'78 GS400 squirrels in my engine?

[Guest]

haha. at idle (at least that is when i can hear it) there is a squeeking and it sounds like squirrels in my engine. if i rev it up a bit it goes away for a sec but comes back when the rpms drop again.


any ideas?

[pete]

Are you able to isolate it to a specific area? Get a long screwdriver, hold it to your ear, and put it on different parts and see if you can narrow it down at all.

Alternatively, post a video so we can hear for ourselves

[Raid3n]

seems to have gone away. i will check in the morning, but it might have just been low on oil. because when i topped it up, i don't think i let it idle for a bit an checked the level again so it might not have been full.

but i have noticed that recently, when i put the bike into first it will jump a little, didn't do it before...

[pete]

Hmmm... just keep an ear out I guess if it's gone away...

[Raid3n]

seems to be gone now, might have just been low oil.

[pete]

Cool, although I must say that would annoy the crap out of me if it just went away and I didn't know what it was...

[SVSooke]

but i have noticed that recently, when i put the bike into first it will jump a little, didn't do it before...

Sounds like a clutch adjustment is needed.Is it just when cold?If it's just then that's pretty normal.Cold oil sticks the plates together.

[Raid3n]

it might be the clutch, when its cold it's really grabby going into 1st. it will rock the bike forward.

[tthayer]

Would worn clutch plates sound like that? I encountered a high-pitched squeal that went up with engine RPM's, but I didn't feel the clutch slipping at all.

[pete]

I haven't heard what a bad clutch sounds like and I haven't heard squirrels... but I'd suggest do the adjustment regardless and see what happens...

If it's grabby in first and the adjustment doesn't sort it, I'd be checking the cable first and lubing and adjusting or replacing, then if it still persists it might be time to pop the right case cover and check the plates...

[rbond]

If squeal comes back, it could be the cam chain running on a guide that is wore really bad, or you oil level was too low for the pump to work.