Does my bike have a transmission problem?

YamahaRob

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I have an 82 xs400 maxim. Bike starts and runs great.

The problem with it is when I'm riding. The throttle seems really touchy and jerky. It's very hard to keep a constant speed. Seems like it is always either accelerating or decelerating. when you play with the throttle (while riding) it seems like the bike is bucking . Feels like an engine with a loose motor mount.

There is also a very loud whine when decelerating and it feels as if the bike is slowing down too fast almost as if the starter is engaged. Is a stuck starter even possible? Are the starters in these bikes like a car (having a solenoid)?

I have checked the chain. tightened it, loosened it. check the gears. checked for play at the drive shaft.

I suspect transmission problems. Your thoughts?
 
Carbs need through, repeated, and excessive cleaning to resolve abrupt throttle response. Yes, there is a starter solenoid, it is attached to the battery box. I doubt that is the issue as you would certainly hear the starter motor running and the battery would die in short order.
 
I was thinking starter solenoid thinking it was like a car starter where the starter gear engages and disengages but I looked at a pic of one and it looks like it just splines into the gear that goes to a chain.

Carbs? For the throttle issue. I'll check them out.

But the whine is just as bad. and it decels way too much. Let of the throttle and it's dive bombing. front form compressing. It's like im braking with just the front brake, but I'm not.
 
Is the whine related to engine speed or road speed? Have you checked to see if the brakes are dragging? With the front wheel off the ground, can you easily spin it? Or is it difficult to spin? Same for the rear. Can you hear noise from the wheel bearings? Is there any side to side play in the wheels? Does the drive chain have enough slack?
 
the whine is on decel . It is very loud and is less noisy as the rpms go down. when i down shift it gets loud with again (higher rpm). sounds like a standard car in reverse.

it only whines when the drive train is engaged. If I clutch it goes away and the bike just rolls normally. no noise.
 
a whine reversing in cars is because they are straight cut gears.

the only straing cut gears on the xs are the primary drive to clutch basket.

take the cover off with the bike on side stand so the oil doesn't come out and check the tab washer and security on the primary drive
 
I just took my bike out for it's weekly ride, and discovered a whine when decelerating from high RPM. It does it in neutral or at driving speeds if I decel from high RPM. I came here to research and found this thread. I'd love to know if the OP found his problem.
 
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