SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1248582506

Message started by LostArtist on 07/25/09 at 21:28:26

Title: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by LostArtist on 07/25/09 at 21:28:26

my bike is starting to make a weird chriping or rattling noise

it seems to be coming from the exhaust area, but it only does it when the throttle is on, not at idle or when coasting in neutral and it happens with the bike moving or not so it's not the belt since the belt doesn't move when the bike's not moving and the chirping still happens

it's time for the 4000 mi service, do I just need to tighten something up?

engine seems to be running just fine, no lack in power or anything.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Savage Eddie on 07/25/09 at 21:59:10

start checking for loose parts! if you can make it happen sitting still, you got it made...
loose pipes? loose battery box? can ya isolate the noise? i had a weird chirp after swapping my exhaust, yea.....forgot to tighten the sleeve and almost lost the exhaust

unlike the annoying headlight rattle that's getting progressively worse and only happens during cruising speeds, hard to make a noise stop while hanging over the handlebars :o

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by verslagen1 on 07/25/09 at 22:52:08

when you hear the noise, put your hand on the various places likely to rattle.
Check the headlight
check the speedo
check the cables against the headlight
check the drive pulley nut

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by thumperclone on 07/26/09 at 05:19:05

check belt guard(bang gently with your fist or rubber malllet) where the guard is covered by the front pully cover..
insulator goes there part# 14789-24B12

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Ed L. on 07/26/09 at 07:00:53

Maybe it's a loose baffle in the muffler, had it happen on a pickup and it sounded like a bad bearing. It drove me nuts till I figured it out. If the header pipe has been taken off and put back on then the round exhaust gasket at the head probably has been crushed and is leaking. You can't tell how much it has been compacted till you compare it with a new one. Mine was almost 1/2 the thickness of a new one last time I had the header off.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by LostArtist on 07/26/09 at 10:02:39

okay, nothing seems loose, so I'm guessing it's something in the muffler, if an idiot takes a muffler apart will be able to put it together again?? ;)

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Ed L. on 07/26/09 at 18:07:37

carefully stick a broom stick up the muffler till it hits the baffle when the bike is making the noise and see if the noise stops. Does the bike only have 4000 miles on it or is it just due for a 4000 mile check?

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by LostArtist on 07/26/09 at 20:33:53

I broom stick? seriously? like a metal one right? cool :) the bike has 4395 miles on it, it looks like it has a 50% chance of rain for tomorrow, how much damage could this do if I either screw it up or just don't do anything? the sound is minor but annoying and I don't here it over 55 mph, well, that's just because of wind noise though, I'm sure it's still there

thanks

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Serowbot on 07/26/09 at 21:40:14

Chances are 99% it's nothing serious... I wouldn't be too worried...

Double check that speedo,... try twisting, lightly prying up, mashing down.. every which way as you're riding down the road, (don't crash)... it's a very common squeaky spot...

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Savage Eddie on 07/27/09 at 03:54:16

Funny you should say that cause i read the post about a headlight rattle and it turned into a creative spacer/rubber hose mount for the speedometer.....sure enough, i put my finger on the noise! literally!!! placed my thumb on the speedo and the noise stopped...heh, you guys rock!!!

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Ed L. on 07/27/09 at 07:15:31

I'm betting that the header pipe is a little loose at the head. When the engine is cold tighten the two nuts at the head. Don't ovrtighten, just cinch them up a little. I've never tried the broomhandle up the muffler trick but it should be the easiest way to check if you've got a loose baffle. You could be hearing something vibrate, do as others have suggested, wander around the bike when it is running and check different parts like the sheet metal and headlight.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Tonydtiger1971 on 07/27/09 at 19:04:28

I think I have the same problem. A chirping noise when accelerating usually when the RPM's get moderately high right before you need to change the gear. Never hear it in 5th gear. Do I need to oil the speedometer cable?

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Serowbot on 07/27/09 at 19:18:45

nope,... look in the Tech Section on how to stop the speedo rattle...

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by lithdoc on 07/30/09 at 16:36:56

Well, I think I got quite the same problem as well, it sounds like its coming from the exhaust somewhere...

When I look at the muffler, it seems like the baffle has been welded in. Either way, now I have more differential diagnoses to consider, such as the rattling headlamp and the speedometer.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by runwyrlph on 07/30/09 at 16:41:16

sound familiar - i did the speedo mod last year - just followed the directions in the tech section - problem solved!

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by LostArtist on 07/30/09 at 17:02:07

I'm deffinitely going to look into the speedo rattle this weekend, well at least go get all the parts, I'll need to borrow a friends garage to work on it though, at least now I know it's probably nothing major and can still ride to work

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by grandpa on 08/01/09 at 17:06:56

Check out the dodging the pulley bullit post. I had the same noise as some others. Someone called it the 'wheel of fortune' noise. Only when rolling forward, power on or off. Some guys have found the front pulley loose in spite of the lock washer. I had a loose rear axle bolt. Thought I had been torqueing it every other oil change or so. Was just loose enough that the rear drive pulley could wobble a little with a little bearing play. Work and rain have prevented a full test. Up and down the driveway says that it's fixed. Quick and simple fix. Had been driving me nuts for a month of more of daily commuting.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by LostArtist on 08/01/09 at 21:40:03

don't think it's the pulley, the noise happens when the bike isn't moving too, just throttle on, neutral or not, when it's idle there is no noise, I'm leaning towards the speedo noise cause it sounds more like a rattle, especially through my helmet, I think the vibration of the engine when throttle is on causes the rattle, when I squeeze the gas tank with my legs as I'm riding the noise lessens but doesn't go away completely, even though with helmet off it kinda sounds like it's coming from the exhaust, I think that's just the sound traveling through the ending from the speedo some funny way.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by Sir mick on 08/02/09 at 00:48:12

I had the very same problem, it turned out to be the belt drive cover,or the belt wheel rubbing on theinside of the cover,the bolts that hold it on have to be in exactly the same spot they where in as new,if you have ever taken it off ,take it off again and check for rubbing marks on the inside of the cover.

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by savageken on 08/02/09 at 15:09:15

Had a rattle like that, drove me crazy reached up and touched the visor on my helmet (rattle stopped) visor snaps were loose

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by T Mack 1 on 08/02/09 at 15:22:55

Could it be a whistle, not a chirp? The exhaust is known to make a noise just above idle. Similar to the old style VW bugs.

Just a thought....

Title: Re: does this sound like a mechanics nightmare
Post by LostArtist on 08/02/09 at 15:33:19

I'll probably live with this for another couple of weeks then tear the speedo out and see what's up, how hard is it to replace the speedometer all together? maybe get one with a tach or a better odometer with a tripometer on it or something, eventually I'm thinking of getting a sportster tank and separate speedo and tach gages to put up on the handle bars instead of on the gas tank, anyone got any examples of that or advice? all this is probably 2 years down the road right now, but I"ll fix the noise in the next few weeks if it's the speedo thing, just hard to let it run out of gas, can't ride without gas ;)