and be fine and normal. This is to name a few systems that make a normal amount of various noises. There are other normal noises these bikes make. With a 1.8 liter 6 cylinder engine it's in car territory in terms of engine size, power, and number of cylinders. The gl1800 is just about a two wheeled car with fun handling. That said imagine if the driver and passenger cabin of a smaller sedan shared the engine bay. What engine and drive train noises would you hear that you normally don't? My point in this is do not let all the various noises the bike makes drive you crazy. Just ride and enjoy the thing. If a major mechanical part is failing it will most definitely let you know quickly and obnoxiously. You won't be able to ignore it. I wish you guys and your bikes many safe miles. Happy trails.

I'm curious how long did you hear the secondary air injection solenoid making noise? And when did it happen? Im almost positive mine thunked for about 11 seconds 4-5 months back after I energized the system without starting the engine.

[a little on the side]

It clunks after I turn the key on every now and then. I have 110,000 miles on the bike and I started noticing the secondary air solenoid making noise off and on when the bike had around 80,miles on it. Doesn't seem to hurt anything. The bike still runs fine.

[Asphaltmaniac]

I'm just glad to hear it happened to someone else. Thank you!