Very strange noise when I start my 650B

Ok, this might sound crazy but I have had this strange noise with my 650B on occasions when I start it up - it normally is when it is cold, and it nearly fires up but dies...it sounds like a weak car horn...sort of a parrrrp/hoot sort of noise.
Once the bike has warmed up, or if it catches and fires up properly there is no noise......
Any idea what that might be? bike runs fine otherwise.


Lee

The over running clutch on the starting mechanism can make a similar sound. You will need the left side engine gasket as they tear on removal and inspect the spring and rollers in the starting clutch.

Do you have a shop manual? If so this is very easy to check.
Lean the bike to the right to minimize the oil flow, remove the screws on the case and carefully remove the side cover.

The starting clutch is behind the rotor (the magnetic part that rotates for the alternator). It has three spring loaded rollers that engage when the starter rotates.

MFolks wrote:

The over running clutch on the starting mechanism can make a similar sound. You will need the left side engine gasket as they tear on removal and inspect the spring and rollers in the starting clutch.

Do you have a shop manual? If so this is very easy to check.
Lean the bike to the right to minimize the oil flow, remove the screws on the case and carefully remove the side cover.

The starting clutch is behind the rotor (the magnetic part that rotates for the alternator). It has three spring loaded rollers that engage when the starter rotates.

yeah, what he said!! seriously, you might to open up left side and see what goes on in there...if you cant get it leaned right, you will lose about 3/4 qt..no biggee....get a spare gasket too...post your results and / questions....lots of help here...

Or...you can use the kickstarter Mine makes a similar noise on occasion, but I have learned to live with it. Never hurt anything with my bike.

Take the starter off and use battery cables to jump it off a battery,, I think you will find that the starter is the culprit,, the bushings dry out and make that noise. Put some never seize on the bushings and it will last a couple years before needing it again

Thanks for the info!!! I thought I had run over an owl or something:P - I must get in the habit of using the kick start more often - it fires up great with that...I will give the starter a check as well and get back to you.


Lee

i agree that the starter clutch is the most likely issue, but if you take off the left engine cover all you will find on a 650 is the rotor and stator, the starter clutch is inside the engine. some will tell you to replace it with the engine in the bike and some say to remove it, that is your own decision, but it is more in depth than the 900/1000/1100 starter clutch. there are few write ups on here about starter clutch rebuild on here, i think i wrote one a few years ago.

If it's the same noise mine makes, mine does it with the kick starter as well. Only does it once in awhile. I have no idea what is causing it.