I have a 1998 softail custom with 21,000 miles that has developed an
engine noise that sounds like a washing machine agitiating.....
have had the lifters replaced,roller rockers checked ,push rods are all
straight.
Has anyone else ever heard of anything like this happening before?

 

You are looking at the right side of the motor. Is that where you think the noise is coming from? Or could it be coming from the left side? Did you check for correct primary chain tension? If the chain is slapping around in the primary because it is out of adjustment, it could be your problem if you haven't already checked it.

 

Have a 96 FXSTS which developed a strange howling noise at around 20k.After checking everything I could think of I brought it to my local mechanic.Turned out to be the cam bearing was begining to fail.Fortunately we caught it before any of the bearings came lose and caused further damage.While he had it opened up we upgraded the cam for a little more power.

The Engine Build Date Determines the Defect

First let’s see who is affected by this bearing failure and who isn’t.The build date of your engine, (from Milwaukee’s massive Pilgrim Rd. plant) and NOT the assembly date, (which is done in the York Pennsylvania plant), of the motorcycle is the important piece of information to determine whether the old style no good ball bearings are installed in the cam support plate or the new improved roller bearings, (part # 8984), are there. You or your dealer can phone the Factory with two engine serial numbers, the vehicle identification number, (VIN), that your bike is registered with off the left side engine casing at the base of the cylinders and the motor number off the bottom of the right engine case. If your engine was built before Dec. 14 1999 then you have the problem ball bearings. On and after Dec. 14 1999 and the new improved roller bearings with the new cam support plate will have been installed in your engine.Harley’s are built in ½ years not the full yearly production you are probably more familiar with. Each manufacturing year has an early and late production. For example; in general, the early 2000 models will have fewer changes than the later 2000 manufactured bikes. HD introduces many mechanical changes half way through the year to correct problems and for a variety of other reasons. Therefore early 2000 bikes will mechanically mimic late 1999 models while late 2001 bikes will be more similar to early 2001 models.

 

I updated in 1999 cam bearings to timkin style bearing and upgraded cam to ev27 for
more power. also installed roller rocker shafts with adjustable push rods at 4000 miles.

 

Thats the first thing i checked,unfortunely that wasn't the problem

 

So.......... I got a bunch of ****ty bearings in my stock 80 ci evo from 1988????

 

hatchetman, probably not. The "before 1999" part is only half of it. There is also an "after 19XX" part. I just don't remember the cut off date. It was after my 1986 that they started using the crappy bearings so I didn't pay too much attention to it. You could probably search this site and come up with the date. Search for "cam bearing", "INA", "Timkin" etc.