strange sound

When I start my bike and let it idle I get a strange noise from the motor. It sounds like a bird chirping, any ideas?

 

Are thevalves in spec? If they are, there will still be some slight noise, but if they are not, there could be all kinds of strange sounds.

Where is the sound coming from? Top of the engine, bottom of the engine, etc?

 

I had a noise like this and could not find it for weeks. It sounded like a small
squeak like squeak squeak squeak. It turned out that the number 4 carb intake rubber had come loose where it bolts onto the engine allowing a small
amount of air to get in on every intake stroke. It drove me crazy until I found
it.

Bob

 

Air suction on intake is also a good idea. If you are able, take a video of it and rev up a little bit.

 

Exhaust leak at the head.

How about you kill off the duplicate thread?

 

I will kill the other thread didn't see it posted twice, don't cry fitz.

 

Oh an thanks sounds like it is on the intake side

 

Do the "unlit propane torch" trick to probe for vacuum leaks; if it's on the intake side that'll locate it for you.

 

Good iea wil do, I think it. Might be an untightened spark plug but I will check with a torch too. Thanks. Just rode it to dam its aweesome. I willpost a new thread tnight with pics

 

Don't be riding it until you find and fix the sound; if it's an intake leak you could hole a piston.

 

It sounds like it is eminating from the upper left of the motor, it is loud enough that i can hear it over the cut off headers. Motor runs great minus the massive chirping bird living in the top of my motor

 

looks like you msy hsve the problem figured out based on our usual resident experts - boy I learn so much from visiting here thanks - for what it is worth, I often use the screwdriver method of tracing odd noises - with the engine running place the tip of a long screwdriver on the area where it seems to be coming from - put your ear up to the opposite or handle end moving the tip from place to place listening until the noise gets louder - thanks again for the great advise - drive carefully everyone

 

Is there a chance that the sound coud be coming from a bad cylinder head gasket. I was reading my manul and it stated that a blow by at the head gasket can make aloud chirping noise. Has anyone experienced this?

 

A blown head gasket definitely might cause a sort of puffing sound. Do you have acompression tester? Performing this test is a pretty basic indicator that will help getting to know your engine better, and is done periodically for maintenance.

Your manual should also have some instructions on how this is done.

 

BINGO.

See what numbers it makes. That'll diagnose a head gasket leak and if the numbers are fine, it's probably an exhaust gasket leak.

 

Thanks gentlemen onward and upward

 

Checked the exhaust and appears to be no leaks, any chance a lower main bearing could be going out and making that much noise.

 

Slightly out on a limb here: Get a mechanic's stethoscope (or a long screwdriver) and try to isolate the source of the noise. If it's near the topend, I'd pull the valve cover off immediately and look for signs of oil starvation.

 

Did you do a compression test? To test for a head gasket issue?

How did a chirping sound from the top of the motor become a main bearing "going out?" (HIGHLY UNLIKELY)

"Checked the exhaust" did you remove the nuts on each headpipe and have a look at the gaskets? You'll see obvious signs of the blowby if it is exhaust related, but not unless you take it apart and look. You can't see anything just looking from the outside. You CAN sometimes detect an exhaust leak by holding a strip of paper up near the pipe-head junctions and seeing if it gets deflected, but you have to get lucky... true diagnosis will require some disassembly.

If you had the exhaust head pipes off and didn't replace the gaskets, then a head-pipe leak still gets my vote.

 

Pulled al head pipes off and they all hace new gasket from chacal. I will prob pull the to off and check the valves next.

 

So, the answer is no, you didn't do a compression test. To find out if it's a head gasket leak.

One of the concepts behind this site is when you have a problem, we try to give you solid, experience-based advice.

If you then TAKE that advice, we can help you make progress on your problem.

However if you ignore the advice given, you aren't making any progress and we're wasting our time.

Get back to us with the results of the advised compression test, because a head gasket leak IS a possibility.

Fitz out.

 

when I get my hands on a compression tester I will do that promptly, wow for a big guy you sure wear your feelings on your sleeve. Must have bee picked on as a kid. Remember tears and keyboards don't miix.

 

I don't know where the personal attacks keep coming from, it's the second time you've done that and it's wholly unnecessary.

DIAGNOSE your problem; don't GUESS.

The next step in diagnosis is a compression test. Until those results are in, all the conjecture is just a waste of time. You asked for advice, it was given (and not even by me.) Take it. Until then, you're wasting our time.

MY XJs run fine; I'm not crying about anything.

 

Ok will diagnose, I gotta buddy who is a triumph mechanic, he should have one. semper fi. Lol stay strong