hi, since having a 15000 miles service on my 1999 road king classic, it now makes a brief clattering noise on start up after it's been stood for a while.anybody got any idea why?

 

There are several types of noise. These are annoying, but not critical:
- A kind of chirping sound that I can trace to heat shield clamps. These clamps do not like being adjusted or taken off or messed with in anyway. But at ~$2 each, they are an easy replacment item.

- A kind of rattle that fairly quickly goes away once the bike is warm. This is attributed to the oil draining out of the top end and make a slight clacking noise until the pressure has come up and oil is once again flowing freely. No worries here.

- A more moderate clack that sound like its comming from the front when you are riding. This tends to not go away as easily and 'I' attribute this to lower oil pressure caused by wear. The cheapest fix for this is the Baisley Spring, but requires cracking the cam case open to install. But then, once you have cracked the cam case, you might want to spring for a better oil pump.

Given what you said, I am going to assume its just a dry top end and once oil of flowing again its alright. You should be OK.

When the noise is constant, have it checked. It may be a issue, but then again it may be nothing. But have a trained or very experienced person check it out.

...gene

 

+1 to what genedjr said. With a '99 its possible the pump is starting to show wear. Better an inspection / new pump than a failed pump and a blown engine. Best have a wrench check her out. (Is she a she if your a she? I never got that one right.)