Dear riders, I've recently picked up a cheap neglected 3AJ in order to get it working again. Changed the oil, filter, checked the valves, cam chain tensioner, did the carbs, changed the plug... It fired right up after all the work but it was incredibly knocking-like noisy. Immediately I opened the clutch cover to find out the primary nut has come loose and the counterbalancer shaft was 4 gears off! Set it back so the dots on tue gears face each other, torqued everything back to specs and closed the cover with new gasket. Out of curiosity I disassembled the top end to check the head and bore, both being in a remarkable condition. Put everything back together and fired it up again. Everything worked just fine but after a while the bike started "squeaking". This behaviour soon disappeared (a minute or two of idling and revving) and did not come again until today. I've been wrenching on these bikes for ages and this is the first I'm experiencing something like this. I replaced the exhaust header gaskets during reassembly, so that's sealing. The only thing I didn't do right was that I reused the head gasket, intending to replace it along the way should it ever leak, which after some careful observation it does not. I am uploading a video of the problem.
https://youtu.be/S_A_55fhFZE
Thanks for any kind of advice!
3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
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jibber
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
It does not sound like the exhaust from that clip, are you getting oil flow to the top?
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vitjakes
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
I'm positive. If I take off the valve inspection cover or tach drive it spurs oil immediately.
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Mezo
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
I wonder if its a worn (scored) cylinder bore & piston? this was my piston.
Mezo.
Mezo.
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scottieh
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
I had an odd top end squeal once as well. Turns out my tacho cable had split and water got into it. It lightly rusted the drive gear and that caused the squeal. Cleaned up the rust, reinstalled and the squeal went away. Good luck!
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vitjakes
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
Mezo: The bore was in excellent condition. And I checked it after the bike started making the noise too.
I tried disconnecting the tacho cable, no change there. I tried to start the bike without the drive gear too, no change there either.
I tried disconnecting the tacho cable, no change there. I tried to start the bike without the drive gear too, no change there either.
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jibber
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
Starter disengaging?
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vitjakes
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
Not quite sure what you mean by that, but the starter works flawlessly, no issues with the starter clutch either.
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jibber
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
Spark plug in proper?
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GeoffD
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Re: 3AJ Confusing Engine Squeal
Does it make the same noise with the clutch in?
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