VERY strange screeching noise coming from F4i motor.. Ideas?

[broham]

I got a stock f4i with about 20k miles. I changed the oil 1000 miles ago.

Yesterday I began hearing a loud squealing/screeching noise from the left side (sprocket side) of the motor any time I had the engine under load. Any mild acceleration sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Even while letting the clutch out with no throttle input. This noise could be heard in any gear. The sound doesn't happen in neutral.

It can't be the clutch plates because it will happen with the clutch fully engaged & the sound is coming from the other side of the motor.

It can't be the bottom or top end of the motor since it doesn't happen in neutral.

It sounds like it could be coming from the front sprocket area, but it's hard to tell for sure.


Does anyone have any idea what this could be? It sounds like an obnoxious rusty gate opening and closing. I've never heard it before.

[lee majors]

water pump bearings maybe

[broham]

Originally Posted by lee majors

water pump bearings maybe

that was my initial thought, but it doesn't happen in neutral at any rev

[-william-]

tranny bearing. i remember when i took the engine apart, there is 2 shafts in the tray, one that is moving all the time with the sprocket and one that is connected to the clutch(that disengage when you pull the clutch). my guess is that a bearing on that shaft is dead/close to be dead. maybe when you changed the oil you let in a bit of dirt and that this dirt when up to the bearing or that maybe you didn't put enough oil in there and that this particular bearing had a particular weakness. hope i'm dead wrong cause this means splitting the base...

[-william-]

can't be the water pump tho because it's spinning according to the rpm, pulling the clutch wouldn't stop the sound

[broham]

I was also thinking a transmission bearing, however I haven't been able to find much info through google. Seems like not too many people run into this problem. The f4i transmission has only two ball bearings. One on either shaft. Judging by the noise, I'd assume that it's the counter-shaft bearing. I really don't feel like splitting the case just to find out I'm wrong.

[Tattooty]

starter motor? I had an issues similar on my 600rr and that's what it was.

[broham]

Originally Posted by Tattooty

starter motor? I had an issues similar on my 600rr and that's what it was.

Hmm. how could it be the starter motor?

[Tattooty]

Originally Posted by broham

Hmm. how could it be the starter motor?

I remember someone saying that the magnets inside the starter motor will sometimes come dislodged and cause issues leading to that type of noise. I replaced mine on my 600rr and the noise stopped. But I couldn't tell you for sure if that's right or not.

[loogie]

A buddies 05 r6 did this. It was a bearing or something on the clutch side. Even tho the noise wasn't really coming from that side. Wtf are you doing fucking w a f4i anyways? Lol