1986 venture Royal transmission grinding noise

[sailur]

Hello all, i"m old but newly paid member,

I just picked up a 1986 royal, still running my 1986 venture standard. I was told the transmission was pouched maybe why i thought i was getting a deal. Where do I start to try and fix this problem. The bike starts , but went to engage clutch and put into first gear, there is a grinding noise, the last owner had the clutch replaced two months ago. I guess that's the first post for me, and more to follow.

Andrew

[Yammer Dan]

Clutch feel like it is working?? Not just needing bled??

[Grez007]

:sign yeah that:sound like it may just be low on fluid or needs bleeding and isnt completely engaging/disengaging

[Marcarl]

Other than the well known 2nd gear issue with the 83,84 and early 85s, the trannies haven't been a discussion item much at all. I would be looking for something else first, like the clutch not working properly. That doesn't mean that there is no issue with your trans, but maybe not very likely.

[cowpuc]

Indeed,, if its grinding while dropping it into gear,, good chance ya got a clutch not disengaging completely.

Bottom line, to much going on in there to leave to guess work.. Also, unless the previous owner actually did some digging and knew for fact the tranny was the issue = I wouldnt leave it to assumption that he was correct. Could be anything from a clutch issue to a stripped spline on the drive shaft to a bevel gear.. I think if it was mine I would center stand it, pull the rubber cover over the driveshaft where it goes into the forward bevel gear back enough so I could watch it, start er up and drop er in gear to see if the shaft is spinning = listen where the noise is coming from..

Also, maybe check the oil for metal particles.. Seems that if it is a failed tranny (pretty rare in the after mid 85's IMHO) - seems like particles would show up on the drain plug magnet..

[sailur]

Thank you for your comments/help! I will keep you posted what i found out.

[CaseyJ955]

Clutch is the first thing I would have gone to, but that being replaced I would x3 on the clutch MC or slave not getting her done. I cant remember reading about a catastrophic trans failure, even on the Vmax side of things. If you lacked enough oil to kill the trans I would have assumed the engine to go first. These are fairly bullet proof units, both engines and trans.

 

I hope (and believe) that you will find the problem within the hydraulics. Does it go through the gears with the engine off, like N lets you roll the bike and 1st or 2nd do not (engine off)?

[frankd]

You could prove that it's the clutch (which I also believe is the problem) not releasing by moving the bike to a location that will allow it to move forward safely. Then put it in first gear, pull the clutch 'in' and crank the engine. If the bike jumps forward, you'll know the clutch is NOT releasing. If it starts and then the clutch releases as soon as you release the lever slightly, you probably need to bleed the clutch slave cylinder. If it makes gear noises, your transmission is trashed. Just be safe.....be ready for it to move forward just as you hit the starter!!

[RDawson]

Have you looked at the clutch pack to make sure it was installed correctly? Don't assume the last person in there did things right. I could tell you how I learned that lesson but I'll skip that one.

[AlVenture]

RDawson made a very good point about checking clutch basket to see if it was installed correctly ; I've seen where people installed one of the friction plates backwards or had warped plates .

[RDawson]

RDawson made a very good point about checking clutch basket to see if it was installed correctly ; I've seen where people installed one of the friction plates backwards or had warped plates .

My lesson came via a sport quad I bought years ago with similar issues. After many hours searching for the issue I pulled the clutch pack and found an extra disc. They left the inner most old one in and all the new ones.