There is a lot of experience here so I thought I would post up.

On my way into work this morning I was doing 40 to 50 and coming to a stop - I heard a skreetch or squeel (you get the idea) and I thought it was the front brakes. I have had some occasional noise up front since changing the brake pads. I was about to pull over and the noise went away - then I really dismissed it as pad to rotor noise. I got to work and took a look and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

So fast forward - I'm leaving work, bike is running and in neutral. As I push back out of the parking lot a feel the bike suddenly drag - almost as if it was suddenly in gear. I shut it down and proceeded (while sitting on the bike) to walk it forward and push it back. It would move freely and then drag - I would push it in the opposite direction and it would move 5 ft or so and then drag. I tried to see if there was any kind of consistancy or pattern but it was so hard to tell. For some reason it almost seemed like it was coming from the drive train but remember the bike is off and in neutral.

Well it was late in the day but I started to make some phone calls - I have an extended warrenty so I called them, called HD Dealer, and called tow truck. I'm mechanically inclinded but I'm a little leary of this one.

So the whole reason for the post is to see if anyone has even remotely had something like this happen. Even though it looks like I'm going to have the dealer look at it - I would like to have a heads up or at least an idea. The dealer has been pretty fair with me but this is unchartered territory. I don't think I want to hear the phase - "it's a Harley, they all do that".

Thanks if anyone has any input ... will up date as appropriate.

Jimmie

 

Sounds like a warped brake rotor. If you can get it up on a lift so you can spin the wheels you should be able to tell.
My $.02, now the experts can chime in...

 

Perhaps some info like type of bike, any mods to the affected area. Mileage, anything else that might provide clues?

 

This, or possibly a caliper piston sticking.

 

im going with a Rear wheel bearing..

 

Thanks for the replies.

Well here we go ...

Luckily at the place I work I was able to push my bike in to a spare room. The following day I brought my bike lift to work. I pulled the primary cover off and did not see anything bad. So I jacked it up and spun the front tire and except for the the slight rotor noise the tire moved freely and no warped rotor. I moved to the back wheel and did the same ... with pretty much the same results. Hum ??? I put it in gear and pulled the plugs and hand turned it a little.

The good news - I couldn't find anything ... the bad news - I couldn't find anything. I know there was something wrong and these things don't fix themselves.

So I got a flashlight and started looking under, up, and around the belt and pulleys. Well under the front power pulley I saw fresh metal chips (photo). As bad as that sounds I was actually glad that I had probably found the source. Well remember I'm at work - so instead of having it towed to the dealer I had it towed home. I also went to the dealer and picked up the parts to pull the inner primary (gasket, sealing bolts, primary fluid, etc).

Now I'm at home, I pull the inner primary and there it is ... one of the bolts that holds the pulley locknut plate had backed out and sheered off (photo). The good news - minimal damage was done (considering) ... the bad news - a couple of years ago I had put in the 30T pulley and as I pulled the remaining bolt out I saw no traces of "locktight". What the hell was I thinking ??? I don't know - it was about two years ago.

In the end - I was able to put it all back together and everything seems to be okay. I was able to get out of it for under $150 and most of that was getting it towed.

As I mentioned it was about two year ago when I changed the pulley - I think it was the the second mod. I did after the forward controls. Looking back who knows ... maybe I forgot, or got distracted, maybe I didn't realize how important it was ??? So to all of the DIY's ... slow, steady, stay focused and "locktight" is your friend.

Take Care, Jimmie

 

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

Excellent find!

 

I doubt the extended warranty would of applied here.
Good going on the find and repair.

 

Diagnosing the problem is sometimes the biggest challenge- excellent problem solving--nice find and fix