Strange hissing noise

[jgreth]

[Edit]
Read a few posts down about the hissing noise, the metallic vibration sound has been covered in another thread, my bad on that one.
[/Edit]

I noticed that around 4,500 - 6,000 RPM that I hear some sort of low ring or what sounds like metallic noise.  It's not very loud or noticeable ( and hell it could be my helmet playing tricks on me ) and it only happens while moving.  If I keep the engine revved at 5,000 RPM while sitting still, I don't hear it. 

I just haven't had a chance to do my valve clearance checks ( low money, need to buy a shim tool and a gap feeler gauge -- can't find one locally small enough ugh ).  Other than this I've noticed nothing wrong I just wonder if this has anything to do with valve clearance or not. 

I'm really trying to minimize my riding of the bike until I get my clearance check done.  I can't afford to bring it to my dealership atm.  What's the cheapest way to get the right size of gap feelers ?  I've done a few searches but a lot of the links are not valid anymore.

Any help would be appreciated.

[scratch]

Have you checked your oil level?

Did one of your exhaust flanges come loose (or anything else for that matter)?

[simon79]

>jgreth:
go take a look here
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=37625.0
I'm not pretty sure if it has to do with wrong valve clearances.
As for the feeler gauge, I found out and bought this one on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.it/Feeler-Gauge-English-26-Blade-Set-lathe-Car_W0QQitemZ120157105736QQihZ002QQcategoryZ63915QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I don't know where you're located, seems like these guys only ship to Europe.
Anyway, you can find something else on the 'bay, you just need a gauge able to measure gaps from .03 mm, and you're set.
You don't need the shim tool just yet, wait till you see what your actual clearances are; your valves may be well within spec (BTW, how many miles/kms on your vehicle? 1st valve check is due at 6000 km/4000 mi...), in this case, no need to pop shims out. And even if you actually had to, you might also do that without the shim tool (search the forum for "gsJack two screwdrivers method"  )
There are tons of posts about valve check round here, though.

Hope this helps.

[jgreth]

Thanks for the response.

I'm running at 1500 miles on my bike so far. 

Concerning anything loose, I'm not very mechanically inclined as of yet, I just got my service manual the other day so I'm not sure what the exhaust flanges are ( though if I had to guess I'd say something holding the exhaust up ).  I just changed the oil myself a week or so ago so that shouldn't be the issue.  Not a single leak anywhere either.

I'm in Memphis, TN ( US ) so I'll have to do some digging to find the feeler gauge then.  The closest I can find locally is a .0348mm. 

Another thing I noticed ( and I noticed this way before today ) is what seems like a small hissing sound when my RPM's are 3,000 - 5,000 and I'm still going slow enough so the wind noise doesn't override it.  Again, it may just be the normal way of the engine and it's not something that really alarms be but just want to be sure it's normal.

[jgreth]

Oh, and I forgot to mention.  According to the 'books', the first valve clearance check should be done at the 600 mile mark, no?  That's why I've been so worried about it.

[simon79]

You're welcome
I can't help you about the hissing noise you describe.
Never heard that, no matter what helmet I'm wearing.

Anyway, I never heard or read about the very first valve check to be done this early (600 mi)...

Maybe the local GS500 gods will chime in and pull us out of doubt.

[jgreth]

http://www.gstwin.com/initial_service.htm

Also, in my owner's manual it says 600mi for the initial valve clearance check.  To ensure the shims are the right size out of the factory I s'pose.

[ben2go]

Has the bike been dropped?I dropped mine and picked up a vibration and metal to metal sound.The gas tank was knocked to the left and it was vibrating on the frame.Luckily I dropped in the grass and it did no damage.Well,it got a little dirt on the bar end.

[jgreth]

Nope, never been dropped.

It's a VERY slight metal ring sound, almost not noticeable.  I'll see if I can get some audio of it sometime in the near future.  It'll be hard to record since it's not something I hear when it's idling / revving while sitting still, only when I'm going like 40+.  The slight hissing sound starts at around 15 mph, like if I go 3,000-4,000 RPM in 2nd gear.

[jgreth]

Ah ok then... I just read the thread you posted above.  I must have missed it.

I'll dig a little but at least I know it's nothing wrong with my bike!

Concerning the hissing noise... no one else has heard what sounds like a faint hiss going like 20 mph in 2nd gear?  It's not loud but I can hear what sounds like a distinct hiss over the engine noise.

I dunno.... weird

[scratch]

Unless, your bike is behaving differently, the noise isn't harmful.

[simon79]

http://www.gstwin.com/initial_service.htm

Also, in my owner's manual it says 600mi for the initial valve clearance check.  To ensure the shims are the right size out of the factory I s'pose.

Oops...ok then.

[jgreth]

Yeah my bike isn't behaving any differently I'm just the type of person to worry about things.

Thanks for the assistance thus far. 

[nightrider]

jgreth, I started on this forum completely innocent like you. I tend to worry too much too. Dont worry... this board took me from complete noob to dangerously competent noob. There would be days on end I would stress because of my tweaked front end or strange noise or anticipating the horrifying valve check I had to do but voila, in retrospect its all gravy. So cheers and welcome, fixing crap is not easy but its not hard either.