Primary noise
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,303
Likes: 6,325
From: Honah Lee
Man, idk. I did the jack the bike up & rock the wheel back and forth hard thing, I drained the oil and put Harley formula + in & it got WORSE! It sounds like there’s a ****in rattle snake in my primary constantly rattling!
I went to the HD service desk and played the noise for the technician. He says.... it’s probably your compensator. One dead give away that it’s your compensator is the noise will change when you pull the clutch in. I tested it and no matter what is going on with the clutch or gear, the rattle is there. Loud af too! It’s like part of the bikes heart beat now and it makes me wanna open up a vein and slide into a warm bath; ya know what I’m sayin? The noise permeates my ear drum, sets up a little campsite in my brain and tortures me!
idk! I don’t have a stethoscope, but I did some super up close listening all around the motorcycle and I’d bet the farm it’s coming directly from my primary! Directly underneath the horn. At first listen, you almost
rbink it’s coming from the horn itself.
im out of options (that I know of) cause I’m no mechanic. I suppose I’ll get me a new compensator. Either dark horse or baker (leaning towards dark horse) and see what happens. So help me, if I swap out compensators, fire my hog up & hear a single rattle, I’m gonna kick that pig over and jump into the swimming pool with the toaster in my arms!
I went to the HD service desk and played the noise for the technician. He says.... it’s probably your compensator. One dead give away that it’s your compensator is the noise will change when you pull the clutch in. I tested it and no matter what is going on with the clutch or gear, the rattle is there. Loud af too! It’s like part of the bikes heart beat now and it makes me wanna open up a vein and slide into a warm bath; ya know what I’m sayin? The noise permeates my ear drum, sets up a little campsite in my brain and tortures me!
idk! I don’t have a stethoscope, but I did some super up close listening all around the motorcycle and I’d bet the farm it’s coming directly from my primary! Directly underneath the horn. At first listen, you almost
rbink it’s coming from the horn itself.
im out of options (that I know of) cause I’m no mechanic. I suppose I’ll get me a new compensator. Either dark horse or baker (leaning towards dark horse) and see what happens. So help me, if I swap out compensators, fire my hog up & hear a single rattle, I’m gonna kick that pig over and jump into the swimming pool with the toaster in my arms!
When you set it, how much play did you have pushing up hard on the upper chain?
A two ear stethoscope at harbor freight is probably under $10. You cannot accurately diagnose noise on a Harley without it.
A compensator usually does not make a rattling noise.
When the fingers are gauled and rough, at idle since a Harley has that uneven power , it makes a gritty rough uneven sound.
A too loose chain would fill the primary with a ton of small aluminum particles.
If you're not a pretty competent mechanic, have big tools, 200 lb torque wrench, red loctite, a locking bar, take it in and have a mechanic look at it.
But first, make sure the rattle is in primary
Rest assured, they will hit you for $500-$700 dollars in the primary and then tighten a bolt the stethoscope finds on the engine to really fix your bike.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 18, 2023 at 07:32 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 8,459
Likes: 19,160
From: The Republic of Texas
Man, idk. I did the jack the bike up & rock the wheel back and forth hard thing, I drained the oil and put Harley formula + in & it got WORSE! It sounds like theres a ****in rattle snake in my primary constantly rattling!
I went to the HD service desk and played the noise for the technician. He says.... its probably your compensator. One dead give away that its your compensator is the noise will change when you pull the clutch in. I tested it and no matter what is going on with the clutch or gear, the rattle is there. Loud af too! Its like part of the bikes heart beat now and it makes me wanna open up a vein and slide into a warm bath; ya know what Im sayin? The noise permeates my ear drum, sets up a little campsite in my brain and tortures me!
idk! I dont have a stethoscope, but I did some super up close listening all around the motorcycle and Id bet the farm its coming directly from my primary! Directly underneath the horn. At first listen, you almost
rbink its coming from the horn itself.
im out of options (that I know of) cause Im no mechanic. I suppose Ill get me a new compensator. Either dark horse or baker (leaning towards dark horse) and see what happens. So help me, if I swap out compensators, fire my hog up & hear a single rattle, Im gonna kick that pig over and jump into the swimming pool with the toaster in my arms!
I went to the HD service desk and played the noise for the technician. He says.... its probably your compensator. One dead give away that its your compensator is the noise will change when you pull the clutch in. I tested it and no matter what is going on with the clutch or gear, the rattle is there. Loud af too! Its like part of the bikes heart beat now and it makes me wanna open up a vein and slide into a warm bath; ya know what Im sayin? The noise permeates my ear drum, sets up a little campsite in my brain and tortures me!
idk! I dont have a stethoscope, but I did some super up close listening all around the motorcycle and Id bet the farm its coming directly from my primary! Directly underneath the horn. At first listen, you almost
rbink its coming from the horn itself.
im out of options (that I know of) cause Im no mechanic. I suppose Ill get me a new compensator. Either dark horse or baker (leaning towards dark horse) and see what happens. So help me, if I swap out compensators, fire my hog up & hear a single rattle, Im gonna kick that pig over and jump into the swimming pool with the toaster in my arms!
You state that you're no mechanic, so why not take the bike to the shop and let them diagnose your problem?
.
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 9
From: peoria az
Well, true that im no mechanic, but if i can smoke out a problem with the help of some pals on the ol forums, then fix it, thats a win in my book. But i am not by any means too cool or proud to take her in to the shop, which honestly is what im gonna do tomorrow. I was at a buddys house earlier and hes convinced its a push rod out of adjustment. Hes certainly more competent and experienced than me so i wont be surprised if hes right. He did use a stethoscope. The only weird thing is that he said i should be noticing lack of power and I just simply am not. Actually, it runs like a raped ape! He also said with the out of adjustment pushrod, it wouldnt be long bevfore it causes big problems and ive been running hard like this for a long time now.
i just dont know what to think . My experience with even my favorite shops is, i drop it off, whatever parts i need are never in stock so they need to be ordered, I end up waiting an eternity for my bike to be fixed and then I pay a kings ransom for their work. I fear itll be thanksgiving before i get to ride my hog again. But well see
i just dont know what to think . My experience with even my favorite shops is, i drop it off, whatever parts i need are never in stock so they need to be ordered, I end up waiting an eternity for my bike to be fixed and then I pay a kings ransom for their work. I fear itll be thanksgiving before i get to ride my hog again. But well see
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,070
Likes: 11,093
From: San Diego, CA
Well, true that im no mechanic, but if i can smoke out a problem with the help of some pals on the ol forums, then fix it, that’s a win in my book. But i am not by any means too cool or proud to take her in to the shop, which honestly is what im gonna do tomorrow. I was at a buddy’s house earlier and he’s convinced it’s a push rod out of adjustment. He’s certainly more competent and experienced than me so i wont be surprised if he’s right. He did use a stethoscope. The only weird thing is that he said i should be noticing lack of power and I just simply am not. Actually, it runs like a raped ape! He also said with the out of adjustment pushrod, it wouldnt be long bevfore it causes big problems and ive been running hard like this for a long time now.
i just don’t know what to think . My experience with even my favorite shops is, i drop it off, whatever parts i need are never in stock so they need to be ordered, I end up waiting an eternity for my bike to be fixed and then I pay a kings ransom for their work. I fear it’ll be thanksgiving before i get to ride my hog again. But well see
i just don’t know what to think . My experience with even my favorite shops is, i drop it off, whatever parts i need are never in stock so they need to be ordered, I end up waiting an eternity for my bike to be fixed and then I pay a kings ransom for their work. I fear it’ll be thanksgiving before i get to ride my hog again. But well see
You certainly sound like you have the skills to pop open the pushrod tubes and see if you have adjustable pushrods and if they are loose.... It's also very easy to pull the outer primary cover and look at the "stuff" inside......
Doing those inspections are all doable in an afternoon to include cleanup... That is unless you find something big that needs fixing..
Checking pushrods won't take but 20 minutes and won't cost you anything.... If you find one loose, it will cost an additional 40 minutes... about 30 min to check out youtube videos on how to set them, and 10 minutes to tighten the loose pushrod(s). If you find them properly adjusted and/or discover you don't have adj pushrods, you can rule that out...
Removing the outer primary cover, after removing the five derby cover screws, is just nine short screws (1 3/8" long) and four long screws (4" long). Just remember where they go... If careful you can reuse the outer primary cover gasket a few times, so it will only cost like a quart of primary fluid to have a good look inside..
Best to have a service manual for torque specs, tightening patterns, and for questions if you find something that needs fixing...
If it's as loud as you report, something amiss should be easy to spot....
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 19, 2023 at 12:35 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 864
From: Iowa
Did you run it in neutral with the outer primary cover off and listen? It won't hurt anything doing that for a few minutes to track down where it's coming from. Watch how the chain moves and I bet wherever the noise is coming from will be apparent if it is as loud as you say.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,303
Likes: 6,325
From: Honah Lee
Well, true that im no mechanic, but if i can smoke out a problem with the help of some pals on the ol forums, then fix it, that’s a win in my book. But i am not by any means too cool or proud to take her in to the shop, which honestly is what im gonna do tomorrow. I was at a buddy’s house earlier and he’s convinced it’s a push rod out of adjustment. He’s certainly more competent and experienced than me so i wont be surprised if he’s right. He did use a stethoscope. The only weird thing is that he said i should be noticing lack of power and I just simply am not. Actually, it runs like a raped ape! He also said with the out of adjustment pushrod, it wouldnt be long bevfore it causes big problems and ive been running hard like this for a long time now.
i just don’t know what to think . My experience with even my favorite shops is, i drop it off, whatever parts i need are never in stock so they need to be ordered, I end up waiting an eternity for my bike to be fixed and then I pay a kings ransom for their work. I fear it’ll be thanksgiving before i get to ride my hog again. But well see
i just don’t know what to think . My experience with even my favorite shops is, i drop it off, whatever parts i need are never in stock so they need to be ordered, I end up waiting an eternity for my bike to be fixed and then I pay a kings ransom for their work. I fear it’ll be thanksgiving before i get to ride my hog again. But well see
Harley's don't have adjustments on the valve lash unless modified with a new cam and someone installed adjustable push rods when they took less time and cuts the old ones rather then going under thx valve covers.
Valve lash that is too loose makes a tapping or pecking noise . Definitely here and fill it in your ears with a stethoscope.
Guess it's possible you bent a push rod banging the rev limiter.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 19, 2023 at 02:14 PM.
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