Unidentified Noise - It's coming form the fuel tank...

[greenbarn]

When I was guessing fuel pump--   I was guessing something wrong with the fuel pump.   I've not heard of these Drifter fuel pumps getting loud from anyone, so don't know if they do or not....   But it's quite normal for automotive fuel pumps to develop an abnormal whine when they go bad.     I would expect it to be much different than the "typical" sound you get from the fuel pump - if that's what it is. 

[Bucko]

In my case I don't think it was the fuel pump (never say never though).  It was quite loud and seemed a much higher pitch than the sound typically coming from fuel pump.  As an aside; I have a Fuel Injected ZN1300 Voyager and it occasionally makes weird fuel pump noises but they're different than what I head from the Drifter (a along time ago now).

[greenbarn]

Do you think perhaps it's the fuel pump?  That's really the only thing in the tank I can think of that would make much of any noise.  Perhaps it's getting a little loud.  A full tank would muffle the sound.   Does it make the sound regardless of if you are moving or not, or only when moving??

If you hear it sitting still (I'm guessing that's the case) When you hear the noise, pop the fuel cap open (hopefully you have an extra key) and see if it is really from INSIDE the tank.  The fuel pump will normally make a noise, but if it starts to go bad, could whine more than usual.

[Otterboy]

Hi Bucko,

Thanks...
That sounds like it is similar, in a sense that the two times I have heard the sound, I could hear it at low speed, and sounded as you described.  The sound has not occured at startup, and the occassions that it did occur were indeed intermittent.  It definitely was not the tank whistle - I find keeping the tank full or close to it keeps the whistle at bay...

It was a bit hard for me to pinpoint where the sound was coming frrom, so I am still in the guessing situation here -

Phillip

[Bucko]

The fuel tank 'whistles' when it gets warm, but I suspect that not what you're referring too as you wouldn't hear that as you ride.

At one time, many years ago, I was hearing a sound that I can best describe as the 'wizz' at the end of a ricochet sound.  It was quite loud and easily heard while riding at slow speed. The sound was intermittent and only occurred a few times.  I had thought it was coming from the water-pump area so I decided to change my coolant.  I never heard the sound after that but don't really know if that was a result of changing the coolant or if it was something else entirely.

[Otterboy]

Hi everyone.

So I'm riding my beautiful 2003 Drifter 1500 this past week, and I started hearing a noise.  I could not tell where it was coming from while on the bike, so I pulled over and best I can tell, it is coming from inside the fuel tank.

It seems a bit like a whine, and perhaps a bit "tubine-ish".

Since I have not been happy with how my local Kawi dealer has treated my ride lately (sad... but cannot bring myself to go back), I was hoping that I could try to get an idea of what I might be looking at when I go cold into a new dealership.

Any thoughts of what is likely going on inside the tank?  Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if you have additional questions, I will be glad to answer.
Thanks everyone!!!
Phillip