Triumphrat

BullClark

Is anyone having a problem wth noise from the final drive belt and sprocket area ? At about 25 MPH there is a definite " whomp , whomp whomp " noise. The dealer can't fix it and says the two other T'Birds he has on the showroom will make the same sounds. He wants me to just live with it but that is not going to happen. Only 446 miles on it .

ataDude

They do make a different noise. But, I found mine very, very tight from the factory. Loosened it up a bit and everything's rosy now.

The belt also needs alignment between the pulley side rims. I adjust mine on a lift in the garage with the engine in third gear. Just be careful with the pinkies close to a rotating wheel.

BTW, really tight is probably hard on the rear bearings and the drive shaft bearing as well. This is my second belt drive so I learned a little from the first.

.

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2010 Black ABS Thunderbird
1998 Honda Valkyrie Custom
"ata" = allergic to asphalt

Thatch

Never hear anything like that. There were quite a few that had a bit of a chirping noise (indicates a loose belt typically) Of course sounds are really difficult to diagnose via a forum. Sure doesn't sound normal though.

Professor Mike

Thatch:
I'd keep after the dealer until they make it right. I'd become a pest until they fix it just to get you off their case. If that doesn't work there is always a letter to the BBB. That usaully get their attention. Its you hard earned cash and you deserve to have it "YOUR WAY".

Prof. Mike

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Matter Can Neither Be Created Nor Destroyed

dazco

We've already been thru this at "that other place" and the issue was solved a ways back. It is not misalignment, and it's not usually tight from the factory, tho i'm not saying that can't happen too. But the majority found thiers were loose and tightening it eliminated the noise. However, a "whomp whomp" noise is nothing anyone else has reported. Many reported a chirping noise, and that is indeed a loose belt. i tightened mine and it started again a couple weeks later very slightly. i then tightened it once more and it's been quiet since which was several 1000 miles ago. I called gates, the manufacturer of the belt system and also talked to a couple triumph mechs and some harley guys, who as you know all use belts drives now. the general consensus is that the belt SHOULD rest against one side or the other. Or not so much that it "should", but that It is usually not even possible to make it ride in the middle for long. So the belt riding against one of the side flanges is perfectly normal. As to adjustment, theres a tool but you can do it just fine w/o it. Theres even a little adjustment hole on the lower belt guard that you can see if you get down low and look. The best was to me at least is push up on the belt 1/2 way between the rear and front pulleys and it should only move if i recall 3/4" with 10 Lbs of pressure. Knowing what 10 Lbs of weight feels like you can judge it just fine. But that whomp whomp sound i have no idea unless yours just sounds a bit different. Possibly it's from being too tight, but more than likely i'd bet super loose, more so than anyone so far has had thiers.

engage

Does the noise go away quickly on either side of the 25 mph mark?

It's probably possible to create a resonating frequency, which would explain a specific speed, but that likely won't be a whomp, whomp, whomp sound.

perhaps a few of you not surrounded in snow could give you rides a listen at 25 mph.

31712

Get the tool. I had the chirping noise in mine after about 100 mile and when I adjusted it, there was a sort of "whom-whom-whom" noise. What I found was that the belt was a tad too tight. I could only get it perfect with the tool and now no noise at all.

k12techman

I'm hoping I can resuscitate this old thread regarding belt noise on the Thunderbird.

I have a 2010 Thunderbird 1700. I love this bike. A couple of problems, but you can get that with any bike. I had the sticky speedo which Triumph replaced.

Along with that issue, I've always had noise in the drive belt. It's a chirp. About the only way to describe it.

I've had the chirping noise since about 500 miles in on the bike. It's never been so bad that it scares me, but it's bad enough to concern me. My dealer has "fixed" it twice now and I have it slated to go in for a 3rd time next Wednesday.

The mess usually starts with a barely perceptible chirp when slowing down in 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear. Almost a squeak, but definitely not brake noise and always in the side with the belt.

Over the next couple hundred miles, the chirp gets steadily worse until you hear it under any/all deceleration in any gear. Does not chirp if you pull the clutch lever and coast. So, it's not a vibrating piece in the exhaust or something like that.

Eventually, it will get to the point that it chirps under acceleration. The last couple of times, I've waited to this point to take it to my dealer. I'm not waiting that long this time.

I've read all the posts about tire alignment, belt tension, belt position on pulley, etc. But, even after having that checked by the dealer and then verifying it myself, this problem keeps coming back.

This last time, I was told that they might have to replace the belt. But, if they do that, they will charge me because it's not a warranty item.

I didn't like that. I understand the belt being a wear and tear item, but the noise has been there since nearly day 1 and I don't think I should have to pay to replace it if it turns out to have been the problem all along.

Has anyone else had this experience? Not being able to completely clear out the noise? Is it something I'm just going to have to live with?


Is it DANGEROUS at all?

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2010 Thunderbird 1700 - Pour it to me!

Narsisco Lopez

My bike "chirped" "squeaked" at low speeds... I even could hear it when I rolled it into the garage after a ride. Took it into my dealer and, at first, it had the techs scratching their heads. One of their more industrious guys wouldn't give up and eventually found the rear wheel just ever so slightly out of chassis alignment. This, along with a improperly-adjusted belt was the culprit... I haven't heard the noise since the tech properly-aligned the wheel and adjusted the belt.

I was told this was something they definitely should have caught during the pre-delivery service, if not on set-up when it came out of the crate from Hinkley.

Looks like it COULD be a case of poorly-trained/lazy service techs.

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"I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride on my motorsickle." ~ Arlo Guthrie

56Renegade

Whomping noise is usually associated with tires. The fastest and least expensive test (if you can get the drive wheel off the ground and rotate it) is to mark the tire with chalk, with your hands at a 90 degree angle to the tire, turn the wheel hand over hand squeezing the tire with each hand no harder than you would squeeze the clutch. Your looking for a soft spot. It could be an air bubble between the carcass (belts) and the tread section.

56R