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Elusive high pitched noise - FOUND

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by redcentre003, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. redcentre003

    redcentre003 Member

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    Well, I've replied to posts here a couple of times with owners who have tried to find the source of hjigh pitched mechanical wheezing whining type noises. For some it might have been a jammed starter/starter clutch issue or something similar down that area of the crankcase. For a couple of months now I've had this intermittent high pitched noise too - comes and goes - nothing for three days and then start it up and...there it is. Turn off the engine, restart and it's gone. Frustrating. Trying to bring it to the attention of a fellow rider/mechanic and when you want it to happen, it just doesn't!

    Well, silly me...took the (old, veryy old) 4 into 1's off last week to do a bit of cleaning etc. and noticed a couple of small holes where the headers go into the muffler; the joim sits right under the crankcase, roughly where the sound was coming from. OK - let's see - a temporary fix with some muffler putty, put it back and...hasn't happened since! I think my pipes were actually whistling(!!??) - The noise hasn't returned and things are quieter right down there between my legs at the bottom of the crankcase. Those small holes must have been just the right size and shape to allow some sort of intermittent high pitched whistling to occur, sounding almost metallic as it shot up against the bottom of the crankcase. Go figure. If the noise comes back, and it isn't the hole in the header/muffler that's making it then I'll embarassingly confess my error to the group - Dear Father of XJ's, forgive me for I have sinned...
    But right now, I'm feeling confident and the only sinning I'm going to do is around those bends up yonder...
     
  2. oby_2

    oby_2 Member

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    Nice work and a much better end result than some of those other issues. Enjoy the riding. I'm still some way off getting back on the road but parts should arive while I go to Fiji to um, um, tie the knot, so with that out of the way I can get back to the rebuild!

    oby
     
  3. mhhpartner

    mhhpartner Member

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    Red:

    Not sure from your description, but there are some moisture drain holes that are supposed to be in the bottom of the pipes to drain condensation and prevent the pipes from rusting out.

    So if what you patched were rust holes - good on ya! But if they were drain holes, you might want to open them back up.

    At any rate, I'm glad you found the cause and can put your mind at ease.

    My 400 has started "whistling" at fast idle from the tail end of the pipes, but I don't notice it when riding. I'm assuming some rust flakes or other debris has clogged some of the baffle holes, but I've got to do a little research.

    Stay safe!
    Herb
     

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