Atlas question

Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Messages
202
Country flag
My 1967 Atlas has just started to make a strange noise which I have been unable to isolate. As you release the clutch and begin moving from a stop, I can hear (faintly) what almost sounds like a speedometer cable flapping around madly inside the instrument, with the speed of the flapping increasing with speed. The speedo needle has swung wildly and unpredictably for a while now, and it's on my list of things left to sort out, but I'm not sure if that's the problem.
While idling in the garage, I pulled the clutch in and out a couple of times, and noticed a kind of a chirping sound which I now suspect I confused with the speedo cable. If I'm getting that sound from the primary area when activating the clutch, what type of issue coould there be?
I haven't had time to eliminate the speedo cable as the source yet by riding without it, but will do that first. I am concerned though about riding the bike at all if the noise I'm hearing is something in the clutch area about to seize up.
Anybody have any ideas? This kind of ticks me off since I just got the brakes to what I felt was an acceptable level of performance, and have been having a blast zipping around on the bike.
 
Do you have a suitable quantity of oil in the primary (clutch) tin chaincase ?

If the clutch and chain is running dry, this could be anything from the chain running dry and getting tight in spots, to the clutch roller bearings running dry and starting to squeak and complain.

Or the chain flapping, and starting to rub someting.

Gearbox top bolt firmly done up, and correctly adjusted.
If its loose, the gearbox can move back and forward a bit, and make some awful noises...
 
Thanks- will check all of the above as it's supposed to be a rainy Saturday.
 
Check the rubber cushions and the spider (that is the 3 bladed hub that bears on the rubber cushions). You will have to remove the 3 springs, pressure plate, and center hub cover (3 screws). Pm me for a link that shows a good breakdown of the clutch.
 
Speedometer cable is easy enough to check, as they seem to have a tendency to break the internal cable. And if you're having erratic needle readings, that does sound like the cable may be going bad. I've broken both the internal cables for the speedometer cable and the tach cable in the past year. Internal cable starts to go bad and the gauge reading was erratic, and then once the internal cable broke completely, I'd still get a reading every once in a while. Just undo the ends where they attach to the gauges and also to the drives. Generally they break about an inch and half from the end. I'll say that I have flip up gauges, so that contributes to the breakage. So just be sure you have a smooth arc in the cable and enough length to accommodate it. I don't recall much strange noise from it though.

And certainly the speedometer cable wouldn't be making any noise when the bike is at idle. So sounds like a potential clutch or primary chain issue. If I was you, I'd start with the basics before tearing it all apart. Ensure you have the necessary amount of oil in the primary. If it looks low, then add some and see if that cures the problem. If not, then investigate further. I'm sure we can all vouch for tearing things completely apart to find that the simplest / easiest fix was indeed the problem. And I'd lubricate your clutch cable etc. Looks like you're in Illinois like myself, and I find that I have to do all the basic lubrication services after sitting for the winter.

Hope this helps, and that other members cab help as well. The weather in Chicago is getting nice, so I hope you're able to get out on your Atlas. I've got an Atlas as well, so feel free to PM me, and I'll do whatever I can to help.
Jeff
 
Derfinitely an issue of a dry primary...
Will work on getting the speedo sorted out next!
 
Back
Top