The whirring sound may not be your IPB
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
I thought long and hard about the baker, It would have been easy to install. I am retired and have more time than money, plus I enjoy wrenching on my bike. If I had still been working no doubt I would have pulled the trigger on the baker.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 1
From: Acworth, Ga
If I was going to spend $2k on a rebuild id go this route in a heartbeat..
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
I am very unhappy to report that I believe my 09 SG with a mere 25k miles likely has a bad output shaft bearing. WTF, MOCO! I've got ballpark estimates of $2k and $2.5k, assuming there is relatively little damage beyond the bearing. My tell-tale symptom is whirring when in neutral and motor is cold, which goes away when the bike is shifted into 1st. Also, on two occasions after 80 or so miles into a ride the bike started shifting poorly: every gear clunked a bit and it was tough to find neutral. Never had this happen before. Since I first heard the ugly sound I've ridden about 1k miles. I use Redline trans oil.
I'm going to have a dealer dissect the thing and if it's the bearing I'll see if there's any mercy at MOCO corporate. The service manager said there's a chance MOCO will cover it because they are concerned about bad perception among consumers. SM also said they have a bike in the shop now with the same sickness. Finally, the SM echoed a comment in this thread (I think) that a certain marker for this problem is shavings accumulating in the lower corners inside the trans door.
I'm now looking into a Baker trans. If MOCO disses me and if I can get a complete drop-in trans for about the same cost, I'll eagerly dump the OEM if for no other reason than MOCO sux on this. After a 100+ years of building bikes this should not be happening. Period. Cheap *** bearings.
I'm going to have a dealer dissect the thing and if it's the bearing I'll see if there's any mercy at MOCO corporate. The service manager said there's a chance MOCO will cover it because they are concerned about bad perception among consumers. SM also said they have a bike in the shop now with the same sickness. Finally, the SM echoed a comment in this thread (I think) that a certain marker for this problem is shavings accumulating in the lower corners inside the trans door.
I'm now looking into a Baker trans. If MOCO disses me and if I can get a complete drop-in trans for about the same cost, I'll eagerly dump the OEM if for no other reason than MOCO sux on this. After a 100+ years of building bikes this should not be happening. Period. Cheap *** bearings.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 2,542
I'm now looking into a Baker trans. If MOCO disses me and if I can get a complete drop-in trans for about the same cost, I'll eagerly dump the OEM if for no other reason than MOCO sux on this. After a 100+ years of building bikes this should not be happening. Period. Cheap *** bearings.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
I believe MOCO did fix it as of 2011 models, but I could be wrong on year. There are new part numbers for bearing and shaft, I think.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
I am very unhappy to report that I believe my 09 SG with a mere 25k miles likely has a bad output shaft bearing. WTF, MOCO! I've got ballpark estimates of $2k and $2.5k, assuming there is relatively little damage beyond the bearing. My tell-tale symptom is whirring when in neutral and motor is cold, which goes away when the bike is shifted into 1st. Also, on two occasions after 80 or so miles into a ride the bike started shifting poorly: every gear clunked a bit and it was tough to find neutral. Never had this happen before. Since I first heard the ugly sound I've ridden about 1k miles. I use Redline trans oil.
I'm going to have a dealer dissect the thing and if it's the bearing I'll see if there's any mercy at MOCO corporate. The service manager said there's a chance MOCO will cover it because they are concerned about bad perception among consumers. SM also said they have a bike in the shop now with the same sickness. Finally, the SM echoed a comment in this thread (I think) that a certain marker for this problem is shavings accumulating in the lower corners inside the trans door.
I'm now looking into a Baker trans. If MOCO disses me and if I can get a complete drop-in trans for about the same cost, I'll eagerly dump the OEM if for no other reason than MOCO sux on this. After a 100+ years of building bikes this should not be happening. Period. Cheap *** bearings.
I'm going to have a dealer dissect the thing and if it's the bearing I'll see if there's any mercy at MOCO corporate. The service manager said there's a chance MOCO will cover it because they are concerned about bad perception among consumers. SM also said they have a bike in the shop now with the same sickness. Finally, the SM echoed a comment in this thread (I think) that a certain marker for this problem is shavings accumulating in the lower corners inside the trans door.
I'm now looking into a Baker trans. If MOCO disses me and if I can get a complete drop-in trans for about the same cost, I'll eagerly dump the OEM if for no other reason than MOCO sux on this. After a 100+ years of building bikes this should not be happening. Period. Cheap *** bearings.
While the Baker transmission seemed interesting to me it was still a lot more than repairing what I have and the cruise control would only work in the top gear. Use my cruise in gears other than 6th often.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
Mine turned out to out to be the inner PB, the main shaft bearing, and the main shaft because the bearing went and ground into my shaft. I think I spent $1700 at the dealer to have it all fixed and that included replacing the compensator the the SE version.
While the Baker transmission seemed interesting to me it was still a lot more than repairing what I have and the cruise control would only work in the top gear. Use my cruise in gears other than 6th often.
While the Baker transmission seemed interesting to me it was still a lot more than repairing what I have and the cruise control would only work in the top gear. Use my cruise in gears other than 6th often.
If mine has as much damage as vistavette my repairs should be a bit less because I already purchased the SE comp and an updated chain tensioner, but have not yet installed it. (I spent that $$$ a while ago so it feels different.) I took bike to a trusted dealer yesterday (Battleys in Gaithersburg, Md), so I should know something soon. Also, the Baker trans is costly at ~ $2.7k for the DD7, plus install and incidental parts. I do not want to spend all that on what is in fact a trans repair. I would not otherwise replace the OEM 6-speed. I really want to upgrade heads, not fool with the trans.
Last edited by jefla; Jun 12, 2015 at 11:55 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
Dealer mechanic found bad output shaft bearing. IPB OK. I'm "lucky" to have caught this early. Thank you OP.
To repeat for ease, my diagnosis was solely based on left-side whirring on cold motor in neutral; whirring stops (or substantially reduced) when shifted to 1st w/ clutch pulled. Also, on two occasions I had clunky shifting, but that may not have been symptomatic.
To repeat for ease, my diagnosis was solely based on left-side whirring on cold motor in neutral; whirring stops (or substantially reduced) when shifted to 1st w/ clutch pulled. Also, on two occasions I had clunky shifting, but that may not have been symptomatic.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 413
Likes: 16
From: Killeen, Tx
I have a feeling my main shaft bearing is going out. Same symptoms.
I have 60k on my 09.
So if I tear into this thing, I will end up doing the tranny (Main Shaft), might as well do the clutch and drive belt since it is off. Compensator was changed out a few years ago to an SE version.
I should do the cam chest and lifters as well due to the mileage.
So, with all that said, since I do multi state trips and need reliability, the decision to rebuild this engine or just trade it in on a new one.
Humm...
I have 60k on my 09.
So if I tear into this thing, I will end up doing the tranny (Main Shaft), might as well do the clutch and drive belt since it is off. Compensator was changed out a few years ago to an SE version.
I should do the cam chest and lifters as well due to the mileage.
So, with all that said, since I do multi state trips and need reliability, the decision to rebuild this engine or just trade it in on a new one.
Humm...