1997 750 Monster with Strange Grinding Noise

[Saml01]

I went to look at a monster today, 10xxx miles, great condition aside from a few minor things. However one thing did stand out. I tried searching but none of the threads I hit described what I had heard today.

Bike starts right up, no noise, runs perfectly, and has great throttle response.

1. Pull in the clutch, little chatter from the clutch, normal.

2. Click into first. Apply throttle.

Soon as the bike starts to pull, not slip, but actually pull away a grinding noise, pretty loud and high pitched, comes out of somewhere. Sounds like the left side, maybe the top or middle of the engine. It only lasts for a second.

Easily reproducible, I held the bike back as much as I could with my legs and let out the clutch several times and it did it every time. During the noise there is no loss in pull.

The noise is brief, but loud enough to be heard, I want to say its metal on metal.

After you pull away it sounds completely normal, shifts fine, accelerates fine too.

How bad do you guys think this is?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[ducpainter]

Sounds like clutch groan to me.

It's more common on the dry clutch bikes, but I suppose it's possible on a wet clutch.

[Saml01]

This is what im thinking. It has to be clutch related.

However, I am not 100% sure its a dry clutch, some googling says its a wet clutch and only the 900's came with a dry clutch.

Id be getting the bike for 2500 and doing all the work myself, what do you guys think? Too much for a 97?

[ducpainter]

This is what im thinking. It has to be clutch related.

However, I am not 100% sure its a dry clutch, some googling says its a wet clutch and only the 900's came with a dry clutch.

What about the price? Low, high, just right?

It is indeed a wet clutch, but even those can make noise when they're on their way out.

That bike has the old style slave cylinder that is built in to the R/H side cover. It can be expensive to repair if the cover itself is bad. Not sure about new parts availability.

Another downside to that motor is that the cases themselves had some issues around the main bearing area. The motors don't take well to big power upgrades.

You didn't mention a price...

[Saml01]

Sorry, youre right. I edited my post.

I wouldnt be making any power upgrades to it, driving it stock till I can afford a new one. 

[ducpainter]

It seems high to me.

I think if you wait a bit you can get a much newer bike that you won't have to repair.

It is coming on winter and deals will be around.

[Saml01]

It seems high to me.

I think if you wait a bit you can get a much newer bike that you won't have to repair.

It is coming on winter and deals will be around.

I just learned KBB does bikes, and it confirms what you say as well.

I agree with you, I think I will wait for the winter. I am in no rush.

[bigiain]

It is indeed a wet clutch, but even those can make noise when they're on their way out.

They'll also make that noise if the clutch hub nut comes loose.

big

[TrevOwnz]

I have something very similar happen to me with my '99 750. When I let off the clutch in low gears it makes a loud clicking sound for about 3-6 clicks and is gone. Not loud enough for anyone but the rider to hear. I hope it wont turn into anything serious.

[stevebussard]

here's a question, for our forum's super technical experts.  I'm about to tear the clutch cover off my '00 M750.  I have recently had a little clutch "groan", and am fairly certain the hub nut needs to be re-torqued.  I found the fantastic instructions that were posted by one of our own (can't remember who) a while back on how to actually go about performing this operation.  Before I go tearing into it though, I wanted to know if there is a gasket on the clutch cover I should be replacing, or if it is just RTV?  I have searched everywhere for a gasket, and haven't come across any.  I'm okay with silicone, but would prefer to use the intended gasket, if it takes one.  If it does, where can I get one, and does anyone have any idea how much it costs?  If there isn't one for it, would it be a bad idea to get some bulk gasket sheet, and make my own?  Thanks in advance.

[ducpainter]

Ducati uses sealer on the cover.

They use a non hardening 3 bond type I think.

RTV will work.

[671M900]

It is indeed a wet clutch, but even those can make noise when they're on their way out.

That bike has the old style slave cylinder that is built in to the R/H side cover. It can be expensive to repair if the cover itself is bad. Not sure about new parts availability.

Another downside to that motor is that the cases themselves had some issues around the main bearing area. The motors don't take well to big power upgrades.

You didn't mention a price...

r/h or l/h? Which bikes had this setup?

[ducpainter]

The slave was built into the r/h cover on the 97 Monster 750 and earlier models with the 750 engine.