454 Ltd (EN450) "Thumping" in Footpegs

[safety-boy]

Hello all,

So, I have been talking a lot about how indestructible my EN450 is lately, so of course I am now having trouble. Wondering if you guys could help.

This might get long, but more info is always best for troubleshooting. I am lousy at checking fluid levels... so don't be too surprised by anything I mention.

I had recently fixed an oil leak - the seal at the gearbox clutch lever. I was always putting oil in the bike. The other day it was low... like no oil in the window low. Couldn't carry more than a quart that trip, so I got one, hours later put it in.

Because it was so low, I got another quart yesterday. Let the engine cool about 2.5 hours. Put it in.

About halfway home, when I first got on the interstate and hit around 60, I feel this thump in my pegs. Thumps several more times. I slow as much as is safe on the interstate - didn't pull over, as I was about 5 miles from home, and it was too dark to see anything.

A friend had mentioned that if your coolant runs out, it can make the engine run badly. My bike "overheats" a lot - gauge doen't get in the red... but gauges are not always accurate! I did see steam in front of the headlight when I got to the garage. In the morning, filled the reservoir.

This morning, no problems until I hit 50 (5th gear, IIRC). Same thumping. Turned the bike around to go home (of course, it acted perfectly then!).

Now... I know it is not the road. I was getting this on several roads that I know too well to have missed this.

The engine appears to be running fine. Sounds normal, seems to run normal. The thumping is irregular, not a thump-thump-thump. More of a thump---------thump-thump---thump-------------------thump.

I am thinking something is up with the rear wheel:

1. It is an '86, and who knows how old the bearings are?

2. I don't have an owner's manual, and changed a rear wheel setting about a week ago. I was getting a chirp from the belt drive. Noticed the rear wheel settings were about a notch off from each other. Adjusted them to the same notch (both are third from the back now). Maybe on the 454 these should be offset?

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Dave

[BuzZz]

Aside from the heating and oil issues, I would be looking at your rear wheel, too.

Do not trust the marks on the swingarm to be accurate for alignment purposes. I have an el-cheapo lazer level with a little tripod that I use to sight along the drive line(belt) to make sure it's straight and true. But I just got it, looking down the belt or chain and aligning by eye works fine too, if your careful.

I don't know how comfortable you are with pressing bearings in and out, but..... bearings are cheap(buy them at a bearing supply house, not the dealer) and not that hard to change if you have a press or are creative with washers and threaded rod. Changing them is not a bad idea at all.

Then I would change the leaking seal. The shiftshaft input seal is one of the easier seals to change. And you might want to check your rad cap for proper release pressure.

Good Luck.

[safety-boy]

Brave soul... No one wanted to touch this one!

I did replace that seal, and the oil seemed fine, but thought I saw some yesterday (that is an easy seal to dork up - easier than replacing it!). Will have to check out the radiator cap (oh, if it were just air cooled!).

Now... I might have found the culprit, but not sure... Had the wife look at the belt as I rolled the bike. There was what appears to be one missing tooth (marked the belt with chalk so we knew when we made a ciruit ). We were not sure if that was a missing tooth, or the joint where the belt makes a loop. Looked at her belt... no such spot. I would imagine these belts are injection molded rather than joined from a strip.

A buddy mentioned it sounded like a kink in a chain would, so maybe the missing tooth is the prob?

About to call the dealer for a price... Looked at cycletrader.com's parts section. Two-hundred eighty-nine er ing bucks! Their parts site is called "Bike Bandits"... No kidding!

Now, Kawasaki ATV belts I am finding with the same part prefix (59011-) are, oh... $60 - can't imagine a $220 difference, but everyone loves to screw the MC riders

--Dave

[safety-boy]

Well, I was wrong. Kawasaki's price is $289...

I've been looking at part from a guy who is parting out a 454... What do you all think about a used belt? At least for the short term?

--Dave

[BuzZz]

That is expensive. If you have a part number(sounds like you do), take it to an autoparts place and see if they can cross the number to another brand. You could also try the same thing at an ATV/snowmobile parts counter.

But the used belt should help narrow it down.... if it's cheap enough, you don't have much to lose. While your down there, check the pullies for uneven wear patterns and missing teeth.

How's the rear tire? Any odd bulges or bumps from a broken belt?