Strange sound or not?

I own a 2013 SWing, which I bought brand new 2 years ago; and, it now has 23K miles on it. I take good care of it and do not abuse it in any way.

Around 4K RPM and, as I accelerate, I hear a "whistling" type of noise that I suspect comes from the drive train somewhere. And, it is not an engine noise. It is not too loud but it's there.

As I accelerate beyond 4K RPM it stops. however, I keep wondering whether it is something I've overlooked that needs attention

I change the belt and rollers around 15K miles, and garage it when I'm not riding. I change oil on time, and keep the tires properly inflated.

Perhaps I am a bit obsessive, but I am curious to know if anyone else has, or had, a similar experience.

Thanks,

Tom

It is nothing. I just wear ear plugs,

Worry not, the noise is caused on 'over-run' due to the curvature of the top of the belt rubbing on the casing, next time you change you belt look inside at the top & it will have a 'polished' area similar to mine in the picture below .....

I have a 2013, bought new left over, 36,000 miles--due for belt. It has had shake/ belt slap in drive line (belt slap) at 40 mph since new....never blew up, same thing on second OEM belt----Now my point, these rubber band drive scooters, all seem to have different drive line "noises". My 2009 new, had drive line judder all its 40,000 miles with me. Since 1990 had 9 new rubber band drive scooters, total miles now nearing 400,000-----all had different noises coming from drive line. I just ride them. I run all stock parts and do not monkey===trouble very seldom. These miles=one broken belt (Helix), 3 of the 4 Helix had some sort of rear clutch bearing noise/trouble...all replaced under warranty, Suzuki Burgman 400 at 20,000 miles drive line trashed itself...maybe starting with outer bearing(rear) failure, destroying rear pulley front pulley and all parts within and belt. Lucky here happened as I pulled into Dalton,GA Suzuki shop, Suzuki payed for everything including new belt.

My advice---just ride it. I view the belt drive as the weakest point of maxi scooters that are ridden considerable miles.

It's true. With all the slipping, sliding, grabbing and clutching these CVTs do, a cacophony of mechanical noise is generated. And... one hears it because the machine is otherwise so quiet.
On occasion mine chortles like a turkey! Gotta love it.

One thing to make sure of is that the Air cooler on the belt drive is kept clean every 4000mls. It is easy to miss out when doing other maintainance jobs.

Old Limey, can you elaborate on the Air Cooler pls? First I've read of it!

Not sure without looking in my Manual but, there is an Air filter in front of the Variator. Which needs cleaning as stated. Could be called "Belt drive casing filter. It may not have anything to do with your case ,but, thought I would mention it.

Mine makes a "wheeeee" sound in the bend and sort of giggling noise when chasing Harleys :-)

hrca15 wrote:

It is nothing. I just wear ear plugs,

Thanks, that's what I thought. No ear plugs for me, but I won't worry about the noise.

The Bern wrote:

Worry not, the noise is caused on 'over-run' due to the curvature of the top of the belt rubbing on the casing, next time you change you belt look inside at the top & it will have a 'polished' area similar to mine in the picture below .....

Thank you Bern, I will look at the belt when I change it next. I have a strong feeling you are right.

Tom G wrote:

john grinsel wrote:

I have a 2013, bought new left over, 36,000 miles--due for belt. It has had shake/ belt slap in drive line (belt slap) at 40 mph since new....never blew up, same thing on second OEM belt----Now my point, these rubber band drive scooters, all seem to have different drive line "noises".   My 2009 new, had drive line judder all its 40,000 miles with me.  Since 1990 had 9 new rubber band drive scooters, total miles now nearing 400,000-----all had different noises coming from drive line.  I just ride them.  I run all stock parts and do not monkey===trouble very seldom.   These miles=one broken belt (Helix), 3 of the 4 Helix had some sort of rear clutch bearing noise/trouble...all replaced under warranty, Suzuki Burgman 400 at 20,000 miles drive line trashed itself...maybe starting with outer bearing(rear)  failure, destroying rear pulley front pulley and all parts within and belt.   Lucky here happened as I pulled into Dalton,GA Suzuki shop, Suzuki payed for everything including new belt.

Thanks for the words of "Confidence". I always carry a used serviceable belt with me as well as the tool to hold the variator plate and 17mm socket.  Am I Obsessive-Compulsive?

My advice---just ride it.  I view the belt drive as the weakest point of maxi scooters that are ridden considerable miles.

Thanks for the words of "Confidence". I always carry a used serviceable belt with me as well as the tool to hold the variator plate and 17mm socket. Am I Obsessive-Compulsive?

DerrillW wrote:

It's true. With all the slipping, sliding, grabbing and clutching these CVTs do, a cacophony of mechanical noise is generated. And... one hears it because the machine is otherwise so quiet.
On occasion mine chortles like a turkey! Gotta love it.

Yes, Quiet it is. And, I do; Love It. If there were anything better we'd all have it.

Old Limey wrote:

One thing to make sure of is that the Air cooler on the belt drive is kept clean every 4000mls. It is easy to miss out when doing other maintainance jobs.

I will do. Please check you P.M., as I've been to your Shire.

Tom G, thanks for your message. Up to 10years ago I visited America regulary. On Vacation, many trips to Florida sometimes twice a year , been to. New York ( didn't like it at all). Stood in the Alamo in Texas, seen the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, been in Las Vegas and Nashville, unfortunately I take offence easily and the last time we went one of your immigration people really got my back up, so I said I will never visit again and I never have.

Did he panic when all the gold sovereigns in your money belt set off the metal detectors?

At 16,000KM
I had what I think is being called the turkey noise.
Not knowing what was causing it, I decided just to do whatever maint I could
and hope I hit the cause.

Took the belt off and removed inner clutch.
Cleaned out casing, Sanded clutch pads and inside of clutch drum.
Greased inside of inner clutch small roller bearings. (some call needle bearings)
Cleaned case filter.

When put back together clutch has much smoother engagement and no weird noises while riding.
Turkey noise also gone.

In short. I think if you have performed above maint. then everything should be fine.

I cross regularly from Canada into New York state.
I have found the US customs to be very professional.
Sometimes they have a more in depth check. But they have always been polite.

Not to say there isn't a bad apple somewhere and some places could be worse than others.

Reg wrote:

At 16,000KM
I had what I think is being called the turkey noise.
Not knowing what was causing it, I decided just to do whatever maint I could
and hope I hit the cause.

Took the belt off and removed inner clutch.
Cleaned out casing, Sanded clutch pads and inside of clutch drum.
Greased inside of inner clutch small roller bearings. (some call needle bearings)
Cleaned case filter.

When put back together clutch has much smoother engagement and no weird noises while riding.
Turkey noise also gone.

In short. I think if you have performed above maint. then everything should be fine.

Thank you Reg; very good advice. No I have't even looked at the clutch yet, but when I change belt and rollers (maybe sliders) before 32K miles, I will definitely do so.

Old Limey wrote:

Tom G, thanks for your message. Up to 10years ago I visited America regulary. On Vacation, many trips to Florida sometimes twice a year , been to. New York ( didn't like it at all). Stood in the Alamo in Texas, seen the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, been in Las Vegas and Nashville, unfortunately I take offence easily and the last time we went one of your immigration people really got my back up, so I said I will never visit again and I never have.

Well Old Limey, as Reg from Ontario said, There is always a bad apple somewhere in the batch. America has changed quite a bit in the last 10 years, and I fear not necessarily for the better.

Politics notwithstanding, we now have a population of over 312 thousand people, and with advancing technology (cell phones in particular), and international terrorism always in the news, traveling is not as much fun as it used to be - if fun is the correct word.

Probably similar occurrences in the U.K., and western Europe.

But, in general, America is still a very friendly country especially to those who speak "our" language. Try the New England states even upstate NY, and I might even suggest visiting your other North American Colony, Canada, and taking a rail trip through the Canadian Rockies.

Best to you,

Tom G

Tom G wrote:

Politics notwithstanding, we now have a population of over 312 thousand people, and with advancing technology (cell phones in particular), and international terrorism always in the news, traveling is not as much fun as it used to be - if fun is the correct word.

.



Best to you,

Tom G

Must be some old census data or wishful thinking. :lol!:

I'd have thought there would be more Americans to the UK now there's a very favourable $ to £ exchange since we voted to leave the EU. If only to see that the United Kingdom Pavillion at Epcot, Walt Disney World, Florida doesn't really represent what it's like over here.

Meldrew wrote:

I'd have thought there would be more Americans to the UK now there's a very favourable $ to £ exchange since we voted to leave the EU. If only to see that the United Kingdom Pavillion at Epcot, Walt Disney World, Florida doesn't really represent what it's like over here.

Well, Meldrew, as you and I both know "Disney World" is not the center of the universe, nor the center of the U.K.

The U.K., England specifically, has many beautiful and memorable places to visit, e.g., The Cotswolds, Bath, The Lake Country, The Pennine Way, Stonehenge, Dover, not to mention Devon & Cornwall where I've never been.

And, let me not forget all the beautiful, magnificent, old cathedrals throughout the land (and I'm not religious either).

And then, there is the "Real Ale"... Ah so much to to and see in your country beside Disney... . And, after that, or along with that, there is Scotland and Wales. Need I say more?

Tom G wrote:

Meldrew wrote:

I'd have thought there would be more Americans to the UK now there's a very favourable $ to £ exchange since we voted to leave the EU. If only to see that the United Kingdom Pavillion at Epcot, Walt Disney World, Florida doesn't really represent what it's like over here.

Well, Meldrew, as you and I both know "Disney World" is not the center of the universe, nor the center of the U.K.

The U.K., England specifically, has many beautiful and memorable places to visit, e.g., The Cotswolds, Bath, The Lake Country, The Pennine Way, Stonehenge, Dover, not to mention Devon & Cornwall where I've never been.

And, let me not forget all the beautiful, magnificent, old cathedrals throughout the land (and I'm not religious either).

And then, there is the "Real Ale"... Ah so much to to and see in your country beside Disney... . And, after that, or along with that, there is Scotland and Wales.  Need I say more?

I'd disagree with a few of your choices there mate, I lived on the edge of the Lake District for nearly 40 years and it never really did much for me, nice scenery spoiled by the hordes of weirdo's in anoraks, muddy boots, and woolly hats wandering about pretending they're Alf Wainwright. The Pennine Way is more of the same, Stonehenge a circle of large ancient stones that attracts more weirdos and muesli knitters at the Summer Soltice who think they're Druids.  Dover nowadays is just a Channel port where the massed hordes of illegal immigrants on the French side of the Channel head for, totally ignoring the large 'We're Full' signs.

As for cathedrals, here the Dean of York Minster has just sacked a highly skilled world class team of volunteer bell ringers and had the locks changed to keep them out of the bell tower, upsetting them and most of the population of York. So there'll be no traditional bells on Remberance Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year.

Have not heard the whistling noise Tom, but if the "case filter..." has restricted air flow ... might that not cause a whistle? I'll be checking that on mine ... thanks Old Limey, for that suggestion!

Glad you have had pleasant boarder crossings Reg. I'm always polite when speaking with the boarder guards. Only to the US about 3 or 4 times; but, there was one "agent" at the newer crossing from NB into Maine that had to be on a power trip. Did the full car search because my wife mentioned we had some pineapple. Never will take that crossing point again.

Fully understand Old Limey's position.

Reg wrote:

At 16,000KM
I had what I think is being called the turkey noise.
Not knowing what was causing it, I decided just to do whatever maint I could
and hope I hit the cause.

Took the belt off and removed inner clutch.
Cleaned out casing, Sanded clutch pads and inside of clutch drum.
Greased inside of inner clutch small roller bearings. (some call needle bearings)
Cleaned case filter.

When put back together clutch has much smoother engagement and no weird noises while riding.
Turkey noise also gone.

In short. I think if you have performed above maint. then everything should be fine.

Reg,
What you heard is common with the CVT clutches. There is a simple procedure to de-glaze the clutch pads. While holding the left brake securely, increase your RPM to 4k for about four seconds. This will produce smoke and a burning smell. Don't get me wrong, you did good by sanding off the glazed clutch pads and lubricating the bearings. The "turkey noise" will return and the interval can be extended by running it hard from a stop once a in a while, maybe monthly. If you baby your bike, the sooner the "turkey noise" will return. My 2¢.

Mike from NS wrote:

 Only to the US about 3 or 4 times; but, there was one "agent" at the newer crossing from NB into Maine that had to be on a power trip.  Did the  full car search because my wife mentioned we had some pineapple. Never will take that crossing point again.

Fully understand Old Limey's position.

I think you guys only penalize yourselves, if you take affront from one official being hard on you at a border crossing. I have travelled through many dozens of countries and would not let such an experience stop me from going to a nice place again. Most of the time these guys just do their job.
As to the " agent " who gave you a hard time about the pineapple. I have a good friend who works as a quarantine officer in the customs department. You would not believe what some people try to smuggle into a country, from wild life to forbidden plants and food matters. Sometimes it is for profit, most often it is ignorance. But the consequences of foreign pests entering a disease free country can be devastating and can cost hundreds of millions to eradicate.

I agree gremlin, on reflection it was just one person, and I can honestly say no matter where we went (apart from New York) in America, we met great people.

gremlin wrote:

Mike from NS wrote:

 Only to the US about 3 or 4 times; but, there was one "agent" at the newer crossing from NB into Maine that had to be on a power trip.  Did the  full car search because my wife mentioned we had some pineapple. Never will take that crossing point again.

Fully understand Old Limey's position.

I think you guys only penalize yourselves, if you take affront from one official being hard on you at a border crossing. I have travelled through many dozens of countries and would not let such an experience stop me from going to a nice place again. Most of the time these guys just do their job.
As to the " agent " who gave you a hard time about the pineapple. I have a good friend who works as a quarantine officer in the customs department. You would not believe what some people try to smuggle into a country, from wild life to forbidden plants and food matters.  Sometimes it is for profit, most often it is ignorance. But the consequences of foreign pests entering a disease free country can be devastating and can cost hundreds of millions to eradicate.

Yes, you are quite right, Gremlin; there is a severe population growth of the Burmese Python in the The Everglades National Park in Florida. They grow up to 20 feet long and eat whatever they want including alligators. How did they get there? It is suspected that someone discarded and bought as an exotic pet - probably two.