Whining noise coming from RX3 wheels

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Another member reported that when he removed his front rotor, it sprung back to being perfectly flat. Perhaps you'll find the same thing.

Yes, that is why I recommended the following actions.

Remove the front wheel from the bike. Examine the bearings as I described above. Using a socket ratchet with an Allen key socket, you can remove all the brake rotor bolts. Be careful not to strip the Allen heads. You might need to apply some heat to the bolts with a propane torch. After all the bolts are removed, lift the rotor off the hub. Then re-install the rotor, incrementally tightening the 6 bolts in a star pattern.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by RX3James

...So we took a look at the chain. It appears to have the correct tension so I don't think it's too loose or too tight. I do believe my rear sprocket is out of round which is causing the rapid tensionin and loosening of the chain which is causing the noise. I checked the sprocket bolts for tightness just to make sure the sprocket alignment was true and they were definitely tight.. so tight in fact that it took 20 solid minutes of heating with a torch to break one of them free!!

Ok so tonight I'm going to e-mail CSC and explain the front rotor and rear sprocket and ask them to send me new ones.. and with new hardware too because I'm not 100% sure the factory hardware will be usable again..

How many miles have you ridden the bike? I suspect the drive chain is faulty, rather than the rear sprocket.

The best way to loosen the sprocket bolts is to remove the rear wheel, and loosen the bolts while the sprocket carrier is attached to the hub.

Also, I suspect the workers are not tightening the brake rotor in the proper, sequential, crosswise pattern at the factory. If you remove the brake rotor, and install it again properly, I suspect your problems will disappear.

[FastDoc]

I am not familiar with your model dirtbike in particular, but on most dirtbike's, especially with the long travel rear suspension, the chain requires a surprisingly large amount of slack so that it does not bind as the swingarm travels upwards. It may be worthwhile to have somebody sit on the bike, and then check the chain tension with the rear suspension compressed. It is pretty hard on the bike to have a tight chain, if indeed that is the problem. Also changed into where unevenly. I suggest checking it in several locations.

[rjmorel]

Also look at the alignment of the chain to see if it is running straight, rj

[RX3James]

Ok Fellas.. I got ahold of CSC! I spoke with Gerry. They are sending me a new front rotor with 6 new rotor bolts and after a really good discussion with him I purchased the EK 520x110 SRO6 upgraded chain. I could've gotten a replacement stock chain for free but after talking with him about how much of a pain changing out that stock chain with out a master link it was an easy decision to upgrade the chain. I should have them both on saturday. As soon as I get them installed i'll post an update. Hopefully this fixes the last two bugs in my RX3!

[Juanro]

As for the chain, I and a fellow biker here had the same issue, uneven noise and uneven tensión when checking. After suspecting binding links (discarded) or stretching (we're both around the 6000 km mark), I finally went the easy route: thorough cleaning with very generous amounts of WD40. My usual chain cleaning and lube procedure, done every other weekend, included cleaning with diesel fuel (gasoil) and a brush, then a cloth and then applying Valvoline White. But it's obvius now that either I was not being meticulous enough or diesel fuel is not as good as a cleaner, because after the high intensity WD40 treatment (I mean: flooding!) it went back to normal, smooth, uniform as it should.

[AZRider]

Originally Posted by Juanro

As for the chain, I and a fellow biker here had the same issue, uneven noise and uneven tensión when checking. After suspecting binding links (discarded) or stretching (we're both around the 6000 km mark), I finally went the easy route: thorough cleaning with very generous amounts of WD40. My usual chain cleaning and lube procedure, done every other weekend, included cleaning with diesel fuel (gasoil) and a brush, then a cloth and then applying Valvoline White. But it's obvius now that either I was not being meticulous enough or diesel fuel is not as good as a cleaner, because after the high intensity WD40 treatment (I mean: flooding!) it went back to normal, smooth, uniform as it should.

I can still remember the good old days when we used to boil our chains in oil to clean and lube them. Mother was not happy.

[Juanro]

I've always been a tarmac, shaft guy. This new mess of the chain is rather new to me.
The problem with the stock RX3 chain is that you can't remove it without cutting it, so complete immersion in oil is out of the equation...

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Juanro

The problem with the stock RX3 chain is that you can't remove it without cutting it, so complete immersion in oil is out of the equation...

Not if you cut out one link and replace it with a master.

[Juanro]

TMW;IL



(Too much work; I'm lazy)

[RX3James]

Got my rotor and chain today! wasnt expecting them till tomorrow afternoon. Talk about amazing customer service! Gerry was nice enough to throw new rotor bolts in with the new rotor. I'll be installing them both tomorrow. If everything goes according to plan the last two bugs in my RX3 will be all worked out and I can get back to riding this bike like I stole it!

[SpudRider]

[RX3James]

I'm happy to report that the installation of the new front rotor and upgraded Chain went very smoothly! Took the RX3 out for a shakedown test ride after and I didn't hear anything at all coming from the chain and the front brake operated perfectly! No more pulsing and no more whining/ growling!! The only question I had was about the torque value on the Rotor bolts.. I think they're M6's so I went with 18..... OK actually 20 foot pounds. That should be good right?

[SpudRider]

Good for you. Thanks for posting the update. Yes, I'm sure 20 foot-pounds of torque will work well for those bolts.