HawkFanatic

So my hawk has 30K on it and runs great, but when I get to around 4,700 rpm there is a very loud creaking (sounds like plastic rubbing on plastic) that I can hear over the wind and engine.

So, long story short the sound is stops when I grip my left handlebar hard. It seems as though there is a piece of plastic or metal inside the handlebar that is causing my problem.

First, has anyone else experienced this?

Second how do you remove the female thread insert that the bar ends thread to. My idea is to put a sleeve on the end of the bar and turn a screw thus pulling the insert out.

Anyone have any other ideas?

g_clarke_2008

When I took mine out I put a screw in, attached a pair of vice grips, and used a hammer on the grips to pound it out. Not pretty but it worked.

HondaJim

I've done:
1- a deepwell socket with a washer and long bolt. Put a nut on the bolt and you can use it to pull it out.
2 - put the barend back on and twist/pull at the same time.
3 - on the F3 there was a hole on the bottom just like the one on top. I put two small screwdrivers in and pry outward.
4 - Cussed.

Those things are usually pretty tight. It would be strange to be squeaking inside there.

HawkFanatic

So after you guys pulled it out was there anything else farther up inside there?

BTW thanks for letting me know that at least it CAN be pulled out.

HondaJim

Yeah, there's a weight and a rubber piece inside there.

HawkFanatic

OK, I am gonna go try some of these ideas

I will report back with my findings

Thanks again for your input gentlemen

-HF

drew_c14

This sounds fishy to me. Can you feel an associated vibration or anything in the bar when gripping it to make the sound stop? I don't think there is anything inside there that could be making the noise, and even if it was are you squeezing so hard as to actually flex the metal and make it stop.

Have you checked and made sure the clip on it self it tight enough?

Is it a constant noise or kind of like a clunking?

HawkFanatic

Can you feel an associated vibration or anything in the bar when gripping it to make the sound stop?

Yes


I don't think there is anything inside there that could be making the noise, and even if it was are you squeezing so hard as to actually flex the metal and make it stop.

Yeah, I have to squeeze pretty tight and I am a pretty big dude


Have you checked and made sure the clip on it self it tight enough?
what clip? the female thread part? yes it is

Is it a constant noise?

no just at certain engine speeds, it sort of sounds like a wire hitting a fan blade but much much louder and believe me I checked for every loose wire I could think of. I could hear it at freeway speeds.


One other tidbit I forgot to mention is that it happens more when I go downhill, the steeper the hill the more it does it.

I am going to at least try to remove the insert first as it seems like the least invasive action to start with.

-HF

drew_c14

Sorry, I'm horrible with hyphens, my sentence didn't make any sense after I read it again.

I was asking about the entire bar assembly. The bolt that holds it onto the fork tube. Not the likely culprit, I'm just trying to think of everything that might be bar related.

HondaJim

I thought the same thing. Maybe the clip on is loose or the switch housing, etc. Tough to diagnose though. OP has best shot at where it's coming from.