Thought the bottom was going to fall out...

[Shoeman]

Parked it last Thursday do to weather. Came out this morning fired it up and for the first 3 seconds it sounded like a total lack of oil in the case. No leaks...
Never heard anything like it from any of my 4 strokers, even after sitting all Winter.
Last oil change at 6700 with around 750 miles since. Didn't sound like the heads, more like the rods/crank.

[Cruiseman]

Was the bike parked outside since last Thursday, or in a garage?

[Shoeman]

In the garage with temps in the 40-50's on the side stand

[Cruiseman]

I have never dealt with anything quite like this before, so I am not qualified to give advice. Maybe someone else on here with more experience in this particular type of issue will weigh in.

You said it only made the sound for the first 3 seconds? Did it sound OK after that? How long did you let it run after the first 3 seconds?

[cmock]

6300 miles and 2300 miles since last oil change, i had something similar happen on mine, although it wasnt a hard "knock" just a low grade thudding that didnt speed or slow with engine and did not affect the engine. Once it warmed up(outside temps in upper 40s) it went away. Also the tranny is a bit growelly just starting out in first when it is still a bit cool. Once it warms up completely all is well. Basically i think these bikes sound terrible until they are warmed up. My 1500 was never this loud.

[Shoeman]

I was about to shut it down when it went away. Ran great after that. Sure sounded like an empty sump. Just checked the oil and started it again. No Noise

[crabbywinger]

Just a WAG but wonder if it being on the side stand had anything to do with it. I park mine in my unheated garage all year 'round and have never heard the sound you describe, but mine is on the center stand. Might try the center stand and see if you can replicate the same thing. Good luck.

Crabby Bob

[MMR]

Crabby, your WAG is spot on. There is a reason that I park my bikes on the center stand (if the bike has one)...and I do it 99 % of the time. This is very easy to figure out, so common sense and logic should prevail. If you do not have a sidestand assistant...i.e., the Rivco pad that very slightly lifts the sidestand slightly off the ground, and gives the leaning bike less angle, then the bike does lean quite a bit, which causes the oil to drain out of the right side head, and away from the con-rods on the right side pistons. If left in that position for days....in this case almost 6 days, then there is little to no oil in the right head, or those con-rods on the right side.

The older airhead BMWs were notorious for this, and smoked really bad out of the left side muffler, when started on the sidestand.

Seriously...this is not a joke....either park the bike on the center stand like I do, or....at a minimum...center the bike before starting it (stand it up straight for 5 seconds) if you really must use the sidestand.

Think about buying one of these: http://www.rivcoproducts.com/product...8&cat=0&page=1

I have put one on every GL-1800 bike I have owned. Gives you a larger footprint....lifts the bike up a little bit....and it is worth every dime.

Oh, and Shoeman, there is a 99.314159 % chance that you did not damage to your bike's engine.....just don't do it again

[Shoeman]

Makes sense. To top it off I park the thing on a pretty thick rug. The side stand probably sunk into the rug increasing the lean even more.

Thanks Guys!

[Bike49]

It seems odd that there was a unique noise on startup. Many store and start their GL1800's on the side stand. I have on both my earlier GL1800 and now the GL1800B. Never heard a sound like the OP described. Given the proper level of oil the pump should quickly pressure up the system unless it's something abnormal to do with the oil pressure relief valve, clutch assist regulator valve, or the alternator drive gear had momentary issues under load. I've read elsewhere that temporary noise on startup is possible and normal, it's not something I've experienced. Do a search for GL1800 startup noise.

[DGrant]

First thing I think of when I hear descriptions like yours is possibly the alternator-drive-gear(ADG).. That particular sound has been referred to as a "death growl"... Theres a vid floating around that is a great example of it. If you do a search on YouTube like "death growl".. or "ADG".. you might get a hit on it.... I've seen it.. and it is unmistakable once heard.. Thing is.. I do believe that is a persistant sound.. and doesn't just disappear.... I'm sharing this without first-hand experience though... as I've not had one go out personally... so I won't/can't elaborate.. nor should I other then the vid was very informative.... especially for someone that might have that issue.... which I hope I never do.. so this is food for thought here. Good luck.

[srt8-in-largo]

Those Rivco pads are great... but they become the low spot in left hand leans and will scrape. The corner near the locking thread needs to be filed back then it's fine and no longer scrapes.

[Shoeman]

First thing I think of when I hear descriptions like yours is possibly the alternator-drive-gear(ADG).. That particular sound has been referred to as a "death growl"... Theres a vid floating around that is a great example of it. If you do a search on YouTube like "death growl".. or "ADG".. you might get a hit on it.... I've seen it.. and it is unmistakable once heard.. Thing is.. I do believe that is a persistant sound.. and doesn't just disappear.... I'm sharing this without first-hand experience though... as I've not had one go out personally... so I won't/can't elaborate.. nor should I other then the vid was very informative.... especially for someone that might have that issue.... which I hope I never do.. so this is food for thought here. Good luck.

It wasn't the Death Growl. I think Crabby and MMR were onto something, although I have never experienced a dry "high side" on my ST 1300 even after 3-4 weeks of sitting between trips to the Sunshine State last Winter.

Hope I never hear it again and will take precautions. (Center stand or leveling the bike for a spell before hitting the starter) No rattles this morning! 45*, but it only sat for 12 hours.

[wingleader09]

It wasn't the Death Growl. I think Crabby and MMR were onto something, although I have never experienced a dry "high side" on my ST 1300 even after 3-4 weeks of sitting between trips to the Sunshine State last Winter.

Hope I never hear it again and will take precautions. (Center stand or leveling the bike for a spell before hitting the starter) No rattles this morning! 45*, but it only sat for 12 hours.

I always park my bike on the center stand if it will be left for more than a couple of days. I have heard this noise you describe and it was after an extended time on the side stand. An old GW Mechanic friend of mine told me it was because the oil can drain out of the clutch basket and it takes a couple of seconds to refill after starting. He said it doesn't happen all the time, but he's 99.9% sure that is what causes the noise. I have not heard it again after using the center stand when parking for extended periods. Sometimes I put my bike on the side stand when I pull into the garage not knowing how long it will be parked. If it stays that way for more than two days, I put it up on the center stand. I don't want to hear that noise again either.

[Lone Ranger]

Parked it last Thursday do to weather. Came out this morning fired it up and for the first 3 seconds it sounded like a total lack of oil in the case. No leaks...
Never heard anything like it from any of my 4 strokers, even after sitting all Winter.
Last oil change at 6700 with around 750 miles since. Didn't sound like the heads, more like the rods/crank.

Maybe due to being on side stand the oil pressure wasn't attained yet.

[Brad Bates]

Hit the kill switch, turn the bike over a few turns to get some oil pumping start 'er up! I keep mine on the center stand in the garage and on trips so haven't ever experienced this issue. I do the same when I change the oil. Spin the old girl a few times with the kill switch enabled to get some oil circulating.

[crabbywinger]

BB, Good tip. Never too old to learn. Take care and ride safe.

Crabby Bob

[betthe]

Hit the kill switch, turn the bike over a few turns to get some oil pumping start 'er up! I keep mine on the center stand in the garage and on trips so haven't ever experienced this issue. I do the same when I change the oil. Spin the old girl a few times with the kill switch enabled to get some oil circulating.

What kind of bike and year do you have? My '03' GL1800 won't do anything when the kill switch is not in the center position!

[Toyfarm]

What kind of bike and year do you have? My '03' GL1800 won't do anything when the kill switch is not in the center position!

I was thinking the same thing. My 2003 is completly dead when the kill switch is on.

[DGrant]

It wasn't the Death Growl. I think Crabby and MMR were onto something, although I have never experienced a dry "high side" on my ST 1300 even after 3-4 weeks of sitting between trips to the Sunshine State last Winter.

Hope I never hear it again and will take precautions. (Center stand or leveling the bike for a spell before hitting the starter) No rattles this morning! 45*, but it only sat for 12 hours.

Ok... cool.. again not having first hand experience with the "death growl".. I can only pass on the info that I'm aware of as a possibility.. however remote it is.. and I rarely respond/post to issues that I have no first-hand exp... So its all good... for sake of trouble-shooting and coversation.. lets all hope you don't hear anything but a bark of starting.. and a purr of warming up. Have a nice eve.

[Lone Ranger]

Instead of putting my bike on the center stand, I took a piece of wood cut to fit under the side stand and when I put the side stand down I slide the piece of wood under it. This almost makes the bike stand straight up.