I've been hearing a constant ,faint "chirping" sound coming from the front end. Only when moving. Upon paying closer attention, I noticed that the noise stops when I let off the throttle. Roll the throttle, there it is again. I figure I'm probably the only one on here that doesn't know what it is. I do have a brand new can of wd40 out in the garage?? Hoping it's something minor.

 

I had a "chirp". One shop said it was my speedo cable, one shop said it was the tranny and I needed a $3000 rebuild. Another shop told me something else, I forget. I got under the bike and started looking around, and the belt was missing some teeth, and some teeth were peeling away from the belt. Every time the bad spot got to the rear wheel, it would chirp. I replaced the belt, chirp gone.

 

what bike do you have?

 

If you have a windshield I wouldn't guarantee that the source of your chirping is in the front.

Sounds from the rear tend to bounce off the windshield and makes you think the problem is in the front.

 

To start with get a flashlight and while blipping the throttle check where head base meets cylinder top. Basicly your looking for a head gasket leak. I've had one, one of the studs was pulled from the case.

 

He has a 95 or 96 FLSTN, can't remember which year.


Mark, does the chirp have any correlation to the clutch? I had a chirp on mine and it ended up being the clutch cable needing to be lubed. Worth a shot.

 

95 Heritage. Pretty positive it's coming from up front...and clutch isn't being worked when I hear it either. Only when I roll the throttle. When I retard the throttle, the noise stops. Thought you might've bought the farm CP.....good to hear you're stll kick'n.

 

Spray the belt down with dry graphite spray( Napa ) . I don't gamble but I'd bet on that one. Read the other chirping squealing threads...

 

I also had a chirp on a 99 Heritage I got last fall. I was positive it wasfrom the front primary, could hear it on decell and on throttle. (I also have a windshield) It was driving me crazy. Turnsout the rear axle was not aligned with the swing arm and the belt was on theloose side. Realignment and tension on the belt, chirp is gone...From where the sound i thought was coming from i was positive it was not the rear belt. I was wrong.

 

I've had chirps before... the hose clamps on the heat shields can break and it sounds like a chirp. Check that.