Crackling from the Clutch relay?

[toyz4roy]

I'm new here and new the the vfr so please bear with me. I've had the bike for just over a week and started to notice a crackling sound that appears to be coming from below the tank area when letting out the clutch at a stop light. The first couple of times it happened it sounded like a car around me running over a plastic water bottle on the street. I have since noticed I can replicate it by letting out the clutch pulling away from a light. I'm thinking it may be arcing internal to the contacts on a relay that allows the bike to be started with the clutch engaged. Has anyone else ever noticed this?

[Vee-Ef-Ar]

Sounds like the small flapper valve ontop of the airbox. It will open and close on clutch movements like you stated. Kinda freaks you out first time hearing it hey.

Ride on!

[toyz4roy]

Ya it freaked me out alright !! I was looking at the mirrors trying to figure out what car was about to hit me the first time I heard it.

[rosey]

My 99 does the same thing, I've only had the bike about a month so I haven't really investigated it yet, mine seems to be most noticeable when the clutch is in and I'm rolling around a parking lot at low speeds. I might try disabling the flapper valve to see if it goes away, and if that's the problem I guess I could try cleaning it out or replacing the valve. I'd rather not disable it, seeing as my understanding of the system is that the valve is used to effectively vary the volume of the airbox for a smoother powerband.

[bladrnr]

My 2000 has been doing that for six years. It's nothing.

[VFR8001999]

Even if it isn't harmful is there a way to fix it? I don't like random noises.

[V4-fuel]

Another possability is self adjusting cam adjuster / tensioner? I may not be describing it just right technically, but check with your local Honda dealer. Obviously a part of scheduled maintenance is setting the valve clearance. The sound you are describling is like a "crackling or clicking sound", and was more common when my bike was either brand new, or reaching mileage markers when the valve clearance needed adjustment. I would notice it sitting at a stop light or just pulling away.

End result, my local Honda dealer said it's a perfectly normal sound for the 5th Gen VFR 800 (1998 - 2001) model to make.

[Lgn001]

I'd be tempted to pull off the slave cylinder and see if the end of the clutch pushrod needs some grease where it engages the slave cylinder piston. Have you changed the hydraulic fluid? I could imagine the slave cylinder piston not traveling in the bore smoothly due to old fluid, and if you are not sure if/when it was changed last, it wouldn't hurt.

The sound you describe kind of reminds me of how a cable operated clutch feels when the cable hasn't been lubed in a long time.

[chickenstrip]

Originally Posted by VFR8001999

Even if it isn't harmful is there a way to fix it? I don't like random noises.

Mines doing the same thing.Had 2 other gen 5s that didn't so would like to fix if possible.Have done my home work and found nothing on how to actually stop it.
Is there a fix or do I need a new one?

[kfm237]

My 1997 didnt make this noise... but I recently bought a 2000 and noticed it does make that crackling noise.... It's fairly annoying!.... Does anyone know how to fix it???

[Vee-Ef-Ar]

Well, it's vaccum controlled via diaphram/mechanical, so either disconnect the hose and plug or unhook the flapper from the diaphram shaft.

Others have gone as far as removing the entire flapper and diaphram.