Hello all, Slowly but surely getting used to my 600ss and loving every minute riding it!! One thing I have noticed, while 'tootling' along, is a kind of grating noise. I'm not sure whether exactly what it is but suspect it might be the chain. An old supersport passed me the other night while out walking the dog and I have to say it was making a similar noise, albeit louder, it sounded like the chain hadn't been lubricated for a long long time! In my case, I had a recent change of chain and sprockets but the noise is still there, not quite as bad as with the old chain. I was thinking maybe it's where the chain runs over the nylon slipper on the swing arm? Does any one else have a similar issue? Otherwise, the engine is lovely and smooth, when stationary no noises or anything untoward. Thanks in advance, G
hi have you got a paddock stand if so stick it on that and spin the back wheel and see if the noise is there you can have a good look and listen with no engine noise. Stuart
Can't say i have noticed that noise with mine, not one of the brakes dragging is it?? I do get a noise when braking, may be worth lifting and spinning both wheels just to eliminate things.
I'm not sure about "grating" but I have noticed in the past, on other bikes, that chain drive is inherently noiser than you might expect (even when all well lubricated etc) and I've concluded that wearing effective earplugs is the best strategy. It's certainly worth checking on a paddock stand, but keep your fingers well away from the chain and sprockets if the wheel is turning!
Thanks for your input guy's, do you mean to run the bike on the paddock stand? Turning the back wheel by hand everything seems smooth enough. Thanks, G.
Most bikes have a 'hiss' or 'light rattle' from the chain..... ....just pull the clutch in and shut the throttle or cut the engine going down a hill and you can hear it, even with a helmet on. As recidivist says 'grating' may not be the right word to describe it, so if it really is grating, then you need to check everything thoroughly, for example; worn wheel bearings and sticky brake calipers could be a possible cause.
The "turning by hand" test should eliminate anything obvious, but if you are very careful you can always try running the rear wheel round slowly with the engine running, in gear - you won't be able to hear as much though. Of course the "grating" could come from the front.. brakes? mudguard? Not so easy to get the front wheel off the ground and spin it though.
Hi all, I put the rear end on the paddock stand tonight. While revolving the wheel by hand the ticking of the chain can be heard, nothing horrendous but I noticed the rear brake does make a little noise. Not binding but like the pads are brushing the disc. I would have thought that's quite normal(???) and no real way of adjusting it, I might be wrong? Anyhow, I'm not entirely sure it's coming from the rear end until I get the front off the ground. Thanks for your help, G.
if you don't have a front stand and you have a good beam in your garage get a good ratchet strap and put it round the head stock and lift it that way , just take care, put it on the rear paddock stand first as this will keep it steady for you to lift it and then you can have a look at the front stuart
Or make your own stands.........(like mine)............for about £10............and then you can do your headstock bearings as well.........
Make sure the rear wheel is aligned in the arm properly. The marks on the arm can't always be trusted so measuring from the swingarm pivot to axle is a more accurate method. Also worth checking that the front sprocket went on the right way around. It can go on either way, but the boss should be on the rear with the locking plate up against the flat face of the sprocket. Get this wrong and the chain alignment will be about 12mm out...
if has a recent c+s change then id say either needs adjusting as its wearing in stretching a bit and/or the alignment is off a fraction and its grinding the sprocket sides. has to be checked for sure cos itll wear the chain and sprockets quite quickly. Edit:could also be too tight of course
Hello all, thanks for all your responses, I'll have a check of the various things over the weekend & let you know how I go on. Thanks again, G.
Well, I spent a couple of hours fettling today. First of all measuring from the swinging arm pivots to the rear wheel centres, the drive side was 8mm nearer than the other side. The rear brake caliper was fairly heavy with brake dust, this got a good clean. The front 'floating' brake disc didn't float very much, the buttons got a good clean with brake cleaner & loosened off. Although the chain (and sprockets) have only done about 350miles they got a good clean and lube. After taking the bike for a run it certainly seemed smoother, I'm guessing this is probably the rear wheel being aligned properly but, maybe it's just me? The only other bike I rode was a honda hornet for my test, this was really quiet & smooth, maybe I'm expecting too much.. Don't get me wrong, the bikes a joy to ride and handles really well, I wouldn't change it for the world - maybe get another one though :Kiss: Thanks, G.
tbh all the running gear inc chain should be kept clean,adjusted and lubed where needed as a matter of course not a matter of mileage.
I agree, I'm a great believer in planned maintenance rather than reactive. I possibly I gave the wrong impression in my last post, the chain is inspected and lubricated on a very regular basis, however I wasn't planning on 'deep cleaning' the chain so soon!! Anyhow it's done now & certainly won't do any harm. Back on to the noise, I have a suspition some of the noise maybe coming from the tyres. The noise varies slightly from surface to surface although in the area I live there are no really smooth roads. I noticed if I flick the tyres they 'ring' , the front more so than the back, this has a similar 'tone ' to the noise I hear. Sorry if this has thread has been a little wandering, all this is completely new to me, all the sounds and feel of ducati are I'm sure like nothing else!! G.
,im sure youll get there. 8mm is quite a lot out of line and likely to have worn the front sprocket id have thought if its been like it for 350+ miles. spect the handling feels better/strange now,no more falling into left handers n rough handling/shimmying right handers ? ive never thought to flick my tyres,ever, :Hilarious:
