Rattles
 

Could not find a thread about this
So here I go

When riding off road, I get a rattle from the rear end/wheel somewhere
I thought it might be the chain rattling against the swingarm, upped the chain tension to minimize this, but it's still there
Quite a harsh rattle

Could it perhaps be the bearings? - all seems fine with visual inspection
Can it be the cush rubbers?
There is a bit of play but I did the tube conversion

A bit of a guessing situation - quite irritating but more concerned it might be something that's in the process of breaking

Thanks in advance

Just a thought,it maybe the side stand rattling up and down...

Might be a broken spoke in the wheel, or a loose tail light assembly. I think they have a history of working loose and breaking of into the back wheel with a lot of off road riding. Have a look to make sure all the tubes on the bottom of tha air box are attached where they should be. The clear drain off has come away before on mine.
The swing arm is hollow maybe a stone has found its way in there?
Just a few suggestions to keep you busy Dual. Good luck.

Inspected all above mentioned issues and not any better, worrying that it might be swingarm bearings

No tools on bike

Rear light in place, nothing loose

Might be rear end frame somewhere loose, I ride with a topbox loaded with parts, compressor on long trips

Will take it apart this coming weekend and inspect

Thanks for replying, still no solution

A lot of the inexplicable rattles mine has developed at the rear end have been down to small stones and gravel getting into the hollow swingarm through the big holes in each side after doing faster gravel forest trails and fire roads. I also live a mile down an unmade road, which also doesn't help. You'll probably be surprised how much crap you can pull out of there!

I periodically have to empty the undertray on the car for exactly the same reason (about once a year) when the rattling gets too annoying to live with.

I presume you have to take off the swingarm to clear stones?

rattle
 

Have you got a main stand fitted? mine knocks against the passenger foot rest when the suspension compresses on my Xt660z.

No centre stand, just side stand, kept my foot on it just to have play from rubber, not from there

You can do a better job when it is removed, but a combination of and air line, vacuum cleaner, old wire hangers and some bottle brushes is all you really need to fish/suck/blow out what may be lurking inside...

What top box do you have? My Trax top box sometimes makes an ugly rattling noise which originates from the studs the box clips onto. The rubber around the studs on the mounting plate wear and become dry.

Rattles the same, top box or not, coming from low down, I'm still thinking swing arm related

...and it will more than likely get so rattly and loose it will eventually depart from its mounting plate of its own time of choosing, which will be at the most inopportune moment. Mine decided its time was up at 70mph on a dual carriageway!

Does the rattle go away on hard acceleration?

Not really, think it might be the chain on the swingarm?

Yes, as mine does that, regardless of chain tension

Went on a trip the past weekend, the rattle sound seems to be coming and going

Thought I would open the rim inside and check at cush rubbers

I want to ask a few questions and hope someone can assist

Cush rubbers in rim

https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8377/2...405b3acb_b.jpg

Seems there was some friction metal on metal, can this be of worn cush rubbers?, can this be the inconsistent "rattle"?

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8545/2...ebbd06ed_b.jpg

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8121/2...4f786c3e_b.jpg

Sprocket teeth seems fine, or not?

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8508/2...680c72aa_b.jpg

Cush rubbers needs to be raplaced?

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8547/2...8d034ebc_b.jpg

https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8538/3...e6bdc8c7_b.jpg

Thanks in advance

Bearings no play and runs smooth
Doing the tube conversion till I can get new rubbers

Sprocket looks good to me. Hows the chain itself?..

Chain seems to be the problem, seems it stretched
I believe it's common to change sprockets and chain, although sprockets seems fine
Will get prices next week
Chain and sprockets
Rear disk pads
Cush rubbers

Seems I'm going to spend some money :sad1:

Happy to report this
I changed the cush rubbers and gone is the noise, thank goodness for that
So, I'm sorted, also changed rear break pads

Cush rubbers

In dry? or greased?

Still have a sound that's worrying - changing bearing on hub today, seems a bit of play

Seems to be an 'issue'with putting too much lubrication on the rubbers. Recent posts discuss it getting hot and then leaking everywhere including rear wheel/tyre!!

Mine are sitting in there dry with the Kev rubber packing mod, 10000k's later still as good as the day I put them in.

Ok, replaced the big bearing on the hub at sprocket, seemed dodgy, the hub slides in very easy, too easy for comfort, added slices of tube to take up spacing

I lifted the back wheel and let the engine run in gear, seems it's the chain that's ,aking the noises I don't want to hear, so next thing to be replaced is the chain

You will hopefully hear the clicking sound

https://soundcloud.com/user-866694626/chain-xt660z

Exactly the same as mine. I think it's my chain, as I noticed it's starting to bunch up nastlily. I could be the bottom roller too, but a new chain is on the cards anyway.
Re the cush rubbers - mine has done around 20,000 km since spacing them up (dry) with pieces of reinforced rubber, and - so far, touch wood - are fine. I use some silicone spray to re-assemble the hub, but very, very sparingly for obvious reasons.

Replaced the chain today and took it for a short test drive, I think I still hear the irritating noise

So the search goes on, next I'll check the shock where it connects to the frame and then the engine on the frame

have you checked the guide roller?..

Took it off and cleaned it, perfect condition, wonder if stearing head bearings might not be an issue as well?

dont take offence but has anyone else heard this noise?....

I know what its like to hear a noise...

No offense, my wife as pillion heard it
But she's got no idea what it is, neither do I

Will let a friend take it for a ride and judge

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8409/3...d54c32d3_b.jpg

I think (Ihope), I have the answer

The chain hits the swingarm to create the noise, I took the bike to a friend to take it for a ride, he drove of the pavement onto the road and I heard it quite loud

I did this several times and quite sure that's where the irritating noise comes from

Took it to another friend and we pushed the bike off a little wall and heard the noise quite loud, we tied a bush between the chain and swingarm with cable tie and did the exercise a few times, no noise

Now, this started to irritate me a few weeks ago, did I not hear it previously? - did it get worse?, must I replace the swingarm guard? - it seems still fine

Hope this helps

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5771/3...e0180857_b.jpg

Are you sure the chains adjusted correctly?...:toothy3:

Put a new chain on, think it's a bit loose, will set the tension, but that's another discussion

According to manual, it's way too loose

And the chain tensioner is touching the chain, maybe I do it wrong?

https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8560/3...b764f35b_z.jpg

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5532/3...2a8d924841.jpg

I see there is a thread dealing with it, will read it

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?...=chain+tension

I find adjusting the chain a bit of a faff tbh..seen something about using a 'chain monkey' I think it was that's supposed to make life so much easier.

Still have that awful rattle, but not consistent all the time, it comes and goes
I then checked the chain this morning and for the first time ever tried this, quite sure this is not right?
Chain seems to be loose on sprocket, this can transfer noise all over the frame and swingarm

https://youtu.be/tjkgo3P1snE

1-2mm of side play on the sprockets is normal and necessary. Too much more would suggest that the sprocket(s) are worn. Did you replace the sprockets when you fitted the new chain?

One observation is that your chain looks very 'dry'.

I opted not to change the sprocket as it seemed quite fine, the chain is still new, done about 300 km with it, I think the dry is just the dust from yesterdays ride, the bottom roller is quite thick with oil, wiped it off this morning
Will clean later and lube, does it after every ride, just a bit lazy still

By the 'look' of the rear sprocket id say you only replaced the chain. Personally I replace as a set. New chain on old sprockets etc..

Chain does indeed look to be very dry. A dry chain does sound like a pair of mexican maracas!!!

Correct adjustment of the chain is a pita to do but ....

Have you tried chain wax instead of oil?....sprays on and stays put..

Is this normal? - it's irritating, the rattling

https://youtu.be/F5zJ5wub2KY