Whine?

BonScott77 · Oct 6, 2016

Hi All,

Did 300 miles on bike today and when decelerating I can hear a whine or a harmonic noise from either middle or rear of bike. Not sure. Pulled clutch in and noise still there. It's not loud under acceleration but maybe little louder upon deceleration. Checked front wheel bearings front wheel spun etc and all fine and rear. Is this a characteristic or something else? I am new to these bikes also.

Many Thanks

Peter

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ToddC · Oct 6, 2016

Does it sound like George Jetson's space car???

If so...it is the valve drive.....chain tension. Common noise on the 1300.

ToddC

Rekoob · Oct 6, 2016

Is it at a specific speed or any time? I get some wheel whine or hum, not sure what to call it, at 45ish give or take. Kind of like truck tires humming but not that loud.

BonScott77 · Oct 6, 2016

ToddC said:
Does it sound like George Jetson's space car???

If so...it is the valve drive.....chain tension. Common noise on the 1300.

ToddC

Sorry mate its the 1100. It's a different noise from the jetsons whine lol

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BonScott77 · Oct 6, 2016

Rekoob said:
Is it at a specific speed or any time? I get some wheel whine or hum, not sure what to call it, at 45ish give or take. Kind of like truck tires humming but not that loud.

It's slight on acceleration and can hear it on deceleration. Sometimes it does not do it. More noticeable on motorway at speeds above 45ish etc when I was heading back from Scottish Borders.

Cheers

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Bush · Oct 6, 2016

It is probably gear whine from the gears that drive the cams. Not to worry about that.

Even though you have posted in the 1100 Tech section, some viewers go to the "What's New" section of the board and click on topics without noticing which bike, or sub section, it is relevant to. Thus the confusion over 1100 or 1300. To help clarify this for those not paying attention, it is helpful if you put your year and model in the info accompanying your name and avatar, as you see in mine.

BonScott77 · Oct 6, 2016

Bush said:
It is probably gear whine from the gears that drive the cams. Not to worry about that.

Even though you have posted in the 1100 Tech section, some viewers go to the "What's New" section of the board and click on topics without noticing which bike, or sub section, it is relevant to. Thus the confusion over 1100 or 1300. To help clarify this for those not paying attention, it is helpful if you put your year and model in the info accompanying your name and avatar, as you see in mine.

Cheers mate. So it's normal. Pull clutch in can still hear it. Wouldn't be final drive or anything?

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Jim Van · Oct 6, 2016

May be a noisy cam BELT tensioner or idler pulley bearing.

But there also is a characteristic whine from the straight-cut camshaft gears.

You may want to compare the sound with another ST1100 , if possible, to determine if you have a real problem or not. How many miles on your bike ??

BonScott77 · Oct 6, 2016

Jim Van said:
May be a noisy cam BELT tensioner or idle pulley bearing.

But there also is a characteristic whine from the straight-cut camshaft gears.

You may want to compare the sound with another ST1100 , if possible, to determine if you have a real problem or not. How many miles on your bike ??

Hi. 32000 miles. Near enough a full service history. 2001 abs/tcs/cbs model.

Cheers

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Brant · Oct 6, 2016

BonScott77 said:
It's slight on acceleration and can hear it on deceleration. Sometimes it does not do it. More noticeable on motorway at speeds above 45ish etc when I was heading back from Scottish Borders.

Cheers

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So, tell me, when have you, or are going to change oil in that final drive?

. 75w-140 synthetic(Redline, Royal Purple,etc.) IS gonna be the best bet.

Brant · Oct 6, 2016

BonScott77 said:
Hi. 32000 miles. Near enough a full service history. 2001 abs/tcs/cbs model.

Cheers

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....Would'nt bet that included oil change in final drive

.

ST1100Y · Oct 7, 2016

Possible the final drive...?
My '00 did that from day one, had the drive overhauled/adjusted under warranty: still present; changed the oil to higher viscosity: less audible, still there...
Approaching an intersection, disengaging the clutch to slow down and while coasting before applying brakes it goes "....yiiiing-yiiing-yiingyingyingying...", like the tranny of an old, rear wheel drive FIAT... :rofl1:

Problem is that its very silent, so no mech or other person ever notices it during a test-ride...
And neither my previous '92, nor the other '94 are showing it...

Jim Van · Oct 7, 2016

Low mileage, but the grease in the pulley bearings is 15 years old ..........

Should be able to differentiate a whine from the engine/ trans from a rear drive whine, I would think ......

BonScott77 · Oct 9, 2016

Brant said:
So, tell me, when have you, or are going to change oil in that final drive?. 75w-140 synthetic(Redline, Royal Purple,etc.) IS gonna be the best bet.

Doing it soon. Full service and carb balance over the next few weeks.

Cheers

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BonScott77 · Oct 9, 2016

jfheath said:
Its easy enough to determine whether its engine noise or rolling noise. Find a stretch of quiet road, get it to produce the whine. Pull the clutch in and let the revs drop. Or to be more certain, pull the clutch in and cut the engine (red cutout switch). If it is still there, it must be wheel /brake / final drive related. (Make sure you have the clutch pulled in when you turn the red cutout switch back on and then release the clutch gently - the engine will restart as the clutch engages and you can then match the revs of the engine to the speed of the bike.)

If it disappears when the engine isn't running, then the whine must be related to the engine running -in which case you should be able to hear it when the bike is stationary. A stethoscope, or a screwdriver blade held against various parts of the engine with the handle held against the ear reveals the location of all sorts of noises.

The there's the 'gotcha' whine which can come from the plastic radiator grill covering, and /or where the clear the windshield meets the black lower windshield. I found at some speeds the air flow can get into the gaps and create a whistle / whine.

At motorway speeds I have pulled clutch in and noise is there. Have not tried killswitch yet but will do. Can't hear it at idle only when getting up to speed and moreso decelerating. Not loud but I can hear it.

Cheers

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BonScott77 · Oct 9, 2016

ST1100Y said:
Possible the final drive...?
My '00 did that from day one, had the drive overhauled/adjusted under warranty: still present; changed the oil to higher viscosity: less audible, still there...
Approaching an intersection, disengaging the clutch to slow down and while coasting before applying brakes it goes "....yiiiing-yiiing-yiingyingyingying...", like the tranny of an old, rear wheel drive FIAT...
Problem is that its very silent, so no mech or other person ever notices it during a test-ride...
And neither my previous '92, nor the other '94 are showing it...

That's what it's like. I thought initially was engine noise or possibly wind through mra vario or other areas of fairing radiator etc. Did you have issues with final drive doing this even after investigation etc?

Cheers

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BonScott77 · Oct 9, 2016

Jim Van said:
Low mileage, but the grease in the pulley bearings is 15 years old ..........

Should be able to differentiate a whine from the engine/ trans from a rear drive whine, I would think ......

It's subtle and seems to be from centre I think of bike. Only notice on motorways. Slight on acceleration and slightly more on deceleration.

Cheers

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ST1100Y · Oct 9, 2016

BonScott77 said:
Did you have issues with final drive doing this even after investigation etc?

No, packed 75W140 Bel-Ray gear safer into the drive, noise still present, 90.000 trouble free km now...

BonScott77 · Oct 9, 2016

ST1100Y said:
No, packed 75W140 Bel-Ray gear safer into the drive, noise still present, 90.000 trouble free km now...

Hoping that's all it is. Changing final drive oil and will have a look at splines and re lube them.

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