Hey guys, just noticed something new on the bike recently. Let me explain. When accelerating from 1st gear, and in 2nd you can hear a very slight squealing noise. It's kind of like a squealing belt on a car, but not nearly as loud. It's JUST loud enough to barely hear it over the exhaust/engine noise when riding the bike, but you certainly couldn't hear it if you were not riding the bike. Here are the symptoms and things I've ruled out.
Symtoms:
-ONLY does this under load. You can free rev the bike and it does not make a sound. You can coast on the bike and it does not make a sound. You can be in gear and engine braking and it does not make a sound. As soon as you apply any throttle to accelerate you can hear it.
- Basically anytime the clutch is engaged and there is power going down it will do it. If i rev up the motor and slip the clutch out while the motor is winding back down to idle you can hear it briefly.
- Only in 1st/2nd gears can you notice it. Probably happening in other gears but you cannot hear it at all.
- Not very loud, but enough to be annoying since I know it is not normal.
Things I've ruled out:
-Oil is full, both on the motor and primary. Not low oil.
-Does not seem to be an exhaust leak, or an exhaust rubbing issue, etc.
-Nothing on the chassis, as it does not do the noise when coasting, braking, etc. Does not make the noise in gear when engine braking, only when power is applied.
Give me some ideas guys. Clutch, primary, etc? I'm lost but those are what I'm leaning towards due to the symptoms.
Let me add the only recent changes.
New tires and new rear wheel bearings. I didn't think the bearings could be the issue since it is only under load, seems like they would squeal even while coasting if that were the issue. The closest way i could describe it is an alternator belt squealing, albeit quieter. But it sounds like a rubber belt. Maybe the drive belt? It looks in great condition.
I've got a spare belt tensioner in the garage I'm going to try. I did have the belt off and back on, anything I should look for there?
Idler pulley bearings are seizing causing the belt to slide over the pully surface. Lookk for discoloration of outside belt surface & running surface of pulley wheel (it should have a uniform black coated surface).
Replace bearings and you'll be good to go. Do it soon because it'll only get worse and your belt is taking the abuse.
...that's my guess based on personal experience with this same symptom.
^ I concur. I would change the idler wheel bearings.
an update on this.. i replaced the idler wheel bearings.. still squeaks. I replaced the front wheelbearings, still squeaks. It only squeaks while rolling, if you shut of the motor with it in gear and roll down a hill, you can hear it. If you drag the brakes it doesn't change, so almost certain its not coming from there. It's not the motor, because it does it with the motor off.
I'm almost 100% sure it is the belt. It's louder when it is cold. The belt feels super dry, and when i move the belt i can hear the noise. I sprayed some belt dressing on the belt for temporary, and it seemed to mostly go away.
Will probably get a new belt, i'll make sure to update this thread one day when I do.
Screw it, I'd just ride on...
lol alien, pretty much what I'm going to do. I'll replace it when it annoys me enough or breaks, whichever comes first. For now the $$ will be spent on things like axle sliders, case sliders, and gear for myself :)
If I'm interpreting your description of the squeak correctly, I hear the same thing when pushing my XB around the garage. I believe it's just the belt teeth engaging the sprockets. I've never considered it to be a problem myself...It only squeaks while rolling, if you shut of the motor with it in gear and roll down a hill, you can hear it... It's not the motor, because it does it with the motor off.
Turn your music up or wear ear plugs
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