*Video Added* "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster off??

Okay, so there has been this screaming/howling noise when i would be cruising along residential streets at 25-35 that has just driving me bonkers.

So today when doing some other stuff to the bike, i Pulled off the gauge cluster to lube the speedo/tach gears.

However, me being a logical person, took it for a spin with the cluster OFF, just to make sure that was the issue. However, the noise is still there, and apparent as ever.

The noise is directly related to rpm, as the rpm's rise, the noise increases, until the rpms are high enough (4k+) which is when i'm either going fast enough to not hear it, or the noise tapers off, or the engine noise overcomes the whirring/howling.

Where should i look next to lube/clean? Any recommendations?

I thought about the speed sensor at the hub, but it's rpm related, and not speed related.

hmmmmmmm.

thoughts?

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

I tried looking at the fische but couldnt find where the rpm sensor is, as i'm assuming that thats gotta be the problem? maybe? i have no idea.

timing chain? lol idk.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

I'll grab a vid.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

I would remove and lube the speedo drive gear on the front wheel. Mine was really dry when I took my front wheel off.

One other thing to check, has your engine been worked on, or re painted? The rubber damperners between the cooling fins actually suppress a lot of buzz from the engine. If yours are missing, might be the noise you are hearing. If you can hear it at idle, get a mechanics stethoscope (or a long screw driver with a hard plastic handle) and probe around the bike till you find.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

tach is electronic, no cable or mechanical pick-up to make any noise on you.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

I'll lube the speedo drive gear again when I pull the wheel off next, but I highly doubt that being the culprit as I lubed that when i put the new tires on at the beginning of the season. Plus the fact that it can make the noise when being completely at a standstill in neutral.

The cooling fin dampeners sound intriguing, where are those supposed to be? I dont think i have ever seen any - that could be the issue perhaps!

I've used a stethoscope, cool things, but i dont have one here at school - would a screwdriver work the same? just touch places till the screwdriver makes noise?

shucks. guess that cuts that outta the question.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

put your ear on the screwdriver handle and place the tip on the motor (think old cowboy and indian movies when the shove the knife in the ground to listen for pursuit or what they are pursuing)

i am a couple states from my bike or i'd snap pics of the rubber dampeners they are just little rubber blocks between some of the fins on the engine

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

They are just small rubber pieces. They are placed at random between the cooling fins on the head. There are even a couple between the fins on the top of the head. I took all of mine off when I refinished the paint on my engine.



First off, this is not my pic. This is a pic from Bigfitz tutorial, and I mean not disrespect from robbing it, but I couldn't fine the ones I took of mine before I removed the dampners. If you look closely you can see 3 of them in this pic just to the outsides of the outer cylinder head bolts.

Yes, a screwdriver with a hard plastic handle will work. I use a stethoscope because it fits in your ears and helps quite other noise and amplifies only what you are probing.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but -

* starter clutch bunged-up

* oil pump injested debris

* Cam chain guide, or alternator chain guide (plastic guide just hanging, rubbing)

These are just guesses - think about pulling the sump (exhaust first) and examine the debris.

I hope it's just something easy.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

this being where? Thanks for the ideas, a solid list to start on. Rather have things to check then just hearing it and having no idea where to check. I'm going to try getting my hands on a stethoscope and using that too.

 

Re: Speedo-howl still present with cluster off???

and what exactly do you mean by "bunged up" ?

Thanks!

 

Re: "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster off???

The starter clutch spins with the engine, the alternator as well. It would be a failed bearing (again - it's a guess) or a shattered starter clutch (no fun)

A "Youtube" of the sound would help.

The sump is your oil pan, and a big window into your motor.
Lay out every bit of debris you find, take a pic, guys here will tell you what the shrapnel is.

 

Re: "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster off???

I'm assuming to pull the oil pan, i gotta take the exhaust off?

I'll throw some vid's up, i took a few last night, dark, but the sound is still there.

 

Re: "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster off???

First Video - While moving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_5wMG5PnkU&feature=plcp

 

Re: "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster off???

Second Video, Stopped:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TAvZkxnHXM&feature=plcp

 

Re: "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster off???

Third Video, Both:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHnx9VPB ... ontext-cha

 

Re: *Video Added* "Speedo"-howl still present with cluster o

this is what my bike sounds like, never thought anything was wrong curious to see what these guys tell ya 8O

 

Umm - cancel the alerts ! That's how our bikes sound.

Here's another Maxim 750 that's not idling clean, and may need a valve adjust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... zvY1igKSCc

All shaft-drive XJ's make a chirping, whining sound keyed to engine RPM

 

I just pretend that's a turbine sound

 

well shucks, guess thats a good thing and a bummer all at the same time! lol.

I love the "xj" sound i just wish that howl would quiet down a bit so i could hear the engine more, haha.

It's deff louder in person than the video, but if thats a normal sound then i gotta trust ya.

But now at least i'm not going to be looking for something thats not broke!

Thanks for the help guys!