Hum When Backing
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Texas
Hum When Backing
I just got my tires replaced.
The bike drives fine but after 10+ miles of riding the bike will make a harmonic metal humming sound when I back into a packing spot. It has never done this before replacing the tires. It is not a steady hum when backing, it pulses with the rotation of the wheel. It makes no abnormal noise when going forward.
So my first thought was alignment. A very rough tape measure check (I am at work) seemed OK. Now it was a rough check but it tells me its not way off at least. I will check it better when I get home tonight.
but
Do you guys have any other idea of what could cause this?
It seemed to drive fine, although I am still taking it easy on the tires as they have less than 50 miles on them.
There is not any noticeable drag when backing.
Do any of your bikes make this noise when backing?
Edit to add: This is a fairly loud noise, Easily heard thru a full face helmet with the radio (bluetooth) on. It sounds like rubbing your finger on top of a glass of water.
The bike drives fine but after 10+ miles of riding the bike will make a harmonic metal humming sound when I back into a packing spot. It has never done this before replacing the tires. It is not a steady hum when backing, it pulses with the rotation of the wheel. It makes no abnormal noise when going forward.
So my first thought was alignment. A very rough tape measure check (I am at work) seemed OK. Now it was a rough check but it tells me its not way off at least. I will check it better when I get home tonight.
but
Do you guys have any other idea of what could cause this?
It seemed to drive fine, although I am still taking it easy on the tires as they have less than 50 miles on them.
There is not any noticeable drag when backing.
Do any of your bikes make this noise when backing?
Edit to add: This is a fairly loud noise, Easily heard thru a full face helmet with the radio (bluetooth) on. It sounds like rubbing your finger on top of a glass of water.
Last edited by Riven02; Sep 9, 2013 at 12:17 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Big Bear City, CA
You might check your belt tracking. See if it's rubbing on the edge of the wheel pulley when backing. No matter how well your rear wheel's aligned, if it's perfectly centered while moving forward, it will track differently while backing.
Sounds like the wheel is aligned a bit different from when changing tires recently.
Sounds like the wheel is aligned a bit different from when changing tires recently.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
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+1. My rear pads squeaked really bad when backing up. I replaced them with new Lyndall pads and have had no squeaking since.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Texas
I don't believe there are any adjustments on the brakes correct (like we used to have for drum brakes)? So the drag cant really be controlled or different than before the tires were installed right?
I could see a warped rotor causing the sound if it made it just slightly push into the brake pad each time the wheel turned. I will check that tonight also.
I could see a warped rotor causing the sound if it made it just slightly push into the brake pad each time the wheel turned. I will check that tonight also.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Sussex, South of England
I don't believe there are any adjustments on the brakes correct (like we used to have for drum brakes)? So the drag cant really be controlled or different than before the tires were installed right?
I could see a warped rotor causing the sound if it made it just slightly push into the brake pad each time the wheel turned. I will check that tonight also.
I could see a warped rotor causing the sound if it made it just slightly push into the brake pad each time the wheel turned. I will check that tonight also.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Texas
Will do. For the life of me I cant remember which side it used to track to. I know it didn't track in the middle before the tire change but I cant recall which side it tracked to.
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From: Central Illinois
I also strongly suspect brakes.
The belt rubbing would be pretty obvious I think. I had a rubbing issue once on a previous bike and the belt was loud as hell.
The belt rubbing would be pretty obvious I think. I had a rubbing issue once on a previous bike and the belt was loud as hell.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Arizona
Like PanHead says, its the belt tracking sideways against the flange of the rear pulley. Mine did that till I got the rear wheel aligned precisely with a tool to measure the center-to-center distance from swing arm to axle. It doesn't take much misalignment to hum and don't rely on the scribe marks above the adjusters being accurate enough. Harley belts run tight as a bow string and cause the resonant hum, especially when hot. Dragging brake pads make more of a scuffing sound.
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From: Central Illinois
Well maybe I was wrong.
If this is the case: How does the OP (or anyone else) get this right? Just keep adjusting it until the issue is gone?
How do mechanics generally avoid this?
I have always just set it based on the old measuring tape method, and most of the time that has worked for me.
If this is the case: How does the OP (or anyone else) get this right? Just keep adjusting it until the issue is gone?
How do mechanics generally avoid this?
I have always just set it based on the old measuring tape method, and most of the time that has worked for me.