Gen 6 Noise and Pulling Away Issue

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by PlentyMech, Nov 4, 2021.

  1. PlentyMech

    PlentyMech New Member

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    Afternoon all, I’ll probably butcher this description but hopefully someone may recognise what the issue or issues could be.


    This has happened only about 7-8 times over 100s of rides but when pulling away from a standstill but after about 3-10 minutes of riding (never from starting off from cold), as I’m releasing the clutch and get to the biting point the bike suddenly gives a little shunt forward and I hear a grating noise just for half a second and the brief surge forward is enough to make me lurch backwards and instinctively snap the throttle shut which has led to a couple of hairy moments especially when pulling away and turning at the same time. When it happens it only happens once and hard as I try, I can’t get it to do it on command and have never had it happen once on the bike for over 10 minutes or so.


    Could this be something tied to the pull away assist feature or the clutch giving up? When I got the bike, I wasn’t aware of the pull away assist and the previous owner had aftermarket levers that I found didn’t engage the micro switch so I made up something and bonded it to the level so it would engage the switch and I know it’s working as can start the bike with it in gear and the clutch pulled in.


    Another issue or it may be related to the above problem is when the bike starts and the weathers warm, there is a knocking sound from the top of the cylinders. When its colder weather you hear it only when the idle speed reduces after the fast idle wax unit has done its job. I suspected it’s the cam chain tensioner/s needing to be replaced but interestingly the noise stops when I pull the clutch in and returns when let out and eventually stops altogether after the bike has warmed up further. I thought, maybe wrongly, if it were the CCTs I’d hear it all the time.


    Other things to mention, I noticed the air temperature is reading lower than it really is now (20C when it’s 25C for example), engine temp looks normal still. Bike has Micron silencers but that’s it.


    Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated and sorry for the long-winded description.
     
  2. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    That surge in power, does that happen just when your bike is cold, bit diminishes after riding it for a while. Mine did so first gear only and it turned out the clutch baskets were worn bad and I needed a clutch rebuild, which was done by competent techs at a Honda dealership. You might have a look here for what I came across on my issue. Sudden High revs when cold starting in traffic | VFRworld
     
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  3. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Hi PlentyMech and welcome to the MadHouse:Welcome:

    When you get time please visit the Introductions part of the forum and say Hi to the rest of the folks on here. Perhaps tell us a bit about your VFR what year? what mileage? and your riding history and try and add a photo or two - click the "Upload a file link" and follow the prompts to select and upload images from your computer. You may want to update your forum profile to include an approximate location nearest city/town is ample - that way if you need help with an issue you may find someone nearby willing to swing by and offer advice or lift a wrench especially if you have a well stocked beer fridge:drink:.

    As for the issues, your description of the problem pulling away sounds very much like the clutch is on its way out. If you catch it early enough a rebuild may suffice otherwise a replacement may be needed. PS I assume your chain and sprockets are well cared for.

    I am not aware of any "pull-away assist" option being available from Honda option on 6th Gen models so I assume whatever item you refer to is some sort of aftermarket gizmo. My 6th Gen covered well over 200,000 km and was running perfectly when I sold it to buy an 8th Gen - so I am not sure these bikes need that extra. But each to their own - if it works for you keep it - but if it is playing up you may want to ditch it.

    A cam chain rattle suggests the adjuster has siezed or perhaps just needs a nudge - a search on youtube should show options to replace the CC Tensioner or the cheaper option to carefully get it to move on a notch.

    The air temperature gauge on my 6th Gen was invariably wrong - but then again I live and ride at over 3,600 feet for much of the year. Dont worry about it. Overheating and alarming voltages are the ones to watch on a 6th Gen, so instead of showing air temperature set the dash to show coolant temperature. 6th gens have a history of electrical gremlins so fitting a cheap digital voltmeter is a useful extra. It won't prevent a breakdown but if you see the volts rise or fall alarmingly it gives you a chance to head some place safe before the energy remaining in the battery is drained and you end up stranded at the roadside.
    As your summer is coming soon - good luck sorting the bike out quickly. Over here we have already had snow :Smow::Smow::Smow:which means I am already prepping the bikes for over winter storage. Hey ho another riding season ends.


    SkiMad
     
  4. PlentyMech

    PlentyMech New Member

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    Only when cold and only once. I kinda of suspect clutch and your issue thread was interesting to read if not severely frustrating for you to go through all of that.
    Thanks for the link and advice.
     
  5. PlentyMech

    PlentyMech New Member

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    @Skidmax, thanks for the awesome reply. I will indeed update all as you suggest in fact I'm sure Ive had an account here before as this is my 6th or 7th VFR but buggered if I can remember the old email I used for it. First VFR was a gen 6 but then I had it serviced once (and only once) and discovered the costs of the shims and valve clearances so after getting my money's worth out of it (4 hours a day commute time back then) I switched to gen 5s and rode them into the ground or whenever the UK salt roads dissolved them over the long long winters. Now I'm in Sydney its a much better and shorter commute and a tad warmer!

    I suspected clutch issues also but with no real proof. Just it felt clutchy for want of a better word when it grated. The chain and sprockets actually are to be replaced and the chain was too loose for my liking, adjusted now but it doesn't feel like a chain slip if that was your thinking. Had that before on one of the rotters when left it too long between chains\sprockets swaps.


    >>I am not aware of any "pull-away assist" option being available from Honda option on 6th Gen models

    I'm glad you said this as nor was I until someone told me that could be the cause of an issue I had when I got the bike in that it would, well it did what this chap said last year in another thread.

    "On a cold morning I start the bike up the choke kicks in rpm go to 2000 ish but as soon as I pull the clutch in and put in to gear the rpm rises to 3500 rpm as soon as I pull clutch in and select nutrul it go back to 2000ish this problem only happens when the bike is cold"

    The bike had aftermarket levers as I mentioned and the clutch lever wouldn't engage the micro switch and they said the "pull-away assist" could be the issue. Never heard of it before and tbo I didn't want it, just something else to go wrong eventually and I could never detect a rev rise when releasing the clutch in 1st so forgot about it and the issue just mentioned disappeared.

    I may try to replace the CCTs myself, saw these mentioned on a helpful youtube video, looks like they'll fit the gen 6. Hard to source parts here in Australia compared to the UK but there's a whole lot less of us population wise here so guess that's why.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124940751972?epid=1515990914&hash=item1d170c9464:g:DzYAAOSwaeRZNrUH

    And I guess I'd better start getting quotes in to check and rebuild the clutch.

    Thanks again!

     
  6. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    That is exactly what mine was doing. Eventually, I think it started doing it to some degree as I was switching gears from 1st to 2nd as well but not really positive on that. I think I posted pictures of what the clutch looked like when they opened it up.
     
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  7. PlentyMech

    PlentyMech New Member

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    You did indeed, I quoted that from your post as it summed up my issue exactly.
     
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  8. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Maybe I should have reviewed my thread so I know what I said instead of looking thick. Anyways, I hope you determine the issue before spending a whole pile of your riding funds needlessly fixing the problem in an exploratory way instead of riding. Good luck.
     
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