Whining noise from engine.

[gv550]

2016 with 270k. For the past several months I've noticed a whining or squealing noise from my engine, mostly at idle regardless of engine temperature. It's loud enough now to almost drown out the normal bucket of bolts noises. Most prevalent at the bottom of the crankcase on both sides of the engine. It probably whines all the time but wind and road noises hide it.
Thinking back to my kawasaki Vulcan days, the vn900 was infamous for burning out the stator, and one of the telltale signs was a whining noise. I wonder if my stator is failing, has anyone else experienced this? My voltmeter reads normal, 14.1v while riding.

 

[scott123007]

My S-10 always whined in 5th and 6th gear, but I don't remember anytime else.

 

[holligl]

Maybe post a YouTube video link? @~TABASCO would be your best bet. He's seen pretty much every thing. I assume your mileage is kilometers...

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[holligl]

You might also consider sending an oil sample in for lab analysis. If some bearing is going it might point to it. If the oil comes back clean, just upgrade your ear plugs.

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[thughes317]

Try leaving the pillion at home on the next ride?

 

[gv550]

I think I have eliminated the stator as being the source of the noise. As mentioned, the system voltage is 13.9 to 14.1 while riding, I unplugged the stator and the whining persists, resistance between any 2 of the 3 poles is .4 ohms, none show a path to ground. The FSM says .11 to .17 ohms using an analog tester but I only have a digital ohmmeter showing .4 but with all 3 readings the same I doubt there is any problem.
Pillion whine has also been a problem, but my mute button fixes that.
This bike has been making that noise for a long time without worries, I've become more sensitive to it since buying a second T12 that is much quieter.

 

[Cycledude]

I would love to hear what yours sounds like.
My 2018 has had sort of squeaky whine at idle or low speed since new, it’s slightly worse when cold, sometimes after it warms up I don’t notice the noise, my previous 2013 never made that noise or if it did I didn’t notice it.
A few years ago someone told me his was doing that and he switched to a Yamaha oil filter and the noise went away, I didn’t think that would change anything but next oil change I used the Yamaha filter and it still sounded the same.