High pitched whine from alternator on 2005 'wing.

[Farqhuar]

Hi all, I have a very loud whine from the alternator area on my '05 wing with 50,000 miles.

I suspect it is the ADG but everything else I have seen and read suggests ADG symptoms are more of a rumble / grumble than a whine.

I believe the previous owner span a bearing in the alternator and it was subsequently replaced - it's possible this did damage to the ADG as well as the actual alternator.

When I test rode the wing it did sound a little noiser(whinier) than other 'wings I had ridden, but the seller assured me that some bikes are just noisier than others. I have now put around 5,000 miles on the bike since I purchased it and I noticed the whine had increased dramatically when I stopped to fuel up on an interstate ride. At speed, the whine is masked somewhat by wind noise, so you don't really hear it until you slow down.

I have access to an alternator from another wing and have swapped over the alternators. If I run my bike with the alternator removed it is quiet. If I run it with either my own, or his alternator, installed my bike is noisy.

On the other hand, if I run my alternator in his bike, his bike is quiet, so I have conclusively ruled out there being a problem with my alternator.

Whilst I have the skills and the time to tear down the motor I'm reluctant to do that if this something I can fix without needing to do that.

Thoughts and ideas anyone?

[GoldWingrGreg]

If you have a smart phone, can you make a video of the noise, post it on YouTube, and post the link here ???

FYI ... be sure to replay the video ... if you cannot hear the noise on the video, no one else will either. Also, once the link is posted, click on it to verify that the link works.

[Farqhuar]

Thanks Greg, will do.

Should have it posted up tomorrow morning my time.

[Techdude2000]

Make sure your battery is good. A weak battery will load the alternator and cause it to be louder as well.