My 98 Vfr has 65000 miles on it. Lately, the last 500 miles, it has developed a rattly clutch when it idles in neutral and the lever is out. It's a little worse when cold in the morning. This is a common problem with many bikes but the mighty VFR has been rock solid until now. What specifically in the clutch assembly is making this noise and has anyone else experienced it? There was a post in Cycle World magazine in their tech section in the back about V4's doing this but I can't seem to find that issue. Thanks, Duane
NOT sure whether your bike is "high mileage?" THE main cause of clutch noise on a VFR ... is riding too close to a Ducati.... ........no, seriously.... that seems alright ... a carb synch might improve idle smoothness as long your bike is fine on the road. your engine is fine if it will pull 120 mph in 4th gear. get out and run your bike hard on some fast interstate or curves, PULL over and check again at idle.
My 94 has the same issue and was told that it is the clutch basket. It has been the same for the past 14,000 miles. Mark
It is most likely the clutch basket "grooves" where the tabs on the friction disks fit. The friction disks and the basket grooves get worn over time, and allow the the friction plates to rotate back and forth slightly. When the engine is idling, even with a good tune up, the crankshaft is always accelerating and decelerating, which makes the friction plates "rattle around" in the grooves. Technically, they don't "rattle". The basket accelerates, and the friction disc tabs hit the driven side of the grooves. The basket decelerates, and the tabs rotate slightly and hit the other side of the groove. And so on... It doesn't really hurt anything; it just sounds bad.
i have a 97 and got the same noise. runs fine. i was figuring it was just normal since it only does it in neutral
mine totally went out (the clutch that is) a little while back and I can't remember ever noticing a rattle. I just noticed it start slipping then within a week or two it wouldnt go into gear... replaced it with a barnett set and no probs so far...
If the notches on the basket are not too deep (or on the tangs on the friction plates), they can be smoothed off with a fine file, although this is usually accompanied by a slight delay in the clutch releasing when changing gear etc as the tangs "snag" in the grooves then jump out. but not always. good luck!
Would this be the same noise I hear from mine?.. I only hear it when the engine is hot.. it's a kinda "ticky tick tickity tick tick".. quite random but quite audible.. (stationary and out of gear) I have been told that it is not likely to be valve clearances.. only audible when the engine is hot after a run.. The engine has done 35k miles and has been like this for 6 months perhaps. Normal? ('99 Fi non-vtec)
my 04 with 36,000 miles has the same noise. As stated above, I was told it was the clutch basket. Supposedly it's a Honda thing as the dealer stated. Even my 06 Honda Hornet did it from mile 1 to 12K when I sold it. I don't think about it anymore, just ride.
Don't know if your issue has been resolved or not but is definitely the clutch basket. The CBR 1100 XX blackbird is notorious for it.It doesn't do any harm other than drive you nuts!!!
I 2nd, 3rd, or maybe 4th the clutch basket diagnosis. '93 with 25k does/did same thing with lever out in neutral. This noise continued into 1st gear until I got moving about 10mph. A good dot4 clutch flush and the rattle has almost gone away entirely. Though, with a good ear and when cold starting you can slightly notice the rattle still.
so what is the conclusion, is this problem going to get worse and cause other issues? my 97 was adult driven all of its 14k miles so I dont think abuse causes it. I can feel the vibration/ticking in the clutch lever in neutral. I also have a slight vibration above 5k rpm, but I believe it may just be the slight buzz sport bikes produce, but I will be doing a chain clean and relube soon, as well as all fluids so we will see if there is any difference. If anyone can elaborate on where the clutch basket is and what it does id greatly appreciate it! Vince
won't cause other issues and can usually be improved by a really accurate carb synch ear plugs help too
My '06 has had that noise since I rolled it out of the showroom. I was concerned at first and posted on here to find many have the same issue, some suggest a heavier viscocity oil will cure it but I haven't tried it. I wouldn't worry with it. Like others have said, it'll only drive you crazy if you let it.
The conclusion is one of two things: 1. You ignore it, won't harm anything. 2. You change the basket and remove all doubt. Only you hear the voices in your head. If they continually say "something is wrong" or "that's annoying", choose option 2.
Well, well...I lay in bed all night fretting about what the noise was (started happening yesterday after a good hard ride). I rode up & down the street in front of my place and noticed that mine only did it in 1st at about 5 mph. What a great relief to read what you guys already know...It's a kinda hollow grinding rattle. I thought at first that it was a rodent or squirrel or somthing bumping around at the filter! Almost sounds (to me anyway) like it's higher up in the engine...does this sound familiar to you guys or should I be thinking of trading my VFR on a superclean '04 ZX-12 with 10k on the odo? Dayum.
