Hi guys,
I have a 2006 Road King Custom with 3700 miles on it. I bought it about a year ago with 2700 miles from the original owner. I got all the original paperwork with it, including the parts list from the dealer with all the installed parts. All work was done with 8 miles on the bike.

Engine parts specs: SE Stage 1 big bore kit, SE High comp piston kit, SE 211 Cam kit, TC Performance heads, SE Race Tuner, and Rinehart True Duals.

This is my first HD, seems to me like the valvetrain is quite noisy after it's warmed up good, like a loud sewing machine. Is this normal? Also after some miles on the road at 45-65 mph then cruising in town I hear a diesel like sound if I accidentally lug it from a stop? What is that about? I only run premium fuel. Should I be running 100 octane or higher in this motor?

Any info you guys have would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

It's going to be a little noisy with the upgrades it has. Try to keep the rpms up around at least the 2200 range and DON'T lug it from a stop, that's the No.#1 way to screw the crank up and ruin the motor. Premium fuel of 91 or better octane will be fine. Run an ounce of Seafoam through the gas tank about every 7th or 8th tank of gas to help keep everything clean on the insides.

 

Perfect advice.

 

Thanks for the advice and info!

 

Don't disagree with the previous posts but would like to dig a bit deeper. If you don't mind, post the part numbers for the pistons and heads; let's make sure you have components that play well with one another.

 

Kit 16952-99C, with a pair of Black cylinder heads
25152-00, 211 Cam Kit
Kit Number 29774-02B, SE Big Bore Stage 1 Kit
22161-99A, SE High Comp Piston Kit
Also running the SE spark plugs.

These are the part numbers of the parts on my bike. Also running Rinehart True Duals with 3.5" mufflers and no baffles, bike is super loud. Never have any problems starting cold or hot, no idle problems either.
Kinda seems sluggish on the low end but it pulls hard from 3000rpm up.

 

OK, this one has me scratching my head. The heads are the early SE Performance heads; no longer available and not bad heads. However, those heads were decked .050" and chambers were 76cc. I am not positive about the pistons but believe those are the cast hi-compression pistons that the instructions say should not be run at rpms exceeding 6000. With stock heads and chambers at 85-86cc, I believe those pistons are domed to deliver 10.25:1 static CR. However, according to the PNs you provided, the SE Performance head chamber volume is 76cc.

If the PNs are correct, you compression is very high but that doesn't square up with your comment that there are no starting problems. I would guess from your user name of wyobulldog that you are at a high altitude; probably about 5000 feet? That would explain the high static CR and manageable cranking compression and no starting issues. However, if you ever get down around 2000 feet, you will have starting issues and very likely detonation issues; sea level operation will be near impossible.

Being sluggish on the low end is typical of the SE211 cams and the dieseling sound you hear would be detonation which is most likely a function of lugging the motor and not high compression since CCP is probably 185ish.

Bottom line is that you have some heads and pistons that were not really intended to play well together. Those heads with a .030" head gasket, flat top pistons and different cam set like the SE204 or S&S 570 would perform better on the low end and perform as well as the SE211 on the high end.

The Rinehart TDs aren't helping the low end either; especially without baffles. True duals perform better as displacement increases. A good 2:1 exhaust would help your low end as would installing baffles in the Rineharts.

Of course, I am speculating on your altitude and if I have speculated wrong, you can toss everything I just said out the window. If you are happy with the bike and the way it runs, no harm in leaving it as is. However, if you want to make some changes, start with the exhaust and replace the baffles or replace the TDs with a 2:1 system. If that leaves you wanting more low end, replacing pistons and cams will be required.

 

Thanks DJL,
I do live at high elevation about 6100' here. I had read that a 2 into 1 exhaust would be better and have been looking at the V&H Pro Pipe. The bike does seem to run fine and like I said if you keeps the RPM's higher it pulls hard. I have never revved it past about 5200 rpm. Was just a little worried about the noises but from what I've read and friends who are long time HD owners have said the valve train noise is normal for a TC motor, I'm still trying to get used to it. I wish the original owner would've had all the original parts but he left them all with the dealer. I would be interested to see what the dyno numbers are on it though. Thanks again for your time.

 

I would try putting the baffles back in the Rineharts as a first step as djl alluded to. Removing baffles kills the low/mid torque (almost) every time.

Also, your motor should continue to make power beyond 5200 rpm, in fact it makes max HP well above that. Is there a reason that you stay at or below 5200?

 

I will look at getting a set of baffles to start. As for the RPM I just never have pushed it that far. Wasn't quite sure where the limit was.