Backwards Balancer Gear Backlash Adjustment ?

[glich54]

My 02 XII (17K) has a very loud whine/howl between 70-75 Mph...Assuming this was the gear whine/transmission noise reported to be typical on these bikes I attempted to follow the balancer gear backlash adjustment instructions:

1. Start the engine and let it at idle.
2. Loosen the balancer shaft clamp bolts.
3. Turn the front balancer shaft clockwise until the balancer gear makes a noise.

The problem is when I turn it clockwise I get no noise (multiple turns when looking directly at the end of the shaft). I only get noise when turning it counterclockwise... I am mis-interpreting these simple instructions ???? (back balancer shaft makes no noise regardless or turning direction, which I have read is somewhat typical)...

[ekap1200]

Perhaps the noise isn't the balancer. Have you checked the final drive gear oil.
Has the rear wheel been overtorqued ? 80lb max.
Gene Kap.

[Winddancer]

I have the same year, same noise, and I have yet to find out the cause..
my Backlash adj does the same thing, but only the front will produce a different noise, back screw adjustment does nothing both clock and counter clockwise.
I have changed my drive shaft, and gear oil..
tire has correct torq..
Now, all that being said, I did check the final drive gear oil last night, since I am going on a long trip and I am going to give the bike another overhall before hand and I noticed the gear oil looks almost like silver paint, which to me means I have metal flaking in there..I am going to pull it apart soon and see whats up.. I am thinking the bearing pack in there may have gone bad..
I will let you know what I find..
and I am going to start a thread about the siver gear oil...

[glich54]

Winddancer: I assume your attempts to adjust the balancer didn't affect the howl/whine at all (as was my case)...I was going th change the final dirve oil in about 1.5k, so I will do that now and check the RW torque at the same time...(but as the howl/whine only occurs in a narrow speed range when in OD. I will be surprised if those are a factor)...

[suzib6sw]

Is the noise worse in corners?.. Could it be tire whine.. My Worn Elite II did it.
I also replaced the final drive oil with Mobil 1 Synthetic gear oil .. Helped immensely

[glich54]

Is the noise worse in corners?.. Could it be tire whine.. My Worn Elite II did it.
I also replaced the final drive oil with Mobil 1 Synthetic gear oil .. Helped immensely

Nope...noise is just as loud when going straight (and already using synthetic gear oil) running Metzler 880's in decent shape...

[debron]

Just FYI, my '01 used to have the same issue. Extremely loud whine at about 70 mph. Never tried to fix it, sold the bike. My '95 has a hint of a whine (very faint) around 50. Maybe it's an issue only with the last three years ('01-'03) of production (which did have various issues)?

[glich54]

Just FYI, my '01 used to have the same issue. Extremely loud whine at about 70 mph. Never tried to fix it, sold the bike. My '95 has a hint of a whine (very faint) around 50. Maybe it's an issue only with the last three years ('01-'03) of production (which did have various issues)?

So far my solution has been to drive 69Mph or below or 76Mph or above..(I am interested in knowing more about what kind of "issues" the 01-03 years have)...Except for a fractured shift linkage so far my 01 has been troublefree (but it only has 18K on it)...

[HMB Don]

My 2002, had a whine at about the same speeds, it was a u-joint. Replaced and never had the whine again. I've been told that a bunch of 02s had dry u-joints from the factory. Water pump oil seal replaced three 70k, 120k and 172k. Water manofold o-rings replaced at 110k. Pinon seal on diff repaced at 115k. Vacuum hoses replaced at 125k, vacuum leaks at intake manofold new allen cap screws, at the same time. Clutch spider springs 115k, new Clutch 158k, replaced spider springs again PM service. Installed rebuilt Alt 159k, old one still charged just doing PMs, Chris from KC bought my old alt in Kanab. Changed the oil in the stock shocks, still no air or fluid leaks. I used Amsoil products it's whole life, with oil changes at between 8k and 12k.

My son is now riding my 02 and the odo now reads 180k. No oil leaks, doesn't use oil, still has the OEM fuel pump.

Don Medina
2012 Voyager 1700 20k

[debron]

..(I am interested in knowing more about what kind of "issues" the 01-03 years have)...Except for a fractured shift linkage so far my 01 has been troublefree (but it only has 18K on it)...

Transmission and clutch springs, dry u-joints, dry splines in rear end. There were other issues I've heard about but forget. Per Carl, quality control sort of disappeared for both construction (labor) and parts as they knew they were ending production. Generally, he has more trouble with those year models than any other. You may get a good one, or...

[glich54]

Thanks for insight on 01-03s...(nothing too unnerving)...amazed at miles some of you put on....

[OldKawDrvr]

I had the very same noise on my '91. I found a final drive on EBay with only 54k miles on it. Replaced mine with 85 k and that fixed it. There is a new noise, but lower frequency and much quieter. I'll take a shot at fixing the old one this fall. My guess its a gear clearance issue.

[raynchk]

I have almost identical problem with my 2000. About 71-74 mph on the speedo and there is a gear whine. I haven't tried adjusting it, though. Had similar noise on '91 I had previously and was never able to get completely rid of it. The '91 would make a noise in turns, and I did clear that up with the adjustment.

[Chris near Kansas City]

..(I am interested in knowing more about what kind of "issues" the 01-03 years have)...Except for a fractured shift linkage so far my 01 has been troublefree (but it only has 18K on it)...

Transmission and clutch springs, dry u-joints, dry splines in rear end. There were other issues I've heard about but forget. Per Carl, quality control sort of disappeared for both construction (labor) and parts as they knew they were ending production. Generally, he has more trouble with those year models than any other. You may get a good one, or...

Carl was talking about the shift forks too, if I recall, this past weekend. Said one whole side of the 2nd gear fork would be ground down. I think the Count on abbikeboard had Carl fix his transmission. His is an '02.