I have a 1980 BMW R100T motorcycle I bought off eBay.
With the transmission in gear(1st), when I pull the clutch lever in I hear a whirling sound.
The clutch is not grabbing, the bike doesn't move. Just a funny whirling sound like something is making contact with something in the gearbox or the clutch.
If I put the transmission in gear and take off slowly I don't hear it. Or in neutral, I don't hear it. Only when I'm sitting still with the bike in gear and pull the clutch lever.
Last night I adjusted my clutch cable. 201mm down by the transmission, and 2mm free-play at the leaver.
The adjustment at the transmission was off quite a bit(the space was way too long). Do you think it did some damage?
Any Ideas?
Also, I'm new to Airheads. When I come off the center-stand it doesn't flip-up all the way up to the stops completely. I have to pull it up with my foot and then it stays up fine on it's own. Is this normal for Airheads? Every bike I've ever owned the center-stand flips up all the way on it's own once you come off it.
Regarding the center stand, they all do that.
Regarding the clutch noise, If it were my bike, I would pull the parts out of the throw-out assembly and inspect them and apply some grease. Early transmissions have a pin and circlip that holds the clutch release arm in place. That circlip is a critical piece. The later version has a bolt and nut. Inside the column in the casting is a bearing. Early transmissions have a little wafer thin carrier with tiny little roller bearings. Later transmissions and 4 speed transmissions from the /5 have ball bearings captured in a hard plastic carrier. The little roller bearing thingy is prone to failure.
If you do that and it does not help, I would drain the gearbox and look for tiny bits in the oil and stuck to the magnetic drain plug.
Since the gear sets are in contact with each other all the time, I would conclude that the issue is with the throw out assembly since the noise is most pronounced when you are hold the clutch lever in the dis-engaged position.
former Airmarshal, IL.
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