Anybody Ever Had This Buzzing Sound?

[patbrandon1]

My Honda Goldwing GL12000 Interstate started making a strange buzz sound after my first ride this year on March
29th. It happens about every 3 to 4 minutes when it is not running. I also had the key out and tried with the stop switch off and on. It seems to be coming from the right center area of the bike. I never did feel anything, but it was hard to catch, so I videoed it.

I made the video so anyone interested can listen to see if they ever heard this buzz before.

In the video I cut out some of the excess and have about five portions of where the bike is making the buzzing sound. The buzz in the video happens every 6 seconds or so.



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Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Delsilver]

Kind of sounds like a tuning fork or flicking a thin piece of metal with your fingernail.
Does this occur after a ride before the bike has a chance to cool down.
Is the electric fan coming on, might be a relay for the fan trying to activate but not doing so.
Just a guess, I am sure someone else will jump in.
Del

[Maz]

Try removing the fuel filler cap! I have an FJ1200 Yamaha that does exactly this (as most of them do) after every ride. In that case, it's the sound made as the pressure in the fuel tank equalises.
Maz

[julimike54]

Sounds like a cell phone on vibrate mode, answer it

Sorry no help, that's weird

[patbrandon1]

Kind of sounds like a tuning fork or flicking a thin piece of metal with your fingernail.
Does this occur after a ride before the bike has a chance to cool down.
Is the electric fan coming on, might be a relay for the fan trying to activate but not doing so.
Just a guess, I am sure someone else will jump in.
Del

Try removing the fuel filler cap! I have an FJ1200 Yamaha that does exactly this (as most of them do) after every ride. In that case, it's the sound made as the pressure in the fuel tank equalises.
Maz

This was occurring long after a ride. Two days actually. I had put the bike on the center stand last night to check tire pressures and oil level and the buzz happened only once in the hour I was in the garage. I think Maz is on to something with the pressure in the tank. I will do that today.

It's funny that julimike54 said it sounded like a cell phone. That's what I first thought was happening and that I I had left my cell phone on the ledge near the bike.

Thanks you guys and/or girls for your prompt replies. I know the buzz sound is hard to get right on a video, kinda like trying to get a paint color right. But in person it does sound a bit like a relay, but there is no click sound as I usually hear with a relay. I'll keep everyone posted in case anyone else has this buzz sound. I think it is the pressure equalizing. If so I'll let you know so others can learn along with me.

[WingAdmin]

I'm going to go with gas cap as well. The gas cap has two valves in it. Both of them are pressure relief valves that release when the pressure differential exceeds a certain amount. One of them is set so that when the pressure in the tank drops below a certain amount it lets outside air in, and the other is set so that when the pressure in the tank goes over a certain amount, it lets air out.

The first one is to allow air into the tank as the fuel pump pumps gas out of it. Without it, vacuum would develop in the tank and eventually it would overwhelm the fuel pump and the engine would quit.

The second one is to allow air to escape when the air in the tank heats up and pressure builds. This often happens when your tank is partially filled, and you park with a hot engine. The heat-soaked engine heats up the fuel and the air in the tank, the air expands, and the valve opens to let it out. I'm thinking that this valve is what you are hearing. It shouldn't be making this noise, so I suspect it is becoming sticky.

There are a couple ways to confirm this is the cause:

- Park the bike with a full tank. You should not hear this noise, because there will be no (or very little) air in the tank to expand.
- Park the bike and crack the fuel cap to allow pressure to vent. You should not hear the noise.
- If you're hearing the noise, THEN crack the fuel cap, and listen for pressure to release. Then leave the fuel cap cracked and see if you hear the noise again.

In any case, I would try cleaning the fuel cap. A common (and relatively cheap) method is to buy a can of Seafoam and submerge the fuel cap in it for a night. This will dissolve fuel deposits in the cap, helping to clean out the valves.

[patbrandon1]

I didn't hear the buzz at all today after removing the gas cap. I do believe you guys were right.
The cap is now soaking in Seafoam as I type. I'll report back if it ever returns.

Thanks heaps.