Triumphrat

OldDog · 03-25-2007, 11:05 PM

Afternoon Gents,
I'm running an old Daytona 1200, and of a sudden today when riding around town i notice a slow clunk...clunk....clunk, feels like it's through the bars, sounds like it's down around my feet. If i accelerate really gently it doesn't make the noise, if i crack it half seriously then i hear it. I can just hear it over the pipes so it has to be fairly loud :-D Noise and feeling seems to go away when cruising. I thought it may have been a collapsed rear wheel bearing but the wheel feels fine. Anyway, any suggestions appreciated, i'll limp the bike home from work today and go over it tonight.
Thanks
Bill

daytonacharlie · 03-26-2007, 09:18 AM

Bill,
That's a stumper but some possible explanations could be...
low fork oil causing the front end to be bottoming out internally, if the fork oil hasn't been changed in a few years it will become watery thin and could cause the clunk.
Another possibility is the rear shock, similar symptoms as the forks from a shagged out shock.
Has a centerstand fitted to your bike? If so it could be clunking against the bottom of the exhaust or suspension.
Get a mate to sit on the bike (engine off) holding the front brake lever and rock the bike back and forth while you listen for the noise.

good luck,
dc

dano · 03-26-2007, 12:56 PM

or a head bearing....

doodledog · 03-26-2007, 03:52 PM

My worst fear would be big ends, the down round the feet thing and if one was going bad it May only show up under sress with the crank deforming into the worn one but being held between the others when your gentle, hope not and impossible to tell from what you say and not seeing the bike. Hope I am wrong.

OldDog · 03-26-2007, 10:12 PM

Howdy all, So far nothing conclusive. I rode it home (about 10 km's) and it seemed fine from cold, but by the time i got home it was clunking again :???: It's not the erratic knock i assume you'd get from the forks or a worn shock, although the forks do need a service i found last night. Don't think it's a big end as the noise accelerates equal to the bike (if that makes sense) not the engine, it doesn't appear when i rev the bike when stationery. I'm suspecting a gearbox bearing, probably on the countershaft. I took a quick look at the sprocket cover and it looks like a bit of a job to get in there so it's left for the weekend. I did check the front and rear wheel bearing play as suggested and they seem fine, theres some knock in the front forks though......
Anyway, i'll keep you posted

daytonacharlie · 03-27-2007, 09:12 AM

OD,
I know this will sound a bit obvious but have you checked the chain. If it's in need of adjustment or is worn such that it's developed a tight and loose spot that could cause the noise.
You are right about changing the countershaft sprocket (and the chain & rear sprocket too) it's quite a job. Fortunately if properly maintained you can get 17,000 miles (27,000 km) out of a set.
If you do remove the front sprocket cover you'll need to replace the cover gasket and change the oil too. Another area where Triumph made (in my opinion) a design flaw with the T3's. It's quite a pain to take apart. It's possible but very unlikely the countershaft sprocket nut has worked itself loose. I had this happen on my ZX-11 but have never heard of it happening on a T3 Daytona.

Can you describe the clunk in more detail? Is it high pitch, low pitch, felt in the bars, in the foot pegs, at any particular gear or rpm? If you're riding down the road (with it clunking) and pull in the clutch does it continue? Just curious... we're gona figure this one out... we love a challenge!

dc

OldDog · 03-27-2007, 04:17 PM

Thanks Charlie, Actually no i hadn't thought of the chain and i can see what you mean too, i'm just heading off to work now (on the Rallye so it'll be on the dirt :razz: ) but will have loads of time this afternoon so i'll see if i can get some better info........and check that chain

daytonacharlie · 03-29-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

On 2007-03-27 15:17, OldDog wrote:
Thanks Charlie, Actually no i hadn't thought of the chain and i can see what you mean too, i'm just heading off to work now (on the Rallye so it'll be on the dirt :razz: ) but will have loads of time this afternoon so i'll see if i can get some better info........and check that chain

well... well... did you find out what it is yet?!? :???:
my curiosity is killing me :yayyy: :knkknk:

OldDog · 03-30-2007, 04:46 AM

Well...er....ahem.....this is a little embarassing actually Charlie, even worse when i think that i've been riding for about 30 years............
I pulled the back wheel and checked it out, everythings fine, pulled the front sprocket cover and checked that, nup all fine. Inspected all the pivots etc, couldn't find a thing! Cleaned and re-lubed the cjhain and checked for dry links all fine. So i stuck it all back together and just came back from a ride and it's running great (these bikes are bloody great eh) not a sign of a sound or a bump or a clunk. My guess is it was poor chain adjustment or just not enough lube????? :lollol:

daytonacharlie · 03-30-2007, 06:20 AM

:upthumb: Excellent!

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