Need Tranny advice

[mikeb921]

My '95 R1100RSL has 67k miles. It has had above average maintenance it's entire life. The tranny has been making a chattering noise while in neutral for about a year. It shifts perfectly, up or down and you can make the noise go away by pulling in and releasing the clutch lever quickly a couple of times. The 2 dealers near me don't know what it is. It's still on it's original clutch so I'm sure the splines are drying up although the clutch feels normal. Anyone else experience this problem? I'm capable of installing a new clutch, but I don't feel comfortable doing a tranny rebuild. The tranny has had synthetic oil since about 5k miles with 10k mile oil change intervals. Advice please.
Thanks,
Ride safe
Rideoften

[kbasa]

Our 94RS transmission sounds like a coffee can full of rocks and has since we bought it 8 years ago. It does everything I tell it to, so I've left it alone. We've got almost the exact same mileage as you too.

I think you can safely ignore it.

[breyfogle]

'94 trannies are SUPPOSED to sound like a "can full a rocks" in neutral. I thought by '95, BMW had quiet'ed them down with some kind of internal o-ring spacers. Note that the OP stated that his tranny had been making a noise for "a year or so". Maybe when a '95 tranny wears out its spacers, it "reverts" to a '94-like clatter. If so, not to worry, it should run just fine (until its bearings fail of coarse!)

[PGlaves]

The following was written by Oak Okleshen in 1974 to explain the noise in the then new 5 speed airhead transmissions. But since the then new 1994 Oilhead transmissions did exactly the same thing - this explanation applies.

Quoting Oak,

"The noise is the result of an unloaded transmission and the backlash in the mating parts clattering slightly due to variances in engine speeds when at idle. The engine, though we think of it as running at a constant speed, varies in a miniscule amount when it is unloaded and at low speeds near idle. This happens between the power pulsations from the pistons. The flywheel helps to prevent the uneveness but does not cure the problem entirely for it would take a much larger and heavier flywheel than necessary to make the machine run properly and would detract from acceleration performance. As a result, the engine pulsates and the transmission attempts to run at a constant speed. Between pulsations the backlash in the transmission causes the components to clank lightly and cause noise.

The noise can become more noticeable if ...unbalanced left to right. This causes engine pulsations to become more uneven and, hence, there is more noise in the transmission in neutral, clutch engaged." End of Quote

The 2nd generation Oilhead transmissions had O rings to act as mini shock absorbers and quiet the rattle. But after a year or two the O rings harden, and these rattle too.

[James.A]

Thanks Paul. I used to own a '94 RS(just like Kbasa's), and I always wondered about that.

[mikeb921]

Thanks guys,
If I were to get tired of this noise, what would be the latest year low mileage tranny that would be a direct bolt up replacement? Other than the noise, this has been a great motorcycle and I think it's good for a few more years.
Ride Safe
Rideoften

[85343]

I have a 1995 R1100RSL with 69000 miles(M94 transmission). I have had the same noise for 45000 miles. My dealer told me it was the wear in the splines of the clutch and input shaft. Lately it has been getting louder. Today I decide to pull the tranny and check the splines. My worst fears where confirmed. The splines on the input shaft and clutch are shot.