[adi-4004]

Hey Folks,

For a few rides now I hear a noise which I think is coming from the front of the bike. Based on the noise I think its close to the front wheel.

Anyway it sounds like something rubbing while rotating. It starts when the bike speed exceeds a limit (30 mph to 40 mph) and the road has bumps. The frequency of the noise changes as the speed of bike changes. It stops when the bike slows down to around 30 mph (or sometimes when it hits a bump!). When the road is smooth there is no noise even at 50 mph. I hear it along with the wind inside my full face helmet at 40 mph. There are no other obvious issues. But I don't find the noise a big concern (yet). I could be wrong.

Any help highly appreciated!

[gremlin]

I'd recommend clean and adjust your chain.
next, I'd look at the tank mounts to be sure it is secure.
might also be the heatshield on the stock torpedo exhaust.

[pmanaz1973]

I had a weird noise that sounded like it was coming from my fender/wheel area - kind of like a rubbing rattling noise.

Turns out when I had the headlight off, I left the two little orphan connectors (for a parking lamp in a sealed unit??) outside of the rubber cups they all sit in.  Noise almost cured.  I would also check to make sure your fender is centered.  Mine got tweaked (somehow) and wasn't, sure enough it was rubbing on the fork tube covers. 

The combination of the two gave me a rattling and rubbing noise.

[mattsz]

I had a weird noise that sounded like it was coming from my fender/wheel area - kind of like a rubbing rattling noise.

Turns out when I had the headlight off, I left the two little orphan connectors (for a parking lamp in a sealed unit??) outside of the rubber cups they all sit in.  Noise almost cured.  I would also check to make sure your fender is centered.  Mine got tweaked (somehow) and wasn't, sure enough it was rubbing on the fork tube covers. 

The combination of the two gave me a rattling and rubbing noise.

rubber cups the wires sit in?  You must have a newer bike. 

The fork tubes / fender is a good idea to check.  Mine came from the dealer misaligned; the paint got ruined by about 30 miles.  I never felt or heard the rubbing, but worth a look...

[pmanaz1973]

2014 C5 - Nice and tidy headlight bucket with two rubber "cups".  Kind of hard to explain, but the bulk of the connectors sit in them and keep them from rubbing and vibrating.  In general, the wiring tidiness is up to par.  The only weird thing about the wiring is at the end of each connector they wrapped it with electrical tape and left a tag end that leaves a bit to be desired.

[adi-4004]

Thanks for the help guys. I just got my 300 miles servicing done around the same time this noise started. The chain seems fine (clean and tight). The bolts seem tight (I just check it with my fingers. Is it the right way to do it?). I haven't made any of the changes (like enabling headlight switch, etc).

Well I finally was able to record the noise.
http://youtu.be/-nYBsuCTSVw

[High On Octane]

Is there a freaking pterodactyl in your engine?!     

Seriously, I have no idea what I just heard.      As far as checking bolts, no finger tight is not good enough.  You need to get a wrench or socket on them and make sure everything is snug and tight.  Did you loctite your bike yet?

Scottie J

[JVS]

It seems like something is rubbing on metal, underneath or around the front fender.

I would check -

- Front fender stays for appropriate clearance from tyre and tightness of fender stay bolts
- Front fender clearance from tyre itself, along the whole surface area of the fender.
- Look underneath the fender for something that is kind of sticking out and might be rubbing against the tyre/rim?
- Open brake caliper and check for any discrepancies there. Something might be rubbing against the disc..
- Check front speedo drive, and speedo cable, if it has too much slack, it might be ever so slightly 'hitting' the rim/spokes. Do the same for the disc brake hose. But you mentioned that the sound goes away at a certain speed/RPM. So, it's a tricky one.
- Just for assurance, you can also check the underneath area of the rear fender, as there is a wire cluster there, which is directed to the the rear brake light + turn signals. The cluster is held by clips, and sometimes the cluster can 'sag' and rub on the tyre too (Due to damaged clips etc).

Those are a few scenarios. It can be really something else, but I'm not sure. There is no harm in checking the above things though.

[gashousegorilla]

  If you close your Eye's and listen.... it sounds like wind noise and the chain slapping around to me. Mixed with maybe some loose heat shield on the pipe.

[Arizoni]

adi-4004
I noticed you said your chain was now "clean and tight".

It should not be tight.

With the motorcycle resting on the center stand you should be able to move the middle of the chain (half way between the engine and the rear sprocket) up and down with your fingers, getting  1 1/2 -2 inches of movement.

If the motorcycle is resting on the rear wheel, look for at least 1 inch (25mm) of movement.

[suitcasejefferson]

Very high pitched. Sounds like a circular saw to me. Not being very familiar with the Enfield (yet) I have no idea. If it only makes this noise while the bike is moving, I would guess brake squeal. Maybe something metal rubbing on the disc or drum.

[mattsz]

High-frequency - can't quite tell from the photo if you still have the factory exhaust, but I like the loose heat shield theory...

[adi-4004]

I have uploaded a better, longer audio of the noise here:
http://youtu.be/-nYBsuCTSVw

You can hear how it starts, changes its pitch and dies down as I slow down the bike.

I did tighten some fasteners. I will be getting a tool kit today so that I can tighten all of them. The RE toll kit is missing some spanners. Also Arizoni there is some slack in the chain (I was being terse when I mentioned clean and tight).

I did look a little at the front fender as JVS suggested. Nothing abviously wrong. I will open the brake caliper once all tightening is done. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[JVS]

Okay, I have a theory. It seems like the speedo drive/cable/cluster to me. To confirm, unscrew the speedo cable at the tyre and try tying it to the fork with a plastic clip or some sort of thread (But make sure it won't detach and get tangled in the spokes  ). Or you can tie it temporarily to the frame tube, where the VIN plate is. Then go for a local ride where you are familiar with the speed limit. As you said, the sound comes and goes around certain RPMs. So, with the speedo cable disconnected, you go for a ride and if you do not get that sound again...you know the culprit.

Then you can grease both ends of the cable, at the tyre side and speedometer side. But, it might require greasing the internals of the speedometer instead.

Anyway, before we go this far, try unscrewing the speedo cable from the drive and go for a short ride. Test it out..

[singhg5]

Sounds like something rubbing on disc of brake brake. Is the disc loose or wrapped or does the front wheel wiggle ?

Take off the front brake caliper and its pads and see if anything is sticking out or loose in there that is rubbing the disc.
   

[JVS]

Update?

[adi-4004]

Here is what I tried/observed

- Tightened all nuts.
- Put the speedo cable sleeve back into the speedo. It was just loose. Did this today. Didn't test bike for noise after this. Probably not the issue.
- Removed the front brake assemble. One of the pistons (the bottom one) was less free than the top one. Lubed it a bit to free it. Not quite as it should be. But the front wheel is much more free after this.
- Checked both the fenders for clearance from tires. Looks okay. Checked if they are loose.
- Checked the wires under the back fender. Okay.

I will work on the front brake to get it in good shape. I think it is the issue based on the noise and also because the wheel is much more free after the pistons were lubed.

I was about to ride the bike after removing the speedo cable but was worried if something will fly out of the assembly in the front wheel. Is this a concern?

One question I have is, what keeps the brake pads from rubbing with the disc when the brake is not applied? Can't the pad keep rubbing against the disc and make the noise?

As a side effect, I also removed the jumper cable in the headlight and disconnected the side stand switch.

[Arizoni]

All disk brakes come very close to rubbing when they are not applied.

The very slight wobble of the disk will move the pads and pistons back far enough to keep them from actually producing any stopping power or heat.
The very light skuffing the pads make on the disk is not enough to cause any noise.

[JVS]

- Put the speedo cable sleeve back into the speedo. It was just loose. Did this today. Didn't test bike for noise after this. Probably not the issue.

This can be the issue. We'll find out soon 

I was about to ride the bike after removing the speedo cable but was worried if something will fly out of the assembly in the front wheel. Is this a concern?

Nothing is going to fly out. All you have to do is undo the speedo cable from the speedo drive at the front wheel. You do it by hand. Then tie/support the speedo cable to the frame tube and just go for a quick ride. Even the first 100-200m of your ride will let you know whether the sound is still present or not.

The brake pads ever so slightly keep rubbing on the disc. As Arizoni mentioned, it is not enough to make the noise you're having. But you never know.

[gashousegorilla]

I have uploaded a better, longer audio of the noise here:
http://youtu.be/-nYBsuCTSVw

You can hear how it starts, changes its pitch and dies down as I slow down the bike.

I did tighten some fasteners. I will be getting a tool kit today so that I can tighten all of them. The RE toll kit is missing some spanners. Also Arizoni there is some slack in the chain (I was being terse when I mentioned clean and tight).

I did look a little at the front fender as JVS suggested. Nothing abviously wrong. I will open the brake caliper once all tightening is done. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 Man.... I keep listening to this. And that is metal on metal.......  Like a bell ringing.  Are you sure your chain is not too loose, or making contact with the chain guard or frame...edges of the side cover ?   

[Ducati Scotty]

Could be the speedo drive mechanism or speedo cable.  Disconnect the cable at the wheel, secure it, and go for a ride.  Also could be the brakes.  Drilled rotors tend to make a quiet hiss or clicking but it can be louder.  Does the noise go away if you apply the front brake while moving?

Scott

[barenekd]

What did you lube the brake pistons with? Get some brake cleaner spray and clean them out. They shouldn't be lubed at all. How disk brakes work: When you pull the brake lever this forces brake fluid down into the calipers which force the pistons out against the disk. We all got that part, here's the trickier stuff. to move the pistons out, the Orings that seal the pistons roll with the pistons' movement. Once you relieve the pressure on the lever the master cylinder backs up pulling the piston back with its vacuum. The rolled up orings helps pull the piston back, too. As the pads wear, the oring should slip enough to keep the shrinking pads at the proper clearance. Sometimes, you will notice you have to pull the lever back farther than usual. That's because the oring is getting some dirt behind it and won't move out as it should. To get the lever travel back to the point that it was originally, at a stoplight, pull the lever back fairly hard and hold for several seconds. This will force the orings to move. You may have to repeat this a few times to get all the travel back but the lever should get back to very near where it started originally. If the pads start rubbing the disk the area around the pistons is getting too dirty to let the orings do their job. Pull the pads and Push the pistons back into the calipers and clean out the slots, then put the pads back in and do the squeeze play again.
Do not lube the pistons and calipers. there is a chance of getting the lube on the pads, the lube will attract more dirt and most of all, it will let the orings slide and not be able to pull the pads back as they should.
As for losing part of you speedo drive by leaving the cable out, some of them have a little adapter in them to engage the cable. Make sure either that is out or won't come out. I would suggest, preferably a screw on cap for the cable hole or at least taping it over to keep dirt out.
Bare

[Roeland]

I'm not sure - but on my bike (after off-road use) I had the front wheel ending up very slightly skew in the front forks resulting in the brake pads rubbing the disc.... all I had to do is remove the front wheel and refit it - problem gone.

[adi-4004]

This can be the issue. We'll find out soon 

The speedo cable sleeve wasn't it. It is secured to the speedo now. The noise still shows up once in a while.

[adi-4004]

Does the noise go away if you apply the front brake while moving?

Scott

I did test this. If the speed decreases enough after only the front brake is applied the noise goes away. But then this happens even when I apply back brake only.

If I apply the front brake by jerking the brake lever (without reducing the speed too much) the noise does not go away.

[adi-4004]

Sounds like something rubbing on disc of brake brake. Is the disc loose or wrapped or does the front wheel wiggle ?

Take off the front brake caliper and its pads and see if anything is sticking out or loose in there that is rubbing the disc.
 

I did this. Did not fix the issue.

[Ducati Scotty]

I did test this. If the speed decreases enough after only the front brake is applied the noise goes away. But then this happens even when I apply back brake only.

If I apply the front brake by jerking the brake lever (without reducing the speed too much) the noise does not go away.

Not the brake then

[JVS]

Hmm 

Did you try disconnecting the speedo cable from the speedo drive at the wheel and then going for a ride?

[decker]

Have you checked the disc itself, could be a warped disc. Sounds like you've checked everything else. If you're taking it into a dealer try swapping the entire front wheel temporarily to see if the noise goes away. This would at least give you a better idea of where to look for the problem. Sorry you are having so many problems.

[adi-4004]

I think I might have found the cause. BTW - the noise does not show up any more even though I have not done anything to fix it specifically.

After reading through this forum I found out that there is a spacer for the speedo drive which is missing on my bike. Hence the speedo on my bike is not rigidly fixed - it is loose and could rotate around freely (of course the attached speedo cable stops it from doing this). This might be causing the noise.

I removed and mounted the front wheel for some other reason. This might have fixed the noise issue as a side effect.

Thanks specifically to singh5g for the photos at http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?topic=12305.0