Annoying noise from front wheel area.....

[Fuzzy]

Wonder if anybody's got any ideas as to what could be causing this?

It's a rattling noise  -  like the rattley clicky noise a bicycle makes when freewheeling, or when something like a ziptie is hitting the spokes on a bicycle wheel (am I making sense?). Not very loud but noticeable. Seems to be coming from the right hand side of the front wheel or rhs fork.

I notice it the most when I am slowing down to a stop with the clutch pulled in. The noise stops below a certain speed, probably about 5mph. Possibly there all the time and just that I can't hear it over engine & wind noise.

Had a look at the mudguard & fenda extenda, no rubbing that I can see. Brake calipers have just been cleaned and everything in order there. Michelin PR3 fitted (have been for 2 or 3k now). Not sure where to look now.... maybe inside the rhs fork? Can seal retaining clips vibrate?

It's a foccing annoying noise so would be grateful for any suggestions!

[Dead Eye]

Don't take this as accurate as I may be talking crap but - front wheel bearings?

[Fuzzy]

Ah! Thanks. Why didn't I think of that? Brain dead from a long week I guess.... The bearings were replaced about 10k miles ago so it's not unfeasable for a problem to have developed since then.

[Motorbreath]

Something similar happened to mine. It was the inner fairing plastic against the outer one. I sticked some foam tape on contact parts.

[Fuzzy]

I get terrible vibes from the fairing at 2,500 rpm anyway and this sounded different. Will check the wheel bearing first as Deadeye suggested and I think I need to take the fairing off and stick some more foam in there too.

I've got used to the fairing noise but I bought a helmet cam recently and couldn't believe how much noise the fairing produced when playing back videos.

[Motorbreath]

In my case the fairing didn't need to be removed, just the two inner grey pieces. I sticked the foam to them. 5 minutes works. Also I remember the little lamp metal cover from one of the headlights can rattle also if not tightened.

Good luck finding the poltergeist!

[darrsi]

Do you have a video that has picked up the noise at all?

[Fuzzy]

Haha @ poltergeist!

I do have a video but I haven't worked out how to edit, post videos etc yet! It's hardly worth sitting through all 30mins of it just for a few seconds of the noise every now and again!

I do have a feeling that the noise is correlated to the rotation of the front wheel so the bearings seem like a good place to start. I think the frequency of the rattling/clicking decreased with speed.

It also seems to be coming from the rhs only so a faulty bearing on that side could explain it. Haven't noticed any vibes/feedback through the bars as I did with a worn bearing previously though. I'll report back once I check/change the bearings. Fingers crossed.

[darrsi]

Brake pads can rattle in the caliper, put the bike on the centre stand and spin the wheel.

[AdieR]

As darrsi - you say the calipers have been cleaned; are your pad springs and anti-chatter shims in place and in decent conditions?

[Fuzzy]

I'm pretty sure the pad springs were okay, I'll double check they're in the right way up tomorrow though. The calipers are generally in good nick, they are fairly new silver spots off a FZ6 S2.

I was about to say I have EBC pads in as that's what I use normally, but I think I might currently have OE Yamaha pads fitted which in contrast have metal plates on the reverse side. I always smear a little copper grease on the back but I'm not used to checking the plates/shims so perhaps something could have gone a miss there. I'll check them aswell.

[darrsi]

Just put your fingers on each end of the pad and see if you can rock them!  :guitar

[packie]

I have a right hand side noise too that I must investigate.  :'( :'( :'(


But I'd say my poltergeist is totally different to your poltergeist. Although mine is a rattley clickity sound as well.....it only happens when you apply some throttle. In my case and it sounds like its coming from underneath the tank area. When you back off the throttle even a little bit, the noise stops instantly until you apply throttle again.


So I think that rules out any type of engine, fairing or wheel noise as the bike and engine is still running/moving even when I back off on the throttle. It sounds like maybe coming from the fuel pump when I apply some throttle. I'm worried that the fuel pump is on the verge of giving up the ghost...or poltergeist!!  :angel :angel


Another theory was put to me by "Unfazed" when we hooked up at his house for a chat and a coffee and which I had to use all my willpower to resist his wife's very tempting freshly cooked scones and jam (thanks Unfazed).....he thinks it may be the fuel filter that is nearly blocked and struggling which is a strong possibility too.


I have a new fuel filter coming in Monday and I will be fitting this, a K&N filter, and doing a carb balance and see were that leaves me. Any other opinions or experiences most welcomed.


Apologies to you "Fuzzy" if I seem to be hijacking your thread. :kiss


Also, I like to give credit were credit is due. I ordered the few parts I need from Wemoto at 11.30am. They sent me an email by 3pm the same day informing me that my items were dispatched. Good efficient service.

Well done, Wemoto!!

[darrsi]

"....I'm pretty sure the pad springs were okay...."


Doesn't matter, you can get ill fitting pads, the 'pad pin hole' may be a tad larger than other pads.
Add that to being cleaned, and it's free to rattle.
Pad springs are held in the middle, not the ends, so can still pivot with a loose pad!


Check there's no groove marks on the pad pins as well.

[Fuzzy]

Thank you for the advice all. I'm not sure why but on my commute today I couldn't hear the noise. Hopefully it'll stay that way although it's frustrating to not get to the bottom of it!

I checked the calipers over and they seemed tip top. I'm quite thorough with cleaning and check them regularly (I'm probably a little ocd). I always use red rubber & copper grease. There's very little wear on the pins or other components, the calipers came off a very low mileage FZ6, I'd be surprised if they have done over 10k miles. There was barely any movement in the pad springs and the pad shims seem okay too. I spun the wheel whilst the bike was on it's centre stand and everything is smooth with no noises which suggests to me that the bearings are ok.

Packie, interesting you mention a rhs noise that you think is the fuel pump. That caught my attention because my bike really struggled to start a couple of weeks ago (battery was recently charged up). It had been standing a week, I usually ride everyday. Recently a slow surge in revs up to 2000rpm has begun to appear at idle too. I checked the choke cable & throttle cable and they seem fine, cracked carb rubbers don't seem to be leaking either. Come to think of it, it only started when I upped the choke to max and adjusted the idle up. That seems to point to fuel starvation. I replaced the fuel filter last summer so that should be fine... maybe my fuel pump is dying too? It has started on the button ever since though and it rides well apart from the revs rising slowly at idle.

I didn't mention this before because the noise really does sound like it's coming from the front wheel so although I thought about it,  I didn't make the connection. With all the other noises of the engine, wind etc to confuse me I guess that could be misleading me.

In any case, the bike has been booked in with my mechanic for a once over including perhaps a carb balance so we'll see where that'll take me and whether it affects the noise at all.

[Fuzzy]

Just a follow up. The carbs were well out of adjustment for some reason and the bike is running normally again. The mystery noise has not been back.... Not sure what it was, it was there for a couple of weeks and disappeared on it's own just before I took it in to get the carbs sorted. It's gone now and not annoying me any longer in any case. Thanks again for all the advice guys.

[His Dudeness]

did you check your front wheel bearings? the bearing on the left is enclosed in the speedo housing so it tends to be ok but the one on the right can go crusty pretty quickly if the dust seal isn't keeping the crap out

[Fuzzy]

Yes, well only by spinning the wheel whilst on the centre stand and it spun freely without any odd noises. I'll be changing the wheels soon anyway as I'll be swapping them with a set with new discs and bearings. By the way, if anybody wants a set of wheels with polished lips, let me know although it'll go in the sale section eventually.

[His Dudeness]

Spinning it won't really tell you anything because there's very little load on the wheel when it's in the air. You'd have to take the wheel off and rotate the bearing with your finger and check if it feels rough or smooth when you turn it

[Fuzzy]

Cheers, I'd do that now if I could! My bike lives in a m/c bay on a busy London road so unfotunately there's a limit to what I can do. I haven't noticed anything weird in the handling dept or any vibes so it should be okay until I swap the wheels over.

I'll be giving the wheels, including the bearings, a good once over when they are removed and I'll do what you suggest then.