GL 1100 Engine Noise

3528 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by mcgovern61, Nov 1, 2009

dgreene

Discussion Starter · Oct 21, 2009

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My 82 GL1100 has a slight tapping from the engine sometimes at idle. Also when rinding on the interstate at highway speeds say 70-75mph, I notice louder throbbing or slight knocking noise. I am not sure if it is an actual knock or just the exhaust.

I am guessing the tapping noise is nothing to be concerned about. Is the slight knock or throbbing noise typcial at 5000 rpm or could I have a rod going bad? I am somewhat new to motorcycles and this is my first Goldwing. What is a normal sound for the engine.

The engine has approximately 45,000 miles on it.

Thanks

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johnnynogood

· #2 · Oct 21, 2009

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Hey "D", don't worry about the "tapping", but the knock I don't know. Is it continuous? Is it when you give a greater demand for fuel? Do you hear it when you lean to change lanes? Lets see, what else, OH YEAH, are you holding your tongue right?

Sorry, I had a lot of coffee. Anyway, does the engine seem to stumble or lack of power when ya hear the noise? I don't know what a rod going bad would sound like on these things. Might want to put your foot on the side you think it's coming from and then take the rocker cover off to see if the engine is making metal. Good Luck.

John

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k1w1t1m

· #3 · Oct 21, 2009

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A few of us seem to have a knock that starts at around 3000 rpm when hot. When cold it's quiet, when under 3000 rpm it's quiet.
The oil pressure appears good, the light goes out almost immediately on start up and doesn't flicker at a hot idle. Different oils don't make a difference either.
Randy had success with replacing the vacuum advance unit. Mine appears to be good though.
I've put 20,000 miles on my 1100 this year (since I bought it) and the knock has remained the same. It annoys me to no end and I'd love to find it's cause. However it has also remained the same....no better, no worse, no matter what I do, so I suspect it may just be one of those noises. I might try changing the exhaust when I can get my hands on another to see if that's it.

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dgreene

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 21, 2009

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Thanks guys,
It is not a loud knock, and I don't know that I can tell if it is coming from a particular side. It might just be an exhaust noise, but I swear I can feel it. It’s almost like a rattle in the engine rather than a hard knocking noise. This may be normal since I’m sitting atop the engine unlike when driving a car. It doesn't get worse when I accelerate hard, so I don't think it appearing under a heavy load. It seems to just build up when cruising at 4-5 rpms. Someone previously told me that the 4 cylinder Goldwing engines sound like a washing machine, and I would say that is definitely true.

The noise also has not affected its performance. The bike runs excellent and does not stumble or appear to have a lack of power. When cold starting it, it will sometimes hiccup from one or more of the carburetors.

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johnnynogood

· #5 · Oct 23, 2009

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I get the hiccup thing too when it's cold. A Harley friend always asks how mySewing Machine is doing. Doesn't bother me a bit. Ya see, I put a pair of Sony headphones in my helmet and I have an MP3 player with hundreds of hard rock tunes on it. "Radar Love" though not that hard, really makes ya get up to speed. Rock on!!

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dgreene

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 24, 2009

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I found someone listed a uTube video with a Goldwing that makes the same noise mine makes at highway speeds. This is the noise I'm wondering about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SyhI7BDnhE&feature=related

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Bagmaster

· #7 · Oct 24, 2009

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Sounds just like mine, got over 125,000 on her and doesn't miss a beat. Couldn't hurt to sync the carbs though.

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dgreene

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 25, 2009

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Great news, thanks

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mcgovern61

· #9 · Oct 31, 2009

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That is my bike in the video and I am sure that I have bad bearings. When I change my oil, I get visible pieces of metal and shiny stuff some times. However, that video was done last year and I have ridden the bike for another 5,000 miles! I stay local in the event that it breaks down, but now I am convinced that this engine can last through a nuclear explosion!

I should note that the engine has over 169,000 miles on it and the PO beat the daylights out of it. When I got it, I found sand in the oil. I have cleaned the oil sump screen and ran seafoam through the engine block.

I find that if I wind it up past 5000 rpmit runs like a clock (although loud). I have a spare engine that is just about ready to go in. When it does, I plan on opening it up to find out for sure where the noise is coming from.

You might be interested in this video of the engine. I have an oil pressure gauge mounted.watch the oil pressure drop off when the bike is tilted. It is the only way I can duplicate the tapping/knocking when not on the road:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPysWst04xk

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dgreene

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 31, 2009

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I've ridden mine several more times and the noise isn't nearly as distinct as what you have in the video. Also the noise only appears when the bike gets completely warmed up. I think mine might be related to spark advance or something.

The engine only has about 45,000 miles on it, so I hope the bearings aren't going yet.

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Hobie1

· #11 · Nov 1, 2009

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When I bought my '83I 5 years ago, it only had 32K on the clock. When I first started going out and running faster, the bike had an obnoxious sound to it. I didn't know what to make of the noise, only that I wasn't comfortable with it.

About that time I discovered this forum and also aquired a pretty sharp Honda mechanic to work on my bike. I found out that what I needed to do was to take the bike out and run it like I stole it, sort to speak. After just a short while, the carbon was knocked out and the bike has ran sweet every since then. I do go out and tach the bike out, 6-7000 rpms, whenever I have a safe place to do it. These ol' girls like being rev-ed up. Keeps 'em happy.

Regards,

Hobie

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mcgovern61

· #12 · Nov 1, 2009

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Mark,

I have to agree with you on the revving up. Even with the knocking and tapping, take her up to 6000 and stay there (80 mph) and it sounds great.

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