| Author | Message | ||
     Mudshuvel319 |
Hey Everyone. My 1999 X1 just started making an odd noise yesterday on my way home from work. As soon as I stared it up, it was making a short chirping sound that was in sync with every cylinder fire at idle. When I increase the throttle, the chirping speeds up with the engine speed and it continues while riding the bike. The best way to describe the sound would be to that it almost sounds like a cricket and it seems to be coming from the engine or immediate area. I did a search here but I could only find things like sounds that only occur at idle, only occur while accelerating, only occur when the wheels are turning, etc; nothing that exactly describes my symptoms. I'm hoping someone may be able to offer up a suggestion. Thanks! Dan | ||
| Oldog |
exhaust leak head gasket hanger moving / broken ( exhaust ) Iso start looking close | ||
| Ltbuell |
Try using a stethoscope or a length of hose(5/8th or 3/4 heater hose works,1 to 2 ft long).The stethoscope,you can put the point right on the areas of concern and listen to where it gets louder.The heater hose ,about an inch or so away from high heat sources and move it around till the noise gets louder(if its not a high heat area, the hose can be put on the suspecting area). | ||
| Ratbuell |
My money's on headgasket. | ||
| Rich |
What Joe said. | ||
| Mudshuvel319 |
Sorry for not responding sooner but I ended up getting very busy at work and haven't had a chance to check back in. Anyway, I listened closely and the sound does seem to be emanating from the top of the engine so the head gasket seems like the likely cause. Thanks for the responses and I'll have to see if that solves the problem. Does anyone know if the X1 engine just uses a standard Harley gasket? My local H-D dealer stopped selling Buell parts and is not very good at looking up cross-referenced parts so I try to go in there with a part number I know will work ahead of time. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. | ||
| Rich |
Standard evo Sportster gaskets will work. | ||
| Lager |
If it happens with every cylinder fire? Meaning at idle, it sounds like Chirp,chirp......chirp chirp.... chirp chirp. Hard to believe both head gaskets would fail at the same time dont you think? Im thinking I would at least try to eliminate excessive engine movement during the power pulse. Something like a floor jack with a short piece of wood under a hard engine mount and adding pressure while its making the noise.Any difference in sound will point you in that direction instead of internal engine noises. | ||
| Mudshuvel319 |
Well, I have an update now. I started up the bike this afternoon when I got home from work with the intention of spaying some misted water around the cylinders to see if I could see a leak. However, when I started it there was a pop and I looked down at the rear cylinder to see what you can see in the picture below. You can see the part of the gasket popping out and some oil sprayed out on the pushrod tubes, so clearly I need a head gasket. And Lager, you're right, I guess the squeak was really only coming out on alternating firings. It was a steady chirp, not the duplet arrangement that you described. Thanks again for everyone's help. I ordered the gaskets so now it's time to break out the service manual and get it running again!   |
