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whistle / whine question

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by dmlyster, Sep 17, 2012.

  1. dmlyster

    dmlyster Member

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    My '83 750 Maxim has a whistle during operation. It's not loud and disapears at acceleration. As I'm new to the XJ, (and loving it) does anyone know if this is common to the machine or if it is a symptom of a problem?

    ______________
    '83 XJ750 Maxim (24,000 orig.)
     
    dmlyster, Sep 17, 2012
    #1
  2. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    Yamaha used a straight cut primary gearset on your motorcycle. Very strong and a bit noisy. Typically heard as a whistle - some compare it to a turbo sound.

    The RPM where it's audible will vary a bit from bike to bike, but it will make the noise in neutral and is pretty much not dependent on load.

    If you can hear it in neutral this is probably what you're hearing.

    If it only happens in gear you probably have something in the driveline failing.
     
    MiCarl, Sep 17, 2012
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  3. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    I had the same question as soon as I bought my XJ700N and the advice I got was "...it's normal, and soon you will come to love it." and I pass it on to you as a truism.

    Ride and enjoy!
     
    tabaka45, Sep 17, 2012
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  4. nickbrit16

    nickbrit16 Member

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    My XJ650 seems to make that noise too!
     
    nickbrit16, Sep 17, 2012
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  5. hbwb

    hbwb Member

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    I too noticed this whistle noise but was not concerned about it.
     
    hbwb, Sep 19, 2012
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  6. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

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    mtnbikecrazy55, Sep 19, 2012
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  7. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Luve the sound.

    It's also really fun when people are here for the carb clinics, and bikes go by........nobody really reacts to most bikes as they drive by, BUT......when an XJ is coming, even half a mi away.......a head or two will come up and someone'll say, "Sounds like another XJ coming in........" Sure enough, here's comes another xj to the clinic.

    Dave F
     
    hogfiddles, Sep 19, 2012
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    TheCrazyGnat and wgul like this.
  8. wgul

    wgul Active Member

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    Remember George Jetson's scooter ? When I first heard my xj, it reminded me of that . I like it.
     
    wgul, Sep 19, 2017
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    hogfiddles and TheCrazyGnat like this.
  9. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    yup sounds just like a jetson's machine and judy always wants to go for a ride
     
    XJ550H, Sep 20, 2017
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    wgul likes this.
  10. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    GM also used straight-cut gears on some of their late 60’s muscle cars in the M22 “rockcrusher” 4-speeds. You can hear that same distinctive (some would call it almost musical…….) transmission whine even over the engine sounds in this video:



    Of course, if you prefer your gear whine without bothering to use a clutch, try this:

     
    chacal, Sep 20, 2017
    #10
  11. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    music to my ears thanks for the trip down memory lane
     
    XJ550H, Sep 20, 2017
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  12. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    More whining for the memory chips, real action starts at 1:35 into the video:



    Listen to that whine as he goes into 2nd gear.......sounds just like a Yamaha!
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2017
    chacal, Sep 20, 2017
    #12
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