750 MaximX Squealing/odd noise HELP!

Anyone got any idea what this is. Took the bike out after 4 or 5 weeks of winter standing in garage. Runs fine, no problems, but every now and again on heavy acceleration I hear this kind of squealing noise, like a dry bearing on a fan. Goes away when I slow down just as suddenly as when it starts on speeding up. Only happens occasionally. Hard to describe the noise, sort of like a cross betwwen a slipping fanbelt and a dry bearing. The sound doesnt seem to change in relation to engine speed or road speed. Very odd, never done this before. Any ideas or suggestions where to start. Cheers

 

Any loud squealing noises are usually associated with a sticking starter clutch. In the colder climates, the grease gets real sticking, causing the starter to turn with the engine. I'm wondering if your starter is partially engaged and that's what you're hearing under heavy acceleration.

One more thing that popped into my mind: chain tensioner. You may need to adjust your chain tensioner. A sloppy chain is prone to make noise, too.

That's my two cents worth.

 

Yep that makes a lot of sense. It sounds very much like the starter turning. That was one of my thoughts. Anything important I need to know before I start taking things apart. Cheers

 

Getting to the starter clutch requires splitting the cases. If you go in you should do the primary chain guide while you're in there.

I'd try to de-gunk the clutch before I tore things down. I'd be tempted to pull the starter and then use the wand from the WD-40 to get in there and hose everything down. Let it sit for a day. Maybe do a couple treatments.

Then I'd do an oil change with a high detergent oil.

Being from Dumfries you'll likely be familiar with my family name - Galloway. Welcome fellow Scotsman!

 

the starter clutch is lubed with the engine oil, maybe a seafoam treatment?
could it be the speedometer cable?

 

Ive no idea what it is, its a really odd noise. Could it be something in the shaft drive, perhaps UJ or bearing?

 

If it's the starter clutch it will do it in neutral.

As Polock stated speedometer and tach cables can make quite a racket.

 

Just to share my stupidity for a moment, I have a 1982 xj750 Maxim. I have had the bike about two years and love it. After about 3 or 4 months of riding, a noise was beginning to become very noticeable. It would only start when I would take off, usually not get loud until 35 mph. As it grew over the next few weeks, I struggled to diagnose the problem, thinking it may be an engine problem. Well, winter came and went with a 3 month storage and finally having some cash to throw at it, I decided to get to the bottom of it and just tear down the engine and fix it. I took it out for one last spin and I need to mention that I have a plexiglas windshield that bounces noise back at me, so I held my head closer to the instrument cluster as I rode (carefully) down my street. The noise turned out to be my speedo cable. I disconnected the cable and shot WD-40 down into the cable and into the other end of the cluster then let it soak awhile. Then I shot some white lithium grease into both and reassembled. No more noise or embarrassing looks as I ride. I'm just glad it turned out to be a cheap and easy fix. I hope this is the case for any of you all if you have that same noise problem. Check that speedo cable first, then move on.

 

I am having this problem with my 650. It just started the other night. It only does it after riding for a few minutes. I can't hear it over 20 MPH. While I am slowing down everyone can hear it. I thought I was losing my mind because I can't diagnose the problem.

 

I am having this problem with my 650. It just started the other night. It only does it after riding for a few minutes. I can't hear it over 20 MPH. While I am slowing down everyone can hear it. I thought I was losing my mind because I can't diagnose the problem.

 

ive got the same issue...

it is a squealing sound almost like a glazed up fan belt. not squeaking but squealing. i cant describe the difference...

ive not addressed it yet though...

 

I'd be getting-out the wood or fiberglass dowel and probing the whole bike and trying to isolate where the squeal is coming from.

If the drain hole on the U-Joint Boot is clogged underneath the Boot ... you might have accumulated water in the Boot that attacked the U-Joint Bearings.

They squeal when the Grease is gone.
Once you hear the U-Joint squealing ... you ain't far from U-Joint failure.
The yoke gets heated and the Bearings bind.

The U-Joint rotates in a dry socket and it wrecks the Yoke and causes the U-Joint to break under the stresses.

Probe everyplace until you hear the squeal and can isolate where its coming from.
Then, you can go look for it and do something about it.

 

I too heard this type of squealing comming from my 82 XJ750's console anywhere from 0-20 mph or so. I decided to crack open the console to clean the tach as well as tighten up one of the screws that held the tach backplate on. The tach was squeaky-clean, although I still cleaned it out with some alcohol and a drop of WD-40.

I also sprayed some WD-40 down the speedometer shaft just in case it was stemming from there.

Lastly, I soldered the wire connections to my new blade-style fuse box.

After doing all three things - the squealing/fan belt sound went away. I don't know what one of those three things solved it, but that's what I did.

 

Small world.

My great grandmother was a Galloway. She was born in Dumfries and the family moved to British Columbia when she was a child.

 

Well, I think I have isolated the high pitched chatter/squeal. It seems to be coming from the front valve cover. It would be on the right side if you are sitting on the bike. Maybe my valves need to be adjusted?? Oh my, I have never done this before.

 

To measure the clearance you need "Feeler Gauges'.
Remove the Valve Cover.
Remove the Left Side Crank Cover.

JacK the Engine over until the Lobe on the Cam is pointed away from the Valve Bucket and Shim.
Slip the Feeler Gauge between the Shim Disc an the Cam Lobe and find-out which Feeler Gauge best bridges the gap.


Thumbnail clearances are about the same across the XJ-Series:
.004 -to- .006 on Intakes
.006 -to- .008 on Exhausts

Inside or outside those limits calls for changing the Shim to be within limits.

 

Thanks. I have a feeler gauge and will try and do this when I get a chance. I hope that is the problem making the sound. Where can I get some good shims and how much should I expect to pay? Hopefully this job wont be too difficult.