Whistle!!!!

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

Okay thanks to all who responded to my vibration/grinding noise on my new Valk! Turned out the splines were dry as a bone as with those greased and the new Altimax tire on the rear the trouble is gone. Now a silly problem is driving me nuts! A whistle that occurs in the front (possible right side front) that occurs at 45mph plus. So hard to locate when driving!  I know it is a whistle and not a buzzing or squeal because the very high and irritating screech varies in pitch with gusts of wind! I know this is silly, but any suggestions on where to look and how to find it when standing still?? I look forwared to any responses!!! Thanks

[wiggydotcom]

Hmmm, do you have access to a high volume squirrel cage blower like restaurants use to dry floors?  How about a leaf blower?

If not, maybe I can lend you my wife- she's pretty "windy" at times.  ;-)

[0leman]

Scott, Missed you other post so don't know if your Valk is a I/S or other.   If it is an I/S, you will get a whistling noise from the vent in front under the windshield.  If you put you hand over the vent while moving it the whistling noise will go away.  You can partically block the vent or just put on ear plugs.  

If you valk isn't a I/S not sure what it is.

[John Schmidt]

Hey Scottie, quit riding in just your shorts and it will quit whistling at you. 

You know me....just trying to help out. Glad you were able to trade in the dog sled for a few weeks of riding. Now don't you really miss us down here, especially in winter? Take care buddy!

John

[Earl in Pensacola]

Mine whistled after one or more of my vacuum lines for the carbs developed cracks (holes).  In your case it may not have been the wind causing the whistle, but rather the vacuum. Just a thought!!

[Ricky-D]

That's if it has not been desmogged.

In which case, it would be a good time to desmog your bike.

***

[tank_post142]

Duct tape 3 ft of garden hose to your ear and take it for a ride? 

tape your cell phone to a stick and record a video while your riding and move it around till you locate the source.

[BF]

I've got a wind noise at speed too.  It's been on the bike since I bought it....with the OEM windshield, without the OEM windshield, with the Woodys' fairing, short shields, tall shields, before I added my light bar, after I added my light bar.......

Have never found it.  Sometimes it's there, sometimes not, sometimes louder and sometimes not so much. 

It doesn't drive my crazy and it doesn't bother me when I do hear it....it's not a big deal to me, but I would like to know what's sticking in the wind that's making that noise some day. 

[Tropic traveler]

Scott, take the deer whistles off the bike! 

[F6MoRider]

If it's a standard with a shield or a tourer, it's the right blinker.  Tape a piece of cardboard from the linker to the shield so that it covers the space between the two and see it it changes.  Alternately, use your hand when you encounter the whistle and disrupt the air flow around the linkers and see if it changes.

[dubsider]

there are a lot of nooks and crannies that wind can move through.. I had a whistle / squeak in the front and repositioned the Memphis Fats, lowered it as close as possible to the light bucket and tilted it back toward the rider.. Whistle gone and it also served to lower the windscreen rather than having to cut it.
good luck

[Thunderbolt]

Like Earl said, it could be a vacuum line, check all the lines and caps on the back of each intake vacuum port.

[KSDragonRider]

Mine has been making some noise that is like a whistle or a squeal... I have narrowed it down to the seals on the front wheel.  It did not do it till the last time i installed new bearings and seals with the new tire.

I need to pull it apart again and put a dab of grease in there and quiet it down, as it drives me nuts.

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

Sorry for the delay in replying. Schedule has been very hectic!  Some of response really cracked me Up! 

Oleman, the bike is a standard (my second) Thanks for the I/S ideas, thanks for trying.

Wig, have thought of using the shop vac in reverse. 

John! The shorts only happen when I ride with my Lady and then it is her whistling! Poor Lady is blind. LOL 

Earl I checked the vacuum lines and also verified that it only happens when moving, not at high RPM standing still.

Ricky-D  Not desmogged yet, Planning to do it soon, like my last one.

Tank, it is much more fun hanging over the front right of the bike like a monkey falling out of a tree while riding! 

Bf, I am not giving up yet!! LOL

Tropic! Eddie my friend I am in Maine!! Those are deer and MOOSE whistles!!!   

F6MoRider!!!!! That sure fits the rascal!! I will check out the blinker tomorrow!!

dubsider I have lowered the windscreen and tilted it back shortly after I got the bike, the whistle never changed. But thanks!

Thunderbolt, I do agree with you and Earl, can't hurt to check again.

KSDragonRider, They are the original bearings, only having 8500 miles on the Lady, but maybe the seals are dry?? Will check them out.

Thanks all!! Will keep you posted!!

[Chiefy]

Based on my experience with vacuum leaks in car engines  I doubt it's vacuum.  Vacuum leaks go with RPM's, not mph, at least in my experience.  Good luck with it.  It's the little stuff that make's a man crazy.

[TGViper]

I vote with F6 - wind coming over the blinkers - diagonal wind makes it worse.  I noticed this the most when I swapped out the OEM windscreen for a new one that doesn't have the headlight cut out.  Spent a few miles tracking down the problem.

An easy test is when you are riding put your hand in front of the the blinker and black flexible blinker mount.  It should go away (on that side). 

How do you solve this?  I don't know...

Viper

[john]

 mick o pegs without an end plug on the foot rest will whistle ...                ???
      drove        me        N U T Z ...           
happened to hit it  j u s t  right one day with the leaf blower after a wash ...
        the black pegs that came with the setup
    new .... bigger chrome pegs ... with an end plug ... no more whistle           
         I'll be cursed ...                

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

We have a Winner!!!!!!
F6!!!!!!!!!!! Followed by TGViper!!!!!!!!!!  The wind flow over the right blinker is were it whistles!

F6 did you ever find a cure? If not I will have to start experimenting!   

Thanks to everyone for the help, I'll let you know if I find a cure. 

[Jess from VA]

My supervalk IS came with some aftermarket turn signal lenses that are more bullet shaped, but flat ends.  Much better visibility to the sides than OE. 

This is not them, but similar.  Might delete a whistle.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motorcity-cycle-bullet-turn-signal-lens/p3088382.jcwx?filterid=c14762j3

[F6MoRider]

We have a Winner!!!!!!
F6!!!!!!!!!!! Followed by TGViper!!!!!!!!!!  The wind flow over the right blinker is were it whistles!

F6 did you ever find a cure? If not I will have to start experimenting!  

Thanks to everyone for the help, I'll let you know if I find a cure.  

Woo Hoo.... Never found a cure, per se, but I have become accustomed to it as it drowns out the whine.  Just kidding.  It doesn't bother me anymore, least since I found out what it was.

Jess' comment on bullet shaped lenses may be viable?  

[trout dude]

You might can try the little visor that the make for the blinkers just a thought. 
  Dennis

[HayHauler]

You might can try the little visor that the make for the blinkers just a thought. 
  Dennis

+1  That's what I would try first.  It definitely would redirect the air going over the lens.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

I am thinking a visor for the first attempt. Going to create a crud test for it before I buy them. If that doesn't get it, next test will be the bullet lens! 

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

The problem was definitely the turn signal on the right. Although the configuration is the same one both sides the right one whistles. Stopped easy by holding a finger over the light (while doing 50 mph) Bad weather held up my chance to test if visors were the fix. Now I have tested with a thin cardboard visor, sound is gone. Then I ordered these visor's http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/turnsignal-visor-set-plain-honda-models-99-and-newer/part/HH-661-053

They did the trick!! whistle gone for good. If you use these for your fix forget the double sided tape strip that comes with them. Use clear silicone to put them on. The tape will start to fail in the sun. Thanks all for your help on this!!!!

[salty1]

We have a Winner!!!!!!
F6!!!!!!!!!!! Followed by TGViper!!!!!!!!!!  The wind flow over the right blinker is were it whistles!

F6 did you ever find a cure? If not I will have to start experimenting!  

Thanks to everyone for the help, I'll let you know if I find a cure.  

Woo Hoo.... Never found a cure, per se, but I have become accustomed to it as it drowns out the whine.  Just kidding.  It doesn't bother me anymore, least since I found out what it was.

Jess' comment on bullet shaped lenses may be viable?  

Gentlemen! I'm wondering if you put some lower shields in place if that would take care of your whistle and provide more protection.?   ???

[F6MoRider]

I just vary my speed and let the whistle keep harmony...