clunking noise in heavy mud

[Paul_E_D]

So Crow Hill was a mudpit on Saturday. Imagine dumping a fresh mixer of cement at the bottom of every jump and you'll have the picture. Anyway, my little 125 was buzzing it's way through the heavy stuff, and occasionally I'd get a clunk, kinda like a loose steering head bearing, but that's not loose. I thought it may be the chain trying to skip a tooth, but it was well adjusted. Could it be inside the clutch? Like the drive gear skipping?

[ChR1s]

Sure it wasn't pinging? A slight pinging isn't too noticeable, but a good amount of it under a heavy load can be disruptive.

[lrrs313]

Front wheel bearing, maybe?

[Paul_E_D]

I don't think it was ping. It was a good thunk like when a steering head is really loose. I could feel it through the chasis. I doubt a wheel bearing could do that...

I dunno?

[ChR1s]

A slight ping isn't very noticeable, but a hefty amount under load is. Mud could do that, but it would seem more like the engine shutting down, rather than a clunk here & there. Only thought that since you mentioned the conditions.

Disconnect the shock at one and and check for play in the linkage (does it have any?) or the swingarm pivot? Then again, you could be dealing with some worn dogs if you're a power-on clutchless lever masher.

[Sheppo]

not to hijack your thread..but that place is a handfull when it's wet. I crashed there once about 3 years ago as hard as I ever had before friggin mud LOL

[Paul_E_D]

Yeah, There's a swamp above the track, and when it fills up, water just continues to weep down teh hillside filling the low spots. The sand section was faster than ever though!

[Paul_E_D]

A slight ping isn't very noticeable, but a hefty amount under load is. Mud could do that, but it would seem more like the engine shutting down, rather than a clunk here & there. Only thought that since you mentioned the conditions.

Disconnect the shock at one and and check for play in the linkage (does it have any?) or the swingarm pivot? Then again, you could be dealing with some worn dogs if you're a power-on clutchless lever masher.

Worn dogs is a worry, but it didn't ever pop out of gear. I think I'll check the basket/drive gear first. I think there may have been some issues there.

No linkage, but there's a shck bush that commonly wears out. I'll check that, too

Clutch? does this thing have a clutch?

[ChR1s]

The clutch I wouldn't think would provide that sensation, unless it was FOOKED! Drop the oil yet?

re: worn bush/bearing

Bear in mind, it only takes a slight bit of slop to induce effect where a swingarm is involved, as the movement is amplified.

[Paul_E_D]

Not yet, it took me forever to wash the cement off it...

[TheIglu]

Possibly a worn slider in the fork? Hitting the thick muck gives you enough leverage to funk the fork tube.

[SSearchVT]

It could have been the suspension bottoming - in mud rides/races it's not hard to get an extra 25 pounds packed in there between the bike and your gear...