newbe
I have 1998 super hawk and been having engine noise it started when i replaced the water pump seal i think anyway it sound like pebbles hiting the bottom of my engine when i am riding it. When it is in netrual siting reving the engine i dont here the noise, only when i am riding it and if i engage the clutch and coast i can here the engine noise its not all the time.

 

Have you more than one inch of chain slack ?? When you pull the clutch the chain is free to go crazy.
Check if the drive sprocket is tight, check the wear on the chain and sprocket.
Check the stupid stuff first, then it may point toward your tranny...but they are pretty strong, go trough the most likely before freaking out.

 

thank you for the info i did ajust the chain and it still is making the noise the chain is two years old but only has about 3,000 miles on it. i have not checked sproket will do
that.
thank you

 

Your descriptions leads one to think drive train; hence, the chain suggestion.

I once had a starer button stick that made a similar noise; small rocks or BB's rattling around in a tin can. The starter clutch keeps it from interfering with normal engine operation. Drove me crazy trying to figure it out. Only seeing my headlight off in a reflection gave me the "missing clue". LOL

Another thought: engine case clearance. The water pump impeller needs to be set an at very specific height and if not pressed in correctly could possibly be causing some weird harmonics in combination with the clutch pack operation.

 

That would make a lot of sense

 

When i set the engine case clearance on the water pump impeller i set it at the clearance of what the shop manual speces listed but when installed case
i had to rotate the impeller to install the engine case so maybe it moved on me.
I had my honda shop press in the bearing and seals in the case.
what sucks is honda labor is $85.00 hour so i try to do the work my self.
thank you for the info.