Squeaky Engine!

[scottishcammy]

Well, got a mechanic to put the idle screw cable on (despite my best efforts it was a nightmare!).
So, got the bike back and it's ready to roll...whahey!
Now, I was making sure the idle was ok today (can't get out on it as got the kids) and it was all fine.
However, I noticed just how bloody squeaky the engine is! Any ideas what this is / if I should be worried?
The bike had been in a lock up for around 3 to 4 months prior to this, but it's a Honda Varadero 125 V4, 6,500 miles & full Honda service history.


Any ideas?
Here's a vid of the noise. It's on my camera phone so the quality is crap and doesn't do the sound justice, but it's basically squeaky!
When you watch the video, turn the sound down to about a quarter / fith of the max and it sounds much more like what I'm hearing. With the volume up higher, the mic on the camera phone totally distorts how it sounds.
https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wdk7L1ecB-k

[ms51ves3]

Isn't the Honda Varedero a V2.

I can't really hear the squeek in the video as it's drowned out by the engine noise.

[scottishcammy]

Yep, engine is a V2, but the bike edition is V4 (I think it simply means 'version 4'.

It's weird, didn't get worse when I opened the throttle, just when it sat idling. It's just squeaky, kind of like a squeaking fan belt noise on a car.

[Timmeh]

That engine sounds like a tractor.
____________________
GSXR400 x2 | '94 RVF400 | '93 TZR125 4DL (again)
20:22:30 BLUEX5: i would love to be forced to undergo a**l plugging with different sizes
20:48:18 Temeluchus: comp you hunk of smouldering homos3x you

[scottishcammy]

It's the phone mate, it sounds absolutely nothing like that.

[Ichy]

Do you have twin exhausts or is it a 2 into 1? The reason I ask is that I had a squeak on my XV1000. It turned out to be a baffle which had rusted a bit due to being left sitting. The way to test it was to block one exhaust at a time, the noise went away when the exhaust with the dodgy baffle was blocked.

[scottishcammy]

It's just the 125 mate, so just the one exhaust. It's def' coming from the engine.
Cheers anyway

[iooi]

Does it go away when you pull the clutch in, or stick it in gear with the clutch in.
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[scottishcammy]

Went back out to the garage and started the bike up. The squeaking was much less but could still hear it.
Def' coming from engine and didn't seem to go away with the clutch in or going up and down the drive in first.
Could it be anything to do with the engine oil? From what I can see there's oil in the engine oil window (will have a better look tomorrow).

I'm trying to think what I've done since I got it....put new iridium spark plugs in as well...putoline fuel conditioner...

[Pete.]

Check the oil with the bike sitting level before you start it again. If it is the cams squeaking because you have run it low on oil I'm afraid you're looking at a hefty repair bill.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[scottishcammy]

Hopefully not that then!
I just bought the bike a few days ago, and it had previously been unused for about 3 months prior to that.
As such, you're lucky if I've done a mile on it.
Wondering if it might be worth while draining the oil and filling it up with new stuff? At least then I'll know for certain it's got the right amount in it.
I'm hoping it's not the oil: I've got paperwork showing the bike had a Honda service 1,500 miles ago (5000 miles) and that included a full oil change (Castrol GP), can't understand why it would have lost so much oil since then (if that's what it is)?

[Ichy]

It won't be the cams. If they were bad enough to squeak at idle they would get much worse at higher revs and would eventually end up as a rattle or seized engine.

More likely its a loose bolt some where or a loose exhaust. It would be worth checking the oil level just to be sure.

[scottishcammy]

Thank feck for that! I've just spent the last hour shitting myself!!!
I'll have to see if I can get a better recording of the sound.

I don't know if it's connected, but I noticed when I revved it and took my hand completely off the throttle, it seemed to take a while for the revs to come back down to idle.
Then again, it's maybe normal for the bike. All I've been used to prior to this was a 2 stroke NSR.

[Ichy]

Maybe you have an air leak. Might sound squeaky while its sucking in air and would affect the time it takes to drop in revs.

Most bikes should drop revs fairly quickly, makes no difference if they are 2 or 4 stroke.

[scottishcammy]

Thanks for the replies mate Desperate to get out on the bike and would be totally sick if there was engine trouble.
Was hoping to go out for a good blast on Sunday, bit concerned now

[Ichy]

Do you know someone who's had bikes for a long time? Especially with older bikes that they ride all the time?

Without any disrespect, newer bikers tend to worry about insignificant stuff. Someone with a few years behind them will hopefully explain whats going on.

My philosophy on this is real simple. Bikes are made for riding. When they break I have recovery. Don't worry about what might happen, save it until it does.

As long as you do all the basic checks each time you go out you'll be fine. If your really bothered by it then take it to the mechanic who looked at it last time and ask him.

[scottishcammy]

No disrespect taken mate Just when I seen the words "Hefty repair bill" my arse puckered up something rotten

I suppose I've only really noticed the noise because the bike is idling fine now, prior to the new idle cable being fitted it stalled, and I didn't hear it with holding the throttle open more by hand.
It's not until the revs dip and the idle settles that I notice the squeaking. Suppose by the sound of it, it would be worse if it got louder the more the engine was revved.

[Ichy]

TBH I have no idea what an idle cable is?

[Pete.]

Usually, yes that would be the case. Sorry to scare you but in my experience, in situations like this the poster usually knows a little more than they are letting-on so when you started talking about oil levels I took my cue from that.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Ichy]

OP not you mate just ignore this one!

Geri, its the right thing to do. I read some of the posts on here and wonder how some people manage to get petrol in their tank.

[iooi]

Guess here.
Idle cable = choke cable ??

If its been stood for a long time then no matter how many miles its done i would change that oil now..... There is a good chance that bits inside will have rusted a bit and now its been run they could be floating in the oil.
So get some new oil and filter and get them changed.
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[scottishcammy]

Cheers chaps. One thing I can assure of is that I know absolutely nothing about bikes/mechanics! But I'm hoping to learn & we've all got to start somewhere.
I was just trying to logically work out what the problem might be and it seemed to me it might be noisy if there wasn't much oil & lubricating the moving parts (hence the squeak?).

As regards the idle cable, have a look at this post, it's even got pics from my wonderful mobile phone!:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=139395&highlight=
Cheers again for all the replies & I'll get some oil I go for a change.
I'm rather skint at the mo and if the Mrs. sees another bike related purchase on the bank statement I'm *ucked (or should that be not *ucked?! ).
It was fine before internet banking when you could hide the paper statement

[scottishcammy]

Here's some quick and dirty pics of the new bike


https://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s85/scottishcammy/DSC00173.jpg
https://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s85/scottishcammy/DSC00174.jpg
https://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s85/scottishcammy/DSC00175.jpg

[Ichy]

Even Asda sells cheap oil now. I think its around £4 - £5. Better fresh cheap oil than old.

Get some grease on that clutch cable!

Looks like you can see the oil level in one of the photos? If it is then it looks fine.

[scottishcammy]

Grease cable...check!
I ran the bike for about half an hour and the squeak seemed to dissipate, then it reappeared! Hard to pinpoint exactly where it's coming from, but certainly seems to be the engine area. It's driving me daft!
Anyhow, this is the oil level after half an hour, with the bike level when it was taken: (by the way, from looking at varadero 125 forums, the white shit is very common in the oil, something to do with the liquid cooling bit rather too effective?!)
https://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s85/scottishcammy/DSC00178.jpg