dangerous sound noise

[John Biccum]

Attachments : Those bolts that you found loose are the subframe bolts.  

 

Sometimes these bolts sheer off.  They are low grade steel and if they work loose the flexing can fatigue the bolts leading to failure.  A common upgrade for the KLR is to replace the two lower subframe bolts with high-grade bolts and to replace the upper two subframe bolts with a single, larger  bolt by drilling through the upper bolt location near the back of the tank.  An easier alternative is to the drilling operation is to replace the two upper bolts with high grade steel bolts of the original size.  I’d recommend a subframe upgrade for anyone over 100 pounds but especially if the bolts have ever worked loose, such as in your case.

 

Arrowhead will have this kit.

 

[b]From:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] [b]On Behalf Of [/b]robert [b]Sent:[/b] Tuesday, August 10, 2010 2:42 AM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Dangerous Sound Noise

 

 

For some time, I had been hearing a bumping noise (solid metal on metal) when I would drive over a pot hole, drop off a curb etc. After looking it over, and finding nothing, I took the KLR 650 (07) to the shop and told them to find it. They drove it and heard the noise but didn't find it. Determined that something was loose and dangerous I got a friend to come out to the house to help. I was determined to find the problem and fix it. After over 30 minutes of looking, tightening up bolts, chain, etc. we were at the end of the rope. Then, I stiff palmed the frame and heard the noise that was similiar to what I was hearing when driving the bike. I said, "That is the sound that it makes." Before I got the words out my buddy, standing to the side, said "I see it." The frame was loose. Very loose. A bolt on each side was about to come out. It was the part of the frame that holds up the rider. I took the bolts out and they were not damaged, so I put loc-tite on them and torked them. Now I ride with much more confidence. How we missed those bolts when we were going around tightening is beyond me. I learned on the farm that it is very important to keep bolts tight on equipment. Failure to do so will result in damage to equipment. But failure to keep bolts tight on a bike could result in a serious accident. Never ignore a noise that sounds like something is loose, especially if it might be part of the mechanics of the bike frame. RW

[fasteddiecopeman]

Robert, REPLACE those bolts with the harder ones (Fred sells them)!!! Cheers, Ed