Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Gear Box Trouble

After spending the last couple of months adding parts to my bike an getting it back from the paint shop, I was finally looking forward to getting it on the road before TT, I tried to start the bike and just got a loud high pitched grinding noise.

Had to take it to a mechanic who thinks I might have stripped my gears!!!!

How can I have done this when all I have done is take off my stock black clutch cover so I could replace it with a chrome one? To say I'm hacked of is putting it mildly.

Any ideas how this could have happened as I just can't see what I could have done to cause this potential damage or has anyone ever experienced anything similar?

too much speed shifting maybe? I accelerate pretty hard as I am sure many of us do and no problems. How old is the bike and how many miles? Warranty?

Maybe your battery is flat and the starter gear just couldn't engage properly.

Battery is fine and fully charged - I use my optimate. It's a 2006 Speedmaster & has only done just over 3500 miles.
I've don about 3 miles on it this year & that was just before I took the cover off, when it rode fine. I don't ride it that fast & certainly not hard in terms of gear change.

Could I have dislodged something to do with the starter mechanism when I took the cover off?

Hey Dog, you're onto somthing there - I couldn't get that shaft into the hole in the cover as no matter how I tried to line it up, it always seemed to be off centre when the cover bolt holes were lined up so I guess I've not got that rod into the hole on the cover.

Will this cause the daage the mechanic is referring to & strip the gears?

You have put the clutch cover as it should be nick, I cannot see just taking the cover off has done any damage.. Clutch is alright, feels ok without starting the engine.

I presume you mean the noise you are getting is as you start the motor on the button...

If that gear was not in it's proper position it would cause a gear stripping noise, with any luck you haven't done any real damage at this point. Wouldn't hurt to pull that cover and make sure that gear is in it's proper location. The noise could be that gear out of place against the starter.

Hi Ray, yes the noise comes as I press the starter button - it's a horrible noise....

Thanks Dog - hopefully the mechanic will recognise this & fix it quickly...

Once it's fixed I'm gonna have to pay another visit to the mechanic once the chrome one arrives asI daren't try to do it myselfagain.. it was delayed a couple of weeks hence the reason i have put the OEM one back on so can at least get some miles under my belt.

Here's hoping it's an easy 'ish fix - i'll keep you posted & thanks for your quick replies

I'll go with Ian (the_dog33) then I think a gear is not located properly when you have put the cover back on, this is what the grinding noise is, as Ian says hopefully not done any damage to the teeth

Well guys, she is fixed - looks like it was as Ian & Ray suggested in that the round rod wasn't located properly in the hole on the cover plate causing the starter gears not to engage.

Fortunatly no real damage done other than to my wallet!!

Thanks for your advice chaps.

Glad it was not anything really expensive, now take care when you put the chrome one on...

Too true - reckon it's goin' back to the mechanic for the chrome one - don't trust myself again.........

Glad it turned out OK for you.Happy riding!