Rear differential noise?

[Davidsdad]

I have the pioneer 4 w/ less than 300 miles, when I'm going downhill at higher speeds (18-25) feathering the throttle so it's not holding back I get noise from what sounds like the rear diff. I'm just politely asking for feedback to see if this is normal or if it needs to be taken back to Honda!?

 

[ohanacreek]

How many miles exactly?

 

[DG Rider]

I have the pioneer 4 w/ less than 300 miles, when I'm going downhill at higher speeds (18-25) feathering the throttle so it's not holding back I get noise from what sounds like the rear diff. I'm just politely asking for feedback to see if this is normal or if it needs to be taken back to Honda!?

Are you talking about the "clacking"noise from when its not quite coasting and not quite accelerating? Or the "Grrrrrr" noise. Either way I hope its normal...mines been doing it for nearly 1600 miles now.

 

[Hondasxs]

The rear end on a new Pioneer is kinda loud compared to my past Honda. You can hear the gears in many youtube videos.
Is this the noise you are talking about.
I'll try to find a good youtube example in a few.

 

[Dick]

There have been reports of people changing to synthetic gear oil and it help quiet the diff gears down some. I plan on changing mine when I find time although its not loud enough to be annoying.

 

[DG Rider]

There have been reports of people changing to synthetic gear oil and it help quiet the diff gears down some. I plan on changing mine when I find time although its not loud enough to be annoying.

It does, but the difference is not substantial with near stock weights. I am thinking of trying some 70-140 Mobil gear lube to see if it helps further.

Some other ideals i have toyed with are making a plate from sheet to sit above it to help block sound. Maybe some type of material under the bed as well.

 

[bigc]

i think maybe lucas oil stabilzer would quiet it down i havent really paid any attention if mine has a noise or not

 

[DG Rider]

i havent really paid any attention if mine has a noise or not

Do you have a top? It was just noticeable on mine...and then i added the hard top. As you would expect, all that sound that used to go up in the air now gets reflected right back to the ears.


I should be clear...i know the "Grrrr" gear noise is normal. I test drove 3 Pioneers, and they all had that noise, and it is clearly audible on a number of videos. The clacking i referred to only gets real noticeable after the rear end has warmed up a bit, so i wouldn't have noticed it on a short test drive. I believe this is just the slack in an IRS rear end. I have checked mine at temp, and there is no excessive slop....just several areas where there is a tiny amount that you'd expect. It has gotten no worse in nearly 1600 miles, so i am quite convinced that it is normal.

I also believe that having that heavy disk mounted on the driveshaft greatly contributes to both of these noises. Overall, the rear end on this thing is very un Honda-like in the amount of noise it makes....but as long as it keeps making it, then its not really a big deal.

 

[spifyd]

cars use hypoid gears. these use just 90deg beveled gears. hyoids are quiet beveled gears are noisy. ride it and enjoy

 

[Davidsdad]

Thanks for all comments, I do not have a top (yet) and yes it does give the "clack" and "grrrr". I'm just relieved to hear that this haas been normal for other pioneers!! Sorry for the slow reply! Next two mods for mine will be the hard plastic top and a lift! With people in the back I could use more ground clearance. Hope the lift doesn't affect the warranty!!

 

[ohanacreek]

http://youtu.be/QVpHjX7JdEI

This is when I first got mine you can hear the gear noise in the video because the camera is mounted to the ROPS, and the noises are being conducted through it.

I can still hear them if I am going down hill and shut the engine off, I think it is just the nature of the rear end design. I don't notice it when I am riding around, it has gotten somewhat quieter over time.

 

[av8or]

cars use hypoid gears. these use just 90deg beveled gears. hyoids are quiet beveled gears are noisy. ride it and enjoy

If I'm remembering right, beveled gears are strong than hypoids as well. If so, I'll take tough over quiet any day.

 

[ohanacreek]

cars use hypoid gears. these use just 90deg beveled gears. hyoids are quiet beveled gears are noisy. ride it and enjoy

If I'm remembering right, beveled gears are strong than hypoids as well. If so, I'll take tough over quiet any day.

+1... it's not a luxury car it's a sxs, made to work hard and get dirty and still work time after time.

 

[jimonthemountain]

I have had my Pioneer SxS 700-4 for about a week now and I am extremely disappointed in the transmission/rear end noise. It sounds like an old Willies Jeep with an unsynchronized transmission and a sticking clutch, raking teeth anytime it goes negative torque. I tried to coast down a hill in neutral with the engine off to go stealth. I stopped after a few seconds because of the racket it was making. This doesn't seem like a design that Soichiro Honda would have signed off on.

Aside from the drive line, this is an assume machine. Is it possible that a group of units left the assembly line with defective drive lines?

 

[ohanacreek]

I have had my Pioneer SxS 700-4 for about a week now and I am extremely disappointed in the transmission/rear end noise. It sounds like an old Willies Jeep with an unsynchronized transmission and a sticking clutch, raking teeth anytime it goes negative torque. I tried to coast down a hill in neutral with the engine off to go stealth. I stopped after a few seconds because of the racket it was making. This doesn't seem like a design that Soichiro Honda would have signed off on.

Aside from the drive line, this is an assume machine. Is it possible that a group of units left the assembly line with defective drive lines?

Up till about 100 miles they are LOUD still not ultra quiet after all it's a 1500lb 4 wheeler. Several people (myself included) have changed the front diff oil and rear gear oil at the first service and it makes a difference. Even the ultra quiet Goldwings have a gear whine, you can't get away from it with that cut of gears it's just a noise they will make. Quieter cuts are not as strong.

Changing the fluids at 100 miles cleans out the metal particulates that are worn off of the fresh cut gears. Theoretically makes the gears last longer and quieter.

Some of that noise is the rear brake causing the gears to make noise as the brake is ahead of the rear end and there is slack in the driveline. Causing the gears to rub on the reverse face. as you wear the gears reverse face they get quieter takes a lot longer than the forward face as they spend less time contacting each other in this position.

Hope this helps sooth your fears.

 

[Hondasxs]

Welcome jimonthemountain,
Ya, I too think Soichiro would not approve this. lol...
But.. It seems to be common with the 700's. You can here it in many videos. A thicker oil will help reduce it.
Thanks.

 

[bigc]

I have had my Pioneer SxS 700-4 for about a week now and I am extremely disappointed in the transmission/rear end noise. It sounds like an old Willies Jeep with an unsynchronized transmission and a sticking clutch, raking teeth anytime it goes negative torque. I tried to coast down a hill in neutral with the engine off to go stealth. I stopped after a few seconds because of the racket it was making. This doesn't seem like a design that Soichiro Honda would have signed off on.

Aside from the drive line, this is an assume machine. Is it possible that a group of units left the assembly line with defective drive lines?

if they had defective drive lines they would vibrate soichiro died in 1991 so he couldnt have signed off on pioneers

 

[joeymt33]

I changed my diff oils yesterday and took a 30 minute ride. I used 85-140 with about 30% Lucas oil stabilizer in it and all that noise it used to make is gone now. It's the best $20 I've spent on the machine.

Thank you guys for posting these ideas.

 

[joeymt33]

Update: I rode for several miles today and after the diffs got hot, there was some chatter noises coming back. I'm still happy I used a thicker oil but it only delays the sounds until it gets hot. One day I may try draining some oil and adding more Lucas but I'm not too concerned with it.

 

[scott]

My rear diff clicks a few times when i first start to ride. Never does it after a few mins.