Intermittent knock sound at idle?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 220
Likes: 4
From: Orlando
Bought an auto stethescope, pretty cool tool!
Anyway, the sounds is for sure coming from the carb/intake. Cam chest has a gentle whir of the gears meshing, pushrod tubes have a gentle whir as well. I can hear pistons moving in the cylinders, but no clanging or tapping, heads and rocker boxes I can hear all the parts moving but no ticking/banging or anything of the sort. The primary all sounds good as well, no banging there.
When I put the scope on the top of the carb, TAP TAP TAP! Right along with the sound I am hearing. Maybe the slides banging? Maybe I am hearing intake pulses? I have read that the Mikuni does make some chatter.
Anyway, I feel better that this is probably nothing serious to worry about.
Anyway, the sounds is for sure coming from the carb/intake. Cam chest has a gentle whir of the gears meshing, pushrod tubes have a gentle whir as well. I can hear pistons moving in the cylinders, but no clanging or tapping, heads and rocker boxes I can hear all the parts moving but no ticking/banging or anything of the sort. The primary all sounds good as well, no banging there.
When I put the scope on the top of the carb, TAP TAP TAP! Right along with the sound I am hearing. Maybe the slides banging? Maybe I am hearing intake pulses? I have read that the Mikuni does make some chatter.
Anyway, I feel better that this is probably nothing serious to worry about.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,083
Likes: 19,245
From: The Wasteland
Man this is an old thread... I bought a brand new Sportster back in the summer of 2000, rode it for a couple days and started hearing an intermittent rattle at idle. When I got some RPMs in the motor it went away, or maybe I just didn't hear it anymore due to the pipes. Anyway I sat beside that bike for a couple hours trying to figure it out. Finally after many beers I reached down between the frame tubes on the front of the bike and wiggled the horn and heard what sounded like the rattle I was experiencing. That was it, tightened it down and no more rattle. Sometimes it the stupidest ****...
Edit- BTW when I heard the rattle while sitting on the bike it sounded like it came from the left side of the bike near the kickstand or rear foot peg area.
Edit- BTW when I heard the rattle while sitting on the bike it sounded like it came from the left side of the bike near the kickstand or rear foot peg area.
Last edited by Bubba Zanetti; Oct 28, 2015 at 04:57 PM.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/vendo...d-ticking.html
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 14
From: Right where I belong!
Damn Murphy's Law, I am hearing a ticking noise from my motor now. I have noticed the past couple of days that after being on the bike for a while it seemed that the bike was making a different noise than I am use to when in 3rd gear or higher. I thought it might just have been my hearing changing because its pretty sh*tty anyway.
Well today when I got to work and was parking I could hear a ticking... When I started up to leave work, no ticking. By the time I got home, about a 30min drive, I was hearing the weird 3rd gear and higher noise and when I pulled in the drive way I could hear the ticking again. Sounds like it is coming from the lifter area.
Seems that my ticking is related to the rpms on the bike. I did a search on the forums and it sounds like this is a pretty common thing and that it may not necessarily be something wrong or something to worry about. The common theme seemed to be everyone was hearing this ticking noise when their bike was good and warmed up.
I dont know why all of a sudden mine started doing it? Its mind f*cking me! A lot of people suggested oil change to either quiet it down or get rid of it all together. Im about due for an oil change and will give that a go this weekend. All three holes while I am at it.
I know there is the big conundrum of what oil to run. I have always run conventional; not necessarily HD, but some type of VTwin oil, i.e. Mobil. Im kind of wondering if I should I try something different this time? Maybe going back to Mobil and seeing if that helps.
Anyway, I will get the fluids changed this weekend and see if I have any luck in quieting down that tapping noise. Hopefully will have a good update to report.
Well today when I got to work and was parking I could hear a ticking... When I started up to leave work, no ticking. By the time I got home, about a 30min drive, I was hearing the weird 3rd gear and higher noise and when I pulled in the drive way I could hear the ticking again. Sounds like it is coming from the lifter area.
Seems that my ticking is related to the rpms on the bike. I did a search on the forums and it sounds like this is a pretty common thing and that it may not necessarily be something wrong or something to worry about. The common theme seemed to be everyone was hearing this ticking noise when their bike was good and warmed up.
I dont know why all of a sudden mine started doing it? Its mind f*cking me! A lot of people suggested oil change to either quiet it down or get rid of it all together. Im about due for an oil change and will give that a go this weekend. All three holes while I am at it.
I know there is the big conundrum of what oil to run. I have always run conventional; not necessarily HD, but some type of VTwin oil, i.e. Mobil. Im kind of wondering if I should I try something different this time? Maybe going back to Mobil and seeing if that helps.
Anyway, I will get the fluids changed this weekend and see if I have any luck in quieting down that tapping noise. Hopefully will have a good update to report.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 14
From: Right where I belong!
Changed oil on Friday; used Mobil 1 full synthetic and also Lucas Synthetic Oil Stabilizer. Didnt take any rides long enough over the weekend to notice a difference.
Today rode into work which gives the bike ample time to get full warmed up; no exhaust note changes in 3rd gear like I was noticing before, and when I pulled in to park no ticking noise. Same for the ride home and it was quite a bit warmer out.
I know using synthetic is not necessarily the way to go to quiet down a motor but I figured I would try something different. Bike did seem to run noticeably smoother.
I was not overdue for an oil change but it was just about that time. Anyway, figure I would give an update. I know plenty of people have experienced the same symptoms and it seems that fresh oil did the trick for me.
Today rode into work which gives the bike ample time to get full warmed up; no exhaust note changes in 3rd gear like I was noticing before, and when I pulled in to park no ticking noise. Same for the ride home and it was quite a bit warmer out.
I know using synthetic is not necessarily the way to go to quiet down a motor but I figured I would try something different. Bike did seem to run noticeably smoother.
I was not overdue for an oil change but it was just about that time. Anyway, figure I would give an update. I know plenty of people have experienced the same symptoms and it seems that fresh oil did the trick for me.
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