Strange front end sound lower RPMs

[99ISrdr]

Recently got a "deal" on a 99 Interstate with 39000 miles on the clock. Has a strange, for lack of a better word... "fluttering" sound, or kind of like a belt problem coming from the front end, especially in the 2K-3k range, noticeable when accelerating from a stop but even more noticeable in higher gears after slowing without down shifting. It seems to quiet down some  above 3k and pulls hard. It does have a fair amount of clutch noise that goes away when I disengage the clutch. I had a tourer years ago and realize I'm behind a fairing but something definitely isn't right. Also, there's a pretty good bit of bluing of all the header pipes and some on the muffler covers, which I don't see often on the valks. The PO said he hadn't done a trigger wheel timing advance or rejetted the carbs. I pulled the plugs, they looked good. He had them gapped at .7-.75. I gapped them all to .85. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Greg

[Gideon]

Have you look at the "Buzz Bolt". Go to the search box and enter Buzz Bolt. It may give you an idea or an answer. Also, blue pipes are often from idling long periods or participating in parades.

[Bighead]

Yes check the “buzz” bolt first.

[99ISrdr]

Will do. Thanks guys.

[Gryphon Rider]

I would never have described my "buzz bolt" sound as "fluttering".

[99ISrdr]

Yeah, it isn't the buzz bolt though. Buzz bolt is tight as a fiddle. I had a tourer years back and was well aware of the whine of the flat cut gears, but would have never guessed there was this much mechanical symphony going on behind a fairing. I've found some other posts too where guys were hearing a lot of noise on the IS in the lower RPM range up to about 3-3.5k, so maybe what I'm hearing is normal, hard to imagine, but could be.

[gordonv]

so maybe what I'm hearing is normal, hard to imagine, but could be.

A good reason to at your location to your profile, so others close by count chime in and maybe visit.

I don't know if you are aware, but if it is the buzz bolt it can be tight to you and make that noise. You have to tighten it even more, so you think you might be breaking it soon. Just saying. I've never heard the bolt noise and I haven't heard your bike either.

I know others mention a lot of things, like the shock behaviour, and I don't notice a thing about them, and noises too, I just ride it.

[CoreyP]

Valkyries make a good amount of noises.

You seem to be describing an air intake noise that I heard at lower RPM. At least on my bike I'm pretty sure it's the air intakes that make a fluttering sound...

[99ISrdr]

so maybe what I'm hearing is normal, hard to imagine, but could be.

A good reason to at your location to your profile, so others close by count chime in and maybe visit.

I don't know if you are aware, but if it is the buzz bolt it can be tight to you and make that noise. You have to tighten it even more, so you think you might be breaking it soon. Just saying. I've never heard the bolt noise and I haven't heard your bike either.

I know others mention a lot of things, like the shock behaviour, and I don't notice a thing about them, and noises too, I just ride it.

Will ad my location, didn't realize I hadn't. BTW...in SC. Yeah, if I know it's normal...that's just what I'll do and forget about it.

[F6Dave]

If it has the chrome transmission covers they can add a good bit of noise.

[Glaserbeam]

Good point, F6Dave.  I sprayed rubber undercoating inside my set of accessory transmission covers because they resonated quite loudly.

[rug_burn]

    That blueing on the pipes would be cause for concern, for me.   
     Are they stock pipes? 
     I always wondered why Triumphs very often have blued pipes, too.  figured it may be cam timing, or mixture, or maybe just thin wall pipes.    Or maybe you gotta drive the engine pretty hard in those bikes.

[SCain]

Under the front fender, Honda glued in rubber dampers, I've read that they come loose and can flutter, of course this will only happen while moving.
If it does the fluttering while sitting still and increases with rpm's its engine related.
There is also a rubber flap that attaches to the heat shield between the radiator and carbs.
Just some ideas.

[99ISrdr]

    That blueing on the pipes would be cause for concern, for me.   
     Are they stock pipes? 
     I always wondered why Triumphs very often have blued pipes, too.  figured it may be cam timing, or mixture, or maybe just thin wall pipes.    Or maybe you gotta drive the engine pretty hard in those bikes.

Yeah, they're stock. I had some bluing on the muffler covers and replaced those. Got some of the bluing off the headers with Blue job. I'll keep an eye them...see what happens. Pulled the plugs and they looked good though.

[99ISrdr]

Under the front fender, Honda glued in rubber dampers, I've read that they come loose and can flutter, of course this will only happen while moving.
If it does the fluttering while sitting still and increases with rpm's its engine related.
There is also a rubber flap that attaches to the heat shield between the radiator and carbs.
Just some ideas.

It only occurs under load and in the 2-3K range though. After reading some other post I'm starting to think it might just be noises from the square cut gears behind that fairing. I'll check those out though. Thanks

[The emperor has no clothes]

Under the front fender, Honda glued in rubber dampers, I've read that they come loose and can flutter, of course this will only happen while moving.
If it does the fluttering while sitting still and increases with rpm's its engine related.
There is also a rubber flap that attaches to the heat shield between the radiator and carbs.
Just some ideas.

It only occurs under load and in the 2-3K range though. After reading some other post I'm starting to think it might just be noises from the square cut gears behind that fairing. I'll check those out though. Thanks

Maybe. But I have a pretty much stock Standard and a pretty much stock Interstate, and there isn't much difference in the sounds. If you have stock pipes, and as I understand, they are bluing from the headers all the way back to the muffler covers, there is something wrong there. The odd sounds you are hearing are related I suspect.

[99ISrdr]

Update on the IS. Turns out it was two of the carbs sticking in the lower RPM range. Carbs rebuilt and now running like I remember a Valk running. She just purrs.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Update on the IS. Turns out it was two of the carbs sticking in the lower RPM range. Carbs rebuilt and now running like I remember a Valk running. She just purrs.

Had a similar situation occur with one of my '83 Aspencades.

The GL1100 carb's CV slides and vacuum pistons were made of metal. These are known to wear and occasionally won't operate evenly under heavy load at low speeds. I've heard the "flutter" that was mentioned a couple times over the course of ownership.

[John Schmidt]

Update on the IS. Turns out it was two of the carbs sticking in the lower RPM range. Carbs rebuilt and now running like I remember a Valk running. She just purrs.

What exactly was sticking on those two carbs, I have a bit of the same problem so this gives me a new idea to check out.

[Led]

I kind of get a kick out of Folks hearing "noises".   Lets face it, you are sitting right atop of an engine, that most of todays small CAR'S, wish they had!!!

It is only natural to hear all the "workings" going on, right in between your legs......not to mention all the smells of gas and oil.

  As long it still is running well,   Enjoy!!!  

[99ISrdr]

I kind of get a kick out of Folks hearing "noises".   Lets face it, you are sitting right atop of an engine, that most of todays small CAR'S, wish they had!!!

It is only natural to hear all the "workings" going on, right in between your legs......not to mention all the smells of gas and oil.

  As long it still is running well,   Enjoy!!!  

Gotcha, but turns out there was a problem....must of been "strange" noises.

[99ISrdr]

Update on the IS. Turns out it was two of the carbs sticking in the lower RPM range. Carbs rebuilt and now running like I remember a Valk running. She just purrs.

What exactly was sticking on those two carbs, I have a bit of the same problem so this gives me a new idea to check out.

Sorry, can't help you out. I took it to the shop and don't remember what they said was sticking, just knew it needed rebuilding.