XR650L engine squeal

[GarrettXRL]

Hi Folks,

My 2001 XRL has about 4800 miles on it. I've been riding and noticed a squeal coming, I think, from the right side (still gotta diagnose exactly where). The sounds begins around 1/4 throttle and progressively gets higher with increased throttle. The bike runs fine so far, with no other indication of problems, except that damn noise. I just, tonight, put synthetic oil in it and removed the smog pump. Sadly, I've been called to work and won't get back to it till Thursday, when I'll be able to fire it up.

There are no ticks, knocks or other sounds that I can hear. Anyone else hear noise like that on their XRL's? Squealing sounds typically, aren't good...("Deliverance" comes to mind for some reason right now )

Checked the forums already couldn't find too much so I'm assuming this isn't a typical XRL problem.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Garrett

[XR650L_Dave]

Does it make a constant squeeeeeeeeeeal or does it go squeal-squeal-squeal-squeal-squeal- and keep time with the engine revs?

Dave

[Denn10]

Does it make a constant squeeeeeeeeeeal or does it go squeal-squeal-squeal-squeal-squeal- and keep time with the engine revs?

Dave

say that again LOL

Have you ran it since the oil change? What oil did you have in before and weight and what did you switch to?

[martinfan30]

or is it more of a whine-whine-whine-whine?LOL!?

[GarrettXRL]

Hi Guys,

Here's the update. I changed oil from Castrol 10W40 to Amsoil 10W40. Engine noise doesn't seem to be any different. I had a closer (as in ear very close to engine) listen to "the noise" and can identify a combination of noise coming from the front of the engine, I'm assuming that would be the cam chain, and from the top of the engine, valve train.

"Squeal" is probably, a less than accurate description, more of a whine, (kind of a turbine engine type of whine) that increases with the throttle. To answer Dave's question, there doesn't seem to be any break in the noise, it simply gets higher pitched as the rev's get higher.

Being relatively new to the bike I'm wondering whats normal. I had a KLR before and you could hear the cam chain, but that bike had minmal valve train noise...possibly because it has a different valve train set-up.

Maybe I'm overly sensitive to the volume of the combined engine sounds, I don't know. It does seem a bit louder than what I would consider normal based on my experience. Is the valve train noisey on your bikes?

I appreciate the help and your responding to my questions.

Oh yeah, the smog pump removal worked fine, bike seems to run good. Can't really notice too much difference yet.

Garrett

[martinfan30]

i hear a light "ratcheting" noise that goes along with eng. speed when i start it cold. goes away after a min.

[Bibleman]

Mine has a very mild but noticeable whine that changes pitch with engine speed. I'm not worried about it at all since it's still one of the quietest engines I've had and that includes water cooled ones. Don't forget, there's a bunch of moving parts in there and they're bound to make some noise:prof:

[GarrettXRL]

Ok,

Thanks Guys. I'm going to monitor it and see how things progress. Thanks for the input. If it seizes or blows up I'll let you all know. Then I'll have a winter project. XR700L ?

Garrett

[Rman of 237]

Mine has a very mild but noticeable whine that changes pitch with engine speed. I'm not worried about it at all since it's still one of the quietest engines I've had and that includes water cooled ones. Don't forget, there's a bunch of moving parts in there and they're bound to make some noise:prof:

Mine makes the same " mild but noticeable whine that changes pitch with engine speed" as Bibleman. I know a guy with a Dakar 650 that makes the exact same noise! Maybe it's a 650 thing.

Actually I think it sounds pretty cool.

[GarrettXRL]

I tracked the hideous noise down to the muffler shroud and the muffler clamps. I tightened them but they still make noise at the same throttle setting. It's quite loud but at least it's not a bearing. I'm going to try packing some insulation around the end of the header and retightening the muffler. Hopefully that'll quiet things down. Other than being a bit stubborn to cold start, it runs great.

Recently did 500 miles of backroads and logging roads through the mountains of Western Canada and the bike is great.

Thanks for the help.

Garrett

[focallength]

How many miles do you have on it? Typically whine on the bike is usually third gear going out. It will start with a whining noise and get worse. try riding it in different gears and see if it only makes the noise in certain gears. Also it could be your odometer/speedometer cable they will start to whine when they are getting worn (wearing out at the wheel hub). you can also check your bearings the rears usually go out around 3k miles, remove the rear wheel and feel for grinding or anything abnormal in the bearings (or see if there is any side to side play in the wheel while its on the bike) Other than that I doubt it is an exhaust leak as those tend to flutter and are pretty much impossible to hear while riding.

[GarrettXRL]

FL

Thanks for your thoughts. It's definitely the shroud that vibrates, it's not an exhaust leak. It sets up a vibration at around the same throttle setting pretty much in any gear, and it's LOUD. I can stop it by resting my boot against the shroud. You can see it vibrating at the right throttle setting as well. I may try welding a little tab on it to change to weight of the shroud to stop , or at least minimize, the sound. I was riding with a buddy and he could hear it from behind me at certain times. There is no appreciable noise coming from other parts of the bike you've mentioned that I'm uncomfortable with.

Take care,

Garrett

[tshu]

Hey Garrett,

I have a XR 650L I have the exact same noise and know it’s coming from the exhaust.  It’s been doing that for a couple thousand miles without any change in performance.  Did welding the shroud on stop the noise?  I don’t really want to buy a new exhaust set up. 
 

Thanks,

Taylor

[cmjb]

He parted it out

[Thomas Marquez]

Mine did that till I changed the stock muffler. Seemed to me it might have been the muffler chambers. Had like a chirp whistle sound. I seen a video on YouTube with that problem. I ended up going with LEXX MXe muffler because on how you can make it loud and with the change out of cores can get it as low as 85db. That was my experience.