strange high pitch noise...

Energy One
Rally

Rally

Active Member
When riding my 2005 BD Chopper I hear a high pitched noise when riding and when accelerating coming from the right side of bike. If I pull in the clutch and coast the noise goes away. If I hit a bump in the road under power I hear that noise a bit louder than when riding along under power.

The noise is not coming from the exhaust pipes VH Big Radius nor do I have any exhaust leaks.

I've changed to the 250x40x18 Avon rear tire which is really really close to the belt on the right side. I can see a small space/gap between tire and belt and no rubbing marks on inside of belt or edge of tire. The original rear wheel bearings are still in with 14k miles on the bike. The rear tire is aligned straight and has been checked.

The stock tire size is 240x40x18 but I went up in size when new a rear tire was needed. Their is a bigger gap between this tire and the belt also.

I'm wondering if because of vibration and the very small gap between tire edge and belt it hits the tire making this noise when riding?

This weekend I was caught in some heavy rain coming from the FL Keys and the noise seemed to be louder in the rain and wet road. I've looked and looked all around to find somthing indicating where this noise is coming from but no luck so far.

When I change the rear wheel again I will go with the stock size 240x40x18 Avon and have new rear bearings installed also.

Anyone have any ideas/clues as to what is causing this noise?
Thanks in advance

let the jokes begin
 
HMAN

HMAN

I just like my Freedom
Supporting Member
Its the dreaded belt chirp....rub a bar of soap on the sides of ur belt and go for a run.
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
Rally said:
When riding my 2005 BD Chopper I hear a high pitched noise when riding and when accelerating coming from the right side of bike. If I pull in the clutch and coast the noise goes away. If I hit a bump in the road under power I hear that noise a bit louder than when riding along under power.
Click to expand...
Under power = My tire grows [in diameter, not width] like a dragster's tire grows. Ever see it happen in slow motion?

Coast = My tire does not grow so no noise, right?

Bump = My air has to go somewhere, so the bump flattens the tire on the tarmac, but my air grows the tire above as if I were under load and growing it that way.

That's how I read the OP's description. :confused: I could be wrong.
 
Rally

Rally

Active Member
would the belt "chirp" still happen with the stock size tire of 240x40x18 ???
Thanks so far for the info!
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
Belt chirp:

1. Under load, my belt runs in a straight line chirping away.
2. Upon lift, my frame unbuckles and there is no longer a belt chirping.
3. I hit a bump, my belt is so loose is flies up in the air an chirps the oil bag. I'd now look under the oil bag. Forget the fender peek.

Either the guy installed a larger tire and all of a sudden the belt chirps. Go figure. :confused:
 
Rally

Rally

Active Member
will try the soap on belt and check the top motor mount bolt also. :up:

What or where is the rubbing of the belt causing the dreaded "chirp"? :confused:
Thanks
 
HMAN

HMAN

I just like my Freedom
Supporting Member
The belt will usually rub slightly on inside or outside of the pulley. Mine was hitting the outside.
 
liferider

liferider

Looking forward to retirement
I had both issues. Belt chirp and a bar of soap cured that. But after a mishap at a HD store where they almost destroyed my bike by changing a tire. This has been 5-6 yrs ago. The service manager comes out and says Mr LaBorde we have a problem. I'm thinking, " oh shit my bike fell off the lift." He said, our mechanic is new and forgot to loosen the pinch bolt and drove your front wheel shaft out and destroyed it. I told him he had a problem, not we. He then said they have a Dyna wide glide front Axle and it would work. Mind you I was 100 miles from home in Alexandria La because of there tire special. And I was leaving for Sturgis SD the next day! So no time to overnight one from Big Dog! ( remember they were actually open back then) anyway they put the axle in and off I went. During the ride home I noticed the front end vibrated, I chalked it up to bad ballance job and when I arrived in SD I added Dyna Beads. But the vibration just got worst! We got back to Shreveport and I brought the bike to Ricky Farmer at R&D Cycles. He called me later that day and said I was very very lucky !!!! He showed me what was causing the vibration. The wheel bearings were Blue they had gotten so hot and were trying to guald! Seems they drove the Dyna Shaft in because when we miked the new shaft from Big Dog and the Dyna shaft. The Dyna shaft was .010 larger in diameter! Had those bearings frozen or gualded it would have locked up the front end at 40-80 mph! So now if I can't wrench it Ricky does! NO ONE ELSE!!
 
Rally

Rally

Active Member
liferider,
did you call back the HD store and give em hell or why bother dealing with a bunch of A..holes?
Good for you that you made it safe back home!!!
 
liferider

liferider

Looking forward to retirement
Rally said:
liferider,
did you call back the HD store and give em hell or why bother dealing with a bunch of A..holes?
Good for you that you made it safe back home!!!
Click to expand...
Point I was making, when a new noise, or feel happens to a bike you are very familiar with. Ask questions! In the chirping, try the soap. If it continues. STOP!!! And check it out! For a while it seemed like everyone's rear hubs were wearing out! Like 10-12 of us. I bought a rear hub as a loaner to loan out to members on here while they have there's redone. Look at that also for chirping, but usually a worn hub you get belt jumping. As for the HD store, I know the owner and I can not say enough good things about Eddie! He is what you wish every HD store manager or owner wold act like! Eddie is everyone's best friend
. Like the crawfish boil to the Saturday burgers, to the live bands on Saturdays. Eddie makes that dealership rock! He came through and made everything right! I still do business with him and will for many years! I would rather ride 100 miles to Eddie than go 5 miles to the local dealer!
 
Last edited:
Rally

Rally

Active Member
Checked the belt on rear pulley while turning the rear wheel forward and have an equal very small space on both sides of belt from the pulley.

Got me a new fresh bar of soap from GF (didn't ask permission) :D and will try rubbing the inside and outside of belt.

I've also read here that wax (candle) and/or belt dressing (not too much) has also helped eliminate the dreaded chirp.

That chirp sure drives me nuts! :rant:
 
francoblay1

francoblay1

The Spaniard
Rally said:
Checked the belt on rear pulley while turning the rear wheel forward and have an equal very small space on both sides of belt from the pulley.

Got me a new fresh bar of soap from GF (didn't ask permission) :D and will try rubbing the inside and outside of belt.

I've also read here that wax (candle) and/or belt dressing (not too much) has also helped eliminate the dreaded chirp.

That chirp sure drives me nuts! :rant:
Click to expand...
Yep, and very good also for zippers... pants, jackets, etc.... :2thumbs:

:cheers:
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
I changed the tire, did not time the belt to the sprocket. I now have a new rubbing/wearing in pattern I'm hearing. If I kept the same wear, i.e., time the belt to tooth, I may not have this soapee hands and dishit to do if I only I listened.

Zip Peers, Trousers and who wears their underwear backasswords?

Signed,
NOLTT

And no, a shop man you will pay for not listening to turtle's rule of engagement not found in some book.
 
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