Author Topic: creak/squeak noise at startup, complete engine teardown help needed!!! (Read 4516 times)

MatteoP · « **on:** January 31, 2016, 08:53:21 PM »

So the other day I decided to fix my starter button, and ordered a used right control switch online. Hooked it up and nothing happened. I saw the battery was just over 11v so I left it charging overnight. Next day went to start it up and it fired up right away, right when it fired up I started hearing a really weird creaking noise. I shut the bike off right away as the noise would follow the rpms. I thought to myself lets see if it was only something stuck so I kickstarted it this time but same creaking noise going on. I tried to listed where it was coming from, but just for a very short amount of time, and it seemed like it was coming from the main engine block. My thought was that a piston ring must have busted or something of that kind, so I took the engine apart, and, at least to my knowledge everything seems pretty normal in there.

In the past, the exhaust pipe connected to cyl. 2 used to smoke a little more than the others, but that cylinder/piston/valves seem fine.

I took some pictures to kind of show what I am looking at, cyl. 1 is the only cylinder sleeve that has some scoring but it seems minimal.

I am not sure what to do now, i definitely do not want to go through a top end rebuild and not knowing if the problem is solved until I fire it up again. did anyone ever had a similar experience or maybe know what could be going on? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Bike is 1978 Cb550k

MatteoP · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2016, 08:56:47 PM »

heres some pics

MatteoP · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2016, 08:58:11 PM »

here more

grcamna2 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2016, 08:58:22 PM »

I'd like to have heard the noise on a video,etc.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:00:56 PM »

I just looked at the pics,could you get any close-ups of each piston and cylinder? Was it a type of squealing noise ?

MatteoP · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:05:34 PM »

I was really scared of creating more damage so I turned the bike off almost immediately after trying to locate where it was coming from. Should have taken a video

I was thinking that maybe it could be stuck starter gear? As the problem happened as I used the starter for the first time in at least one year...

I am going to step down and take some close up pics, and yes squealing, and it would get more rapid as i would rev up the bike.

MatteoP · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:08:40 PM »

the noise was hearing is really close to what you can hear in this video. not quite the exact same but to give a better idea

grcamna2 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:09:27 PM »

The starter clutch 'could' have not disengaged while it was running which would make the bike whine a lot.. but w/o hearing it I don't know.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:12:22 PM »

Quote from: MatteoP on January 31, 2016, 09:05:34 PM

I was really scared of creating more damage so I turned the bike off almost immediately after trying to locate where it was coming from. Should have taken a video

I was thinking that maybe it could be stuck starter gear? As the problem happened as I used the starter for the first time in at least one year...

I am going to step down and take some close up pics, and yes squealing, and it would get more rapid as i would rev up the bike.

Better to have turned it off.

MatteoP · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:51:09 PM »

here are the close ups of the cylinders

MatteoP · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:52:02 PM »

and here the pistons

grcamna2 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2016, 09:56:09 PM »

I've sure seen worse than that.

Don R · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2016, 10:50:50 AM »

A squeal is often a bearing noise, if the cam holders look good, you might want to check the crank.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2016, 10:56:02 AM »

Quote from: Don R on February 01, 2016, 10:50:50 AM

A squeal is often a bearing noise, if the cam holders look good, you might want to check the crank.

+1

MatteoP · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2016, 03:27:55 PM »

here I took pics of the cam holders, look and feel fine. I checked the cam itself and feels smooth. Do the pics give any idea if they are fairly good or if they could be the cause of the noise? how do I go about checking the crank bearings? I have been trying to look up some diy's but I cannot seem to find much. Could the starter clutch make that squeal noise if it remains stuck engaged? How could I check that one? Thanks again for the help so far, I am fairly new to all this so I will most definitely need more help along the way.

MatteoP · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2016, 03:28:52 PM »

here the other 2

grcamna2 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2016, 04:21:28 PM »

Those pics show a large amount of wear,how does your camshaft look ?

MatteoP · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2016, 04:47:17 PM »

The camshaft didnt look bad where it sits on the head, the lobes do show discoloration at the tips. I will snap some pics here shortly.

I found this video today while researching online and around 48-50 sec the sound was just like the one my bike did before I shut it off and started taking it apart.

MatteoP · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2016, 06:58:59 PM »

MatteoP · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2016, 07:01:47 PM »

What is really weird to me is that, the noise started only when I fired up the bike using the starter button. I started it up with the kickstart, I want to say 2 minutes before, and it was running just fine.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2016, 07:26:33 PM »

That camshaft looks good.

DH · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2016, 09:39:57 PM »

I don't have a lot of experience with 550 motors, but I'd venture a guess that you're onto something concerning
the starter clutch. You mentioned that it didn't make noise till you used the starter.. I have never seen iit happen, but wonder if it can lock up(?) Is/was the starter still cranking, or being cranked when the engine is running even though you have let off the button? Just a thought. Hopefully a 550 guy will reply shortly, will bump this up..

strynboen · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2016, 07:09:30 AM »

this on the Photo is the problem.i think...a kind or korosion/Wear/
..and the cam/head is a bit veared...try to Mount the cam. and Mount the head and valve cover and use some bolts to hold the parts together.and see if you can move it(hard to do on a 500/550)to thek for slock in the cast lobes

is it somthing like this it makes..mine had a half melted piston..and bad rings...

Gene · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2016, 12:34:18 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on February 02, 2016, 02:19:22 AM

I don't know how the starter could be involved once the motor is running,

I've had my starter continue turning after the engine started - like the button was stuck, but this noise doesn't sound like that. Other than that, I'm afraid I don't know what to tell you. The video linked mentioned it was the stator bolts - that's an easy check.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2016, 06:14:11 PM »

a failing/failed starter clutch will make a shrill squeek or chirp and it is quite possible for it to stick engaged after the starter stops spinning...but I have not heard that sound in any of the posted videos...

Your cam, journals, pistons and cylinders look quite worn but nothing that is gonna squeak. I guarantee there are 1000's of 550's on the road today that have similarly worn internals

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Author Topic: creak/squeak noise at startup, complete engine teardown help needed!!! (Read 4516 times)

DH