I have a 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom
received back from dealer after new rear tire install. noticed increased idle speed. shortly thereafter noticed loud squealing noise after bike was warmed up. I adjusted idle down lower and sound went away but came back as I gave it a little more gas. Bike does not need to be moving for the sound to be present.
I've noticed a trend of people complaining about new issues with their rides after taking it to the dealer for something minor. It's almost as if the dealers are doing something to ensure you come back and get more work done and give them more money. Conspiracy theorists unite!
Seriously tho, did you pick the bike up from the dealer? Did it make the noise before you left the dealer? If not, how long after you left the dealer did it start? Does it vary with RPM, like get louder or more high pitched with more RPM? If it's a stator it would get louder with more RPM and lower with less RPM.
sound reoccurred four separate times, always after the engine warms up for about 10 miles or so. Sound did become higher pitched with increased RPMs.
So I'm turning the idle down again ( screw counterclockwise ) and the knob turns freely, nothing seems to be happening. I gun the gas and idle drops down a bit lower than before. Ride a little more, and noticed the idle is back up again. I repeat the process, and this time after about four full turns, the knob grabs hold of something and turns with resistance. Gave it about half a turn more and the idol actually does come down. Grab an empty paper towel tube to listen for sound location, and go for a ride to warm it up until the sound does return. 130 mile ride later and still no squeal could that be the whole problem solved? i'm hoping but don't understand how that could be. I'll keep the paper towel tube in the side pack just in case and record sound on video if it returns.
Noise returned today after about a 12 mile ride. I listened with paper towel roll to locate, it didn't seem to be coming from left side of the engine " stater area" but rather from the radiator. I'll attempt to attach a video that shows how sound can be muffled by covering lower section of radiator.
Listened to fan on opposite side and it didn't seem to be coming from the fan. Any ideas why this happens sometimes and others I can drive endlessly with no problem? http://youtu.be/ZZz5d7RHFns
Wouldn't a high pitched squeal when warm mean she's excited?
lol, sorry I had to
Back on to your video tho, I would also agree with @sfair that may be your culprit. maybe you need to replace the rad fan, The fan only comes on when the engine is hot so if it's spinning when the squeal is present then thats a good place to start, maybe a bearing in the fan has gone kaput or it's rubbing something wrong.
I also agree that it seems the bikes come back odd from dealers. I find you need a good test run right after getting your bike back and anything no matter how small you notice that's different or odd, go right back and have them explain it and why its different than when you dropped it off. The usual reply if you wait more than a day is generally, "that could have happened from something you did" going back right after helps take that away. It's a PITA but nowadays its better to be a pain in their ass than for them to be a pain in yours (does mental math in my head to ensure that sounds right ).
empty paper towel tube against ear and pointed toward fan, don't hear much noise. pointed toward lower front of radiator, noise is the loudest. Muffled with my hand as shown in the video. I'm thinking may be, A stone or something got thrown into the radiator by the front tire and when the fan comes on it blows through, like a read in a wind instrument, and creates the whistle. Just my guess and my hope as it doesn't involve major repairs or breakdowns.
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