High pitch whistle

bebop · 10-05-2008, 09:40 PM

I haven't had the 06 1600 Classic for very long and have only put on about 1k of the 6k miles. It had V&H Big Shots on it when I bought it that initially masked other sounds since I was not used to loud pipes.

I've been noticing what seems like a faint high pitch whistle in all gears. The pitch gets higher with increased RPMs. It drops lower as I shift to the next gear and then gets higher with the RPMs again. When I pull in the clutch lever it disappears but comes back when the clutch is released. At first I thought I was hearing a distant siren until I realized it was coming from the bike. Now it concerns me that something is not right or maybe there is some kind of air leak.

Is this normal or do I have a problem?

Cheers!

**Idaho** · 10-05-2008, 09:49 PM

This is new to me. Be sure to post it in the Garage.

ells · 10-05-2008, 10:11 PM

Haven't heard of that one and no ideas here. I do like to being able to hear the different sounds my bike does make.

**schoeney** · 10-06-2008, 10:32 AM

Is it possible you are hearing the vent in the gas cap? I hear mine whistle when it is hot.

**schoeney** · 10-06-2008, 10:33 AM

I should have read closer....the vent cap noise wouldn't go away when you pull the clutch in...sorry.

cactusjack · 10-06-2008, 11:07 AM

A whistle is an air-caused noise, a squeal is mechanical. Are you sure it's a whistle?

I once had a whistle in a crappy car I drove for awhile, a 1975 Vega my brother in law gave me after he blew the engine in it. I put in a used motor I bought from a salvage yard. It had a whistle, at first I thought it was mechanical, like a bad cam bearing, but it turned out to be caused by the intake/exhaust manifold gasket (all one piece on this mechanical wonder). I replaced the gasket, reinstalled the manifolds, and no more whistle. When you shift gears, you release the throttle, which closes the butterflies and drops the manifold vacuum.

In your case, you are saying when you engage the clutch, the sound goes away, and when you release the clutch, the sound reappears. Does it do this if the bike is idling and you're just working the clutch, or is it while riding and as you are working the clutch you are also working the throttle?

dogdoc · 10-06-2008, 12:33 PM

sounds clutch related by what you described Bebop but Im no mechanic like some on here.

jonsamson · 10-09-2008, 09:20 PM

I thought the 06 1600 were FI, not carb, thus there wouldn't be a butterfly valves would there? Higher revs, more whistle, something with exhaust leaking?

cactusjack · 10-09-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonsamson

I thought the 06 1600 were FI, not carb, thus there wouldn't be a butterfly valves would there? Higher revs, more whistle, something with exhaust leaking?

You still have an intake system and butterfly valves in the throttle body and you still have vacuum, even in an FI system.

bebop · 10-10-2008, 06:31 AM

Work and rain have prevented me from riding the last few days so I couldn't answer some of the questions. I'll try this morning to listen more carefully and to be as specific as possible. It is a challenge to put a sound into words.

The wife also gets on my case if I lean over to put my ear near the engine to listen even though she is on her own bike. I keep telling her the medical and life insurance is paid up. So while she is at work and the rain holds off I'll give it another try.

Cheers!

bebop · 10-10-2008, 08:33 PM

I finally got the bike out today. It's difficult to describe the sound but it is like a steady very high pitch faint whistle or whine. I didn't wear my full face helmet this time to try and more easily locate where the sound is coming from. For what ever reason the sound wasn't as loud or maybe the helmet cancels some sounds. It appears to come from the front of the bike and not directly below the seat or the back. It is difficult to tell but it seems to be easier to hear on the right side. It can be heard in all gears as you accelerate as well as decelerate when using the engine to slow down in addition to brakes. The higher the RPM the higher the pitch of the sound. It is not apparent when the clutch lever is pulled in - only when in gear. If I am stationary with the engine reving I don't hear the sound when the bike is in neutral or in gear with the clutch is pulled in. So it only occurs when I'm moving.

That's about it. I'll change the engine oil and final drive oil next weekend since it is due. I'm thinking it may be coming from the front end but I don't know how a bearing could make this sound and I'm not a mechanic. Any suggestions for places to look will be welcome. If anyone is near the Jacksonville, Fl (Northeast Florida) area that has mechanical experience I would be glad to ride over for some advice. Maybe it's not a problem but I hate not knowing what the sounds are coming from the bike in case it would cause future problems. I planning on keeping this bike for a long time.

Cheers!

**Idaho** · 10-14-2008, 10:17 PM

Any chance that you can put the bike on a jack and strap it down then start it up and put it in gear to see if the whistle is still there? This might tell you if it is in the drivetrain or the front end as you speculate. And with the bike on the jack you could listen to every nook and cranny with a hose for a stethoscope.

VulcanE · 10-15-2008, 08:40 AM

Very good idea Idaho. And when I wear a full face helmet (witch isn't often) all the bike noises seem louder.

bobzinger · 10-15-2008, 09:50 AM

My wife keeps saying she hears a faint whine coming from the front of our 2005 1600 Nomad. I don't hear it, but now you have me wondering.

dogdoc · 10-15-2008, 01:36 PM

The idea on the jack would eliminate air causing the noise since not moving.

10-05-2008, 09:40 PM	#1
bebop Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlantic Beach, Fl Posts: 78	High pitch whistle I haven't had the 06 1600 Classic for very long and have only put on about 1k of the 6k miles. It had V&H Big Shots on it when I bought it that initially masked other sounds since I was not used to loud pipes. I've been noticing what seems like a faint high pitch whistle in all gears. The pitch gets higher with increased RPMs. It drops lower as I shift to the next gear and then gets higher with the RPMs again. When I pull in the clutch lever it disappears but comes back when the clutch is released. At first I thought I was hearing a distant siren until I realized it was coming from the bike. Now it concerns me that something is not right or maybe there is some kind of air leak. Is this normal or do I have a problem? Cheers! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-05-2008, 09:49 PM	#2
Idaho Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Posts: 5,241	High pitch whistle This is new to me. Be sure to post it in the Garage. __________________ Idaho (aka Curmudgeon) Blue Knights Idaho III VBA #110 VROC #24864 IBA #49753 2007 Nomad 86,000 miles Bud Smalley Pocatello, Idaho Idaho Jack Adapter
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10-05-2008, 10:11 PM	#3
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	High pitch whistle Haven't heard of that one and no ideas here. I do like to being able to hear the different sounds my bike does make.
	0

10-06-2008, 10:32 AM	#4
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	High pitch whistle Is it possible you are hearing the vent in the gas cap? I hear mine whistle when it is hot. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
	0

10-06-2008, 10:33 AM	#5
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	High pitch whistle I should have read closer....the vent cap noise wouldn't go away when you pull the clutch in...sorry. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-06-2008, 11:07 AM	#6
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	High pitch whistle A whistle is an air-caused noise, a squeal is mechanical. Are you sure it's a whistle? I once had a whistle in a crappy car I drove for awhile, a 1975 Vega my brother in law gave me after he blew the engine in it. I put in a used motor I bought from a salvage yard. It had a whistle, at first I thought it was mechanical, like a bad cam bearing, but it turned out to be caused by the intake/exhaust manifold gasket (all one piece on this mechanical wonder). I replaced the gasket, reinstalled the manifolds, and no more whistle. When you shift gears, you release the throttle, which closes the butterflies and drops the manifold vacuum. In your case, you are saying when you engage the clutch, the sound goes away, and when you release the clutch, the sound reappears. Does it do this if the bike is idling and you're just working the clutch, or is it while riding and as you are working the clutch you are also working the throttle? __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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10-06-2008, 12:33 PM	#7
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	High pitch whistle sounds clutch related by what you described Bebop but Im no mechanic like some on here.
	0

10-09-2008, 09:20 PM	#8
jonsamson Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 209	High pitch whistle I thought the 06 1600 were FI, not carb, thus there wouldn't be a butterfly valves would there? Higher revs, more whistle, something with exhaust leaking?
	0

10-10-2008, 06:31 AM	#10
bebop Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlantic Beach, Fl Posts: 78	High pitch whistle Work and rain have prevented me from riding the last few days so I couldn't answer some of the questions. I'll try this morning to listen more carefully and to be as specific as possible. It is a challenge to put a sound into words. The wife also gets on my case if I lean over to put my ear near the engine to listen even though she is on her own bike. I keep telling her the medical and life insurance is paid up. So while she is at work and the rain holds off I'll give it another try. Cheers!
	0

10-10-2008, 08:33 PM	#11
bebop Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlantic Beach, Fl Posts: 78	High pitch whistle I finally got the bike out today. It's difficult to describe the sound but it is like a steady very high pitch faint whistle or whine. I didn't wear my full face helmet this time to try and more easily locate where the sound is coming from. For what ever reason the sound wasn't as loud or maybe the helmet cancels some sounds. It appears to come from the front of the bike and not directly below the seat or the back. It is difficult to tell but it seems to be easier to hear on the right side. It can be heard in all gears as you accelerate as well as decelerate when using the engine to slow down in addition to brakes. The higher the RPM the higher the pitch of the sound. It is not apparent when the clutch lever is pulled in - only when in gear. If I am stationary with the engine reving I don't hear the sound when the bike is in neutral or in gear with the clutch is pulled in. So it only occurs when I'm moving. That's about it. I'll change the engine oil and final drive oil next weekend since it is due. I'm thinking it may be coming from the front end but I don't know how a bearing could make this sound and I'm not a mechanic. Any suggestions for places to look will be welcome. If anyone is near the Jacksonville, Fl (Northeast Florida) area that has mechanical experience I would be glad to ride over for some advice. Maybe it's not a problem but I hate not knowing what the sounds are coming from the bike in case it would cause future problems. I planning on keeping this bike for a long time. Cheers!
	0

10-14-2008, 10:17 PM	#12
Idaho Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Posts: 5,241	High pitch whistle Any chance that you can put the bike on a jack and strap it down then start it up and put it in gear to see if the whistle is still there? This might tell you if it is in the drivetrain or the front end as you speculate. And with the bike on the jack you could listen to every nook and cranny with a hose for a stethoscope. __________________ Idaho (aka Curmudgeon) Blue Knights Idaho III VBA #110 VROC #24864 IBA #49753 2007 Nomad 86,000 miles Bud Smalley Pocatello, Idaho Idaho Jack Adapter
	0

10-15-2008, 08:40 AM	#13
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	High pitch whistle Very good idea Idaho. And when I wear a full face helmet (witch isn't often) all the bike noises seem louder. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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10-15-2008, 09:50 AM	#14
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	High pitch whistle My wife keeps saying she hears a faint whine coming from the front of our 2005 1600 Nomad. I don't hear it, but now you have me wondering. __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
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10-15-2008, 01:36 PM	#15
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	High pitch whistle The idea on the jack would eliminate air causing the noise since not moving.
	0

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