Whining/whistleing noise Harley Evo Discuss Whining/whistleing noise in the Motorcycles forums; Spent a few hours riding yesterday and toward the end I started hearing a whining/whistling noise that seemed to come from the right side ahead of the air cleaner. Pinpointing ...

[1996Fatboy]

Spent a few hours riding yesterday and toward the end I started hearing a whining/whistling noise that seemed to come from the right side ahead of the air cleaner. Pinpointing was hard- very windy, had to keep both hands on the bars. Pulling in the clutch causes it to disappear which I guess eliminates a wheel bearing. Also seems to only happen while under load, crusing along does not reproduce it. Only changes made to the bike lately are a new SE Exhaust (header pipes included), a new oil dipstick, and an oil pressure guage mounted in place of the tappet screen cover. Any Idea's

96

[ptschuma]

Sounds like a leak in the front header pipe. Since you just changed out the pipes, you may need to torque the bolts down to the cylinder or the gasket is not in properly.

[JCourneyaP]

You put in new header gaskets, correct? The old will not seal right with the new pipe.

[JCourneyaP]

Oh I forgot. Sometimes Air likes to sneak through the non filter part of the Air Cleaner. Or you may have a crack in the intake somewhere. It will whistle as you hit the throttle. Give it a look over.

Originally Posted by JCourneyaP

You put in new header gaskets, correct? The old will not seal right with the new pipe.

I believe those are called "crush gaskets"... at least that's what it said on the package, when I bought some for my aftermarket pipes.

[JCourneyaP]

Could be....To me they are just header gaskets. They collapse and form around you header pipe when you tighten. No two pipes are the same thats why you should swap em out. Cheap enough.

[frisco-rigid]

I do respect JC BUT I beg to differ..
I hardly ever replace my header gaskets when I R&R my exhaust system..
Only if they're torn up.. I have never had a prob..
Doesn't mean it's not that, just dis-aggree with the mandated replacement..
I've even re-used shovel exhaust gaskets if they're not torn up, just goo on a new bead of high-temp sealer..--------That's just for shovel gaskets..
This is a New sound right..?? Couldn't be that you Just started hearing it..??
Sooo many possibilities, you gotta eliminate ALL other possible leaks like intake, i.e. carb--manifold, manifold--heads, head gasket leaks.. I've personally had all those leaks but NEVER heard a thing,, still they gotta be eliminated.. Only under load,? how about a very windy day and an intake system sucking like all get-out.. Disappears when clutch is dis-engaged,? well, intake not sucking any more.. Did you try this-- pull in clutch but keep RPM's up.. Even though it is much older technology, heck a world apart,, my shovel upper-end (rocker box) whistles and whines in three octaves, always has.. Personally I don't think I'd be able to hear an exhaust leak at speed on a windy day.. I'm very curious,, keep us informed..

[94flhtcu]

I've reused my gaskets many times, only replaced when they stopped sealing. I also havn't over tightened them at any time.

Recently, I installed v&h propipe on my '94. I used vtwin gaskets, I think, and they have a radius which matches the one on the pipe. They're great bcuz they seal quicker; no drawing them down to "crush" the gasket for a seal. As ya tighten tthe studs, it just seats and gets tight. I liked them.

[1996Fatboy]

Originally Posted by frisco-rigid

I do respect JC BUT I beg to differ..
I hardly ever replace my header gaskets when I R&R my exhaust system..
Only if they're torn up.. I have never had a prob..
Doesn't mean it's not that, just dis-aggree with the mandated replacement..
I've even re-used shovel exhaust gaskets if they're not torn up, just goo on a new bead of high-temp sealer..--------That's just for shovel gaskets..
This is a New sound right..?? Couldn't be that you Just started hearing it..??
Sooo many possibilities, you gotta eliminate ALL other possible leaks like intake, i.e. carb--manifold, manifold--heads, head gasket leaks.. I've personally had all those leaks but NEVER heard a thing,, still they gotta be eliminated.. Only under load,? how about a very windy day and an intake system sucking like all get-out.. Disappears when clutch is dis-engaged,? well, intake not sucking any more.. Did you try this-- pull in clutch but keep RPM's up.. Even though it is much older technology, heck a world apart,, my shovel upper-end (rocker box) whistles and whines in three octaves, always has.. Personally I don't think I'd be able to hear an exhaust leak at speed on a windy day.. I'm very curious,, keep us informed..

This is definitely a new noise. I can hear it through a full-face helmet which I only wear during the cold winter months. I always use new gaskets when changing exhausts. I re-use if re-installing the same pipes. I did try pulling in the clutch with the rpm's up and it disappeared. I like the windy day/sucking intake theory. Did not hear this until we descended into the river valley where the wind was atrocious. I will check all bolts, clamps, and gaskets today and as soon as the wind subsides I'll test it on the same route.

96