Top end noise...

[planedick]

I have been plagued by high pitch noise in the top end sinc I owned this XS and I think I have found the answer. While adjusting the cam chain, I removed the valve cover and the chain guide so I could be sure the chain was actually tight. Later while looking through my Clymers manual I saw a picture of the cam chain guide (bridge) and it shows little rubber boots on the bottom of it. (Clymers page 77, fig. 72) My bridge has no boots and I'm thinking that is where the noise is comming from. It isn't much when it's cold but is very noisey when it's hot. Does this sound reasonable?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Richard,

Anythings possible. That part is NO longer available from Yamaha or Bike Bandit. You might get a dipping can of Plastidip rubber coating, clean it reall good, and put several layers on the bottoms and reinstall it to see!? That part has the rubber bottoms I would assume to prevent vibrations and noise from transmitting from the chain to the head!?

You weren't very descriptive of this "High Pitch Noise"? Does it vary with engine rpm? Is it a whine, squeel, etc.? Have you investigated for possible exhaust leak, intake leak?

BTW, would be helpful to edit your profile to include what model/year your XS1100 is, there are many differences between them, makes a difference when requesting and giving advice!
T.C.

[planedick]

Top end noise...

TC,
It sounds like a baby's rattle, you know, the plastic ones. The frequency changes with rpm's but no change in volume. It's more evident when it's really hot like after a long ride on the freeway. I was thinking of using some sort of shrink tube to put on them. I'm gonna check with LeBard & Underwood tonight because they seem to have everything for these babies.
Dick

[skids]

Its probably just regular valve noise???

[planedick]

Valve noise...

I thought maybe regular valve noise too. I really don't know what one of these rockets are supposed to sound like after 50k mi. I went to see a guy in Santa Ana who had one but he was unable to start his, however he said it sounded just like his. Maybe it's normal for a 26 yr old machine. It's one of those sounds you don't hear with a 3/4 helmet, but put on the half helmet and it's very obvious.

[skids]

Re: Valve noise...

Yeah, I have one that sounds a little bit louder than the other two. It is more audible when riding in front of that bike (I swapped bikes with a riding friend once). The cam chain was in good shape and tensioned, oil good, valves adjusted. That bike has well over 60000 miles on the clock. I am riding it from Denver to Grants NM tomorrow. What..me worry???

Originally posted by planedick
I thought maybe regular valve noise too. I really don't know what one of these rockets are supposed to sound like after 50k mi. I went to see a guy in Santa Ana who had one but he was unable to start his, however he said it sounded just like his. Maybe it's normal for a 26 yr old machine. It's one of those sounds you don't hear with a 3/4 helmet, but put on the half helmet and it's very obvious.