| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Figured I would throw it out here. I started my trackday bike this morning after about 3-4 weeks of sitting. It's the first time I have heard/noticed this noise, but it sounded like a squeeky car belt noise. The noise got progressively louder, then the bike stopped running. Happened about 3 times like this, until it finally kept running long enough to get warmed up. I never goosed the throttle, just let it idle until warm. After reaching normal operating temperature, it ran perfectly fine. It also ran without the aforementioned noise when I restarted the bike once or twice. FOr those motorheads, any idea what this squeeky belt-like noise could possibly be? I know, difficult to tell, but someone with knowledge of the engine internals might have a clue? Am I being overly paranoid here being concerned? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
BTW, I will add that the bike was run dry of fuel during the last session of my last track day. That Erik Buell Racing race ECM sure does make it easier to burn some dead dinosaurs! | ||
| Chevycummins |
Hard to tell Fresno, I've herd lots of noises in my life of a mechanic. Some things that could sound like a loud belt squeak are, dry bearing, main or rod, dry cam, possibly a vacuum leak, starter clutch, dry cylinders. What is the history of this bike and was it out of the weather while it was sitting? | ||
| Chevycummins |
Fuel pump? | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Fuel pump is my first thought. | ||
| Torquaholic |
with a full gas tank, just turning the key to the on position should energize the fuel pump and prime the fuel lines. Do you hear this squeak only when the engine is running, or can you hear it with the motor off, but key-on? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Bike was in the garage with moderate weather conditions. Ran wonderfully at the track. Ran out of gas the last session. Put some fuel in at the track and it fired up. Brought it home where it's been sitting for 3-4 weeks. Attempted to start it a couple days ago, where it started briefly, but only after I straightened it up from the sidestand. Previous experience told me it was the fuel issue. Put a good gallon in today and then the the belt-squeek noise happened during warmup. WOuldn't have concerned me, but it the sound got louder and eventually the bike died. Once the bike got to normal operating temperature all seem fine, no noise whatsoever. No noise unless the motor is running. I am hoping it was a dry fuel pump getting lubricated with go-go juice and possibly the killing of the motor was empty fuel lines--but that wouldn't make sense if Torquaholic's assessment is the case. I will go home after work and fire her up. If it's related to running dry of fuel, then there should be no noise at this point. | ||
| Torquaholic |
after running a tank dry, it may take a few key-on/key-off to prime an fuel system enough to pressurize the lines. I hope that's the issue here. If it is the fuel pump running dry, it doesn't make sense to me to only make noise when the motor is running. To me, that sounds more like a bearing running dry. How's your oil level? i think the oil pickup is on the right side (gas/brake side)... which might help explain why it starting once you got it off the sidestand and stood it straight up. it may have been starving, cavitating the oil pump leaning to the left if the oil level is too low. only downside to testing this theory is that the oil level check is usually done with a warm engine. I believe, even on a cold engine, standing it straight up, you should see oil on the lower tip of the dipstick. If you don't, then it might be a good thing to just drain and refill the oil, especially since the track day may have worn your oil a good bit more than normal street riding. (Message edited by Torquaholic on May 12, 2010) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
If you don't, then it might be a good thing to just drain and refill the oil, especially since the track day may have worn your oil a good bit more than normal street riding. Yes, that is on the list of things to do--maybe even this afternoon. I have enough miles btwn the last oil change anyway. I did pull the dipstick after the warmup this morning and it was dry--however I didn't think too much of it as the check procedure is SO finicky. I will for sure do a cold check this afternoon as well. I have never had a problem with the motor burning oil. I hope the cold check shows shows some oil. Otherwise, I will change out the oil immediately before trying to start the motor again. I don't know at this point, but I appreciate all the input! | ||
| Lastonetherebuys |
Off topic but just a thought if you do the corect hot oil check procedure could you not leave it on the side and cool down say over night and then check it again and where it is on the stick be a corect level for cold sidestand checks? (Message edited by lastonetherebuys on May 12, 2010) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
My cold check is simply to stand the bike up vertical for a minute or so and take a reading. From past experience, it should be about the "low" level tick mark. If it's completely dry, I will be concerned. But still, I would have a hard time believing I burned that much oil in 2,500 miles to starve the engine--I think only one track day thrown in there. | ||
| Socoken |
I started mine cold, and after sitting for a month or so and got a pretty serious howl/squeel once. It sounded to me like it was coming from the stator side, and it went away after the bike ran enough to charge up, so thats what I figured mine was doing. It hasnt done it since, and I keep it on a tender or ride it frequently. | ||
| Dannybuell |
mine has a loud knock on clutch upper left side when it is cold, piston slap? Scares me a bit and goes away when warm. | ||
| Dirty_john |
Not to be alarmist but does it sound like a spinning bearing in a water pump? over here in the UK Ford cars used to be easily distinguishable from cold startup, quite a few of them would have spinning water pump bearings which only expanded and "gripped" the casing they had been pressed into when the coolant warmed up - just a thought | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Alarmist okay. Certainly could be a spinning water pump bearing, as a matter of act the squeek seems to be emanating from that area--although it's damn hard to tell. As I felt in my gut yesterday, it's not a fuel pump related issue. Went home and the issue replicated itself identically to the morning--fuel pump and lines would have been primed for sure from the morning. Oil level was found to be acceptable--possibly on the low side, but certainly would not starve the motor. Longshot might be the oil filter screen--that's never been cleaned....possible blockage down there? And that's assuming this is an oil related problem. Dunno fellas. Probably will change the oil and clear the filter screen this weekend. I hope I am making an issue out of something benign. Thanks for all the suggestions... | ||
| Dirty_john |
good luck, when you finally find out the cause can you post it up please | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I certainly will if any conclusions can be made. |
