Screeching sound from Trident 900

Discussion in 'Classic Motorbikes' started by A.Clews, Feb 9, 2011.

  1. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Whilst doing the Lewes bypass yesterday morning (having just emerged from a
    miserable few miles of freezing fog) on my '93 Trident 900, at about 80mph I
    became aware, above the wind noise, of a screeching sound coming from below,
    not unlike a small electric motor being over-revved and its bearings

    This has happened a few times before, but it's extremely difficult to tell
    exactly where the noise is coming from, because it doesn't happen at lower
    speeds and I can't very well lean down and listen more closely when
    barrelling along at fairly high speed. It definitely seems to be related to
    road speed rather than engine revs, because the noise continues if I shut the
    throttle and declutch, but stops when I get below 50 or 60 mph.

    I'm wondering if it might be the speedo cable or speedo drive?

    Has anyone else encountered anything like this and can offer wise counsel?

    A.Clews, Feb 9, 2011
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  2. A.Clews

    Pete Fisher Guest

    Sounds a likely culprit. The speedo drive gear jobbie on my Morini
    rumbles a bit when you spin the front wheel on a stand, but you can't
    hear anything for the row from the 2:1 pipe once under way. Is the
    speedo wheel or gearbox driven?

    | Pete Fisher at Home: |
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    | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
    Pete Fisher, Feb 9, 2011
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  3. A.Clews

    crn Guest

    Does the note tone rise and fall linearly with speed (gearbox etc ?) or
    does it just rise or fall in volume (aerodynamic whistles).
    crn, Feb 9, 2011
  4. A.Clews

    Dan L Guest

    Alternator [1] bearing?

    [1] Dunno if your trumpet even has an alternator, but I had this happen
    many years ago on a 1977 Honda Civic. Took ages to find the culprit;
    it was completely seized.
    Dan L, Feb 10, 2011
  5. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake Pete Fisher () unto the assembled multitudes:
    Wheel. Two years ago I sliced through the cable when I (*blush*) forgot
    that I had a disk lock attached to the front disk. Drivers were beeping me
    and frantically pointing at the hanging cable on my way home, thinking that
    it was my brake :)
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
  6. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake () unto the assembled multitudes:
    Bit of both, but not by much. The sound, once it starts, is a fairly
    constant note and it's not often immediately apparent because of wind and
    engine noise. And below a certain speed, it just stops. It only ever seems
    to be that stretch of road where it happens, but I know that's a bit of a
    daft correlation. At that point I have done 13 miles from home, so I'm sure
    it would happen anywhere else at a similar speed after a similar distance;
    it's just that riding it to work is my most frequent journey.
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
  7. A.Clews

    Krusty Guest

    Either speedo drive or wheel bearing getting squeaky when hot. Try
    popping the speedo cable off & squirting some spray grease in the drive
    hole. If it takes longer for the noise to appear, there's your answer.
    Krusty, Feb 10, 2011
  8. A.Clews

    Krusty Guest

    Highly unlikely given the above. The standard failure mode for early
    Trumpet alternators is a rattle[1] not a squeal.

    [1] Known as 'DAR' - Deathly/Deafening Alternator Rattle.
    Krusty, Feb 10, 2011
  9. A.Clews

    Oily Guest

    If it's cable driven, why not leave it disconnected completely while you
    test it?
    Oily, Feb 10, 2011
  10. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake Krusty () unto the assembled multitudes:
    I should add that the noise is not quite a squeal, but not really a rattle
    either. And as I said, it's related to road speed rather than engine revs so
    surely is unlikely to be the alternator. I bloody hope not anyway. Very
    difficult to describe really. It's a bit like the sound of an elephant
    trumpet (how appropriate!), and maybe like the sound of a loud brake squeal
    like you often hear from large trucks or buses. Just imagine it as a long
    drone rather than a short burst of sound. If only I could record it and put
    it online somewhere...
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
  11. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake Oily () unto the assembled multitudes:
    I'll try both of these approaches, but my strongest suspicion is the speed
    drive, so disconnecting the cable might not actually help with testing,
    unless of course the problem only happens under load.

    Thanks to everyone so far for your thoughts and advice.
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
  12. A.Clews

    Rusty Hinge Guest

    Sounds rather like a partly- seized bearing, then. Once the housing has
    warmed-up it allows the whole bearing to rotate, whereas when cold, the
    shaft spins in the centre.
    Rusty Hinge, Feb 10, 2011
  13. A.Clews

    Mark Olson Guest

    I think the suggestion was to disconnect it at the bottom not the top...
    Mark Olson, Feb 10, 2011
  14. A.Clews

    crn Guest

    Sounds like wind noise to me.
    Have you fitted any accessories for the wind to hoot around ?.
    Any cracks or loose fasteners in fairings, mudguards etc ?

    It is very easy to create an organpipe effect if air flows
    the wrong way, it only takes a small slot or a narrow gap between
    two items to get it started.

    Do you have a nice handy wind tunnel ?
    crn, Feb 10, 2011
  15. A.Clews

    Rusty Hinge Guest

    I know someone who's got one, but with the best will in the world (and
    lots of lubrication)...
    Rusty Hinge, Feb 10, 2011
  16. A.Clews

    Krusty Guest

    It was.
    Krusty, Feb 10, 2011
  17. A.Clews

    Mike Civil Guest

    Checked tyres for pressure, wear, cuts or foreign objects lately?
    Mike Civil, Feb 10, 2011
  18. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake Mark Olson () unto the assembled multitudes:
    That's how I read it. My point was that the symptoms might not occur if
    there is no cable to drive, i.e. the speedo drive box was just spinning by
    itself. With the cable connected then the drive is under some load. But then
    again trying both would be a useful control.
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
  19. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake () unto the assembled multitudes:
    I know what you're getting at, but no, I'm pretty certain it's mechanical noise. I've
    heard the same sort of noise from a small electric motor that was spinning too
    fast (i.e. above its rated voltage).
    Nothing changed in the last couple of years.
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
  20. A.Clews

    A.Clews Guest

    Thus spake Mike Civil () unto the assembled multitudes:
    Yep. The noise cannot be anything to do with the tyres. Famous last words... ;-)

    I've just had a request from a student who wants to make a sound recording of
    our server room. Perhaps I could get him to record my bike too ;-)
    A.Clews, Feb 10, 2011
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