Engine Mechanical Topics Discussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.

EVO engine noise.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 7, 2015 | 07:37 PM
  #1  
lineman06's Avatar
lineman06
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 11
From: Alabama
Default EVO engine noise.

Gentleman. Need a little help locating a noise in what sounds like the top end of the front cylinder. Recent modifications to my 99 FXSTC includes new S&S steel breather gear new S&S cam as well as a new full roller bearing. The noise I'm hearing seems loudest at the front left side of the rocker box. It's a ticking sound but not overly loud and only appears after it warms up and sometimes it disappears without warning. I have listened with a stethoscope and cannot hear anything out of the ordinary ANYWHERE BUT WHILE SITTING ON THE BIKE I CAN HEAR IT REFLECTING OFF THE WINDSHIELD. When I did the cam the bearing looked fine but replaced it and junked the INA. The lifter rollers looked just fine and nothing out of the ordinary. I'm approaching 17k on this bike and I know about the lifter issues with them. I had a lifter fail on my twin cam totally out of no where. No warning or anything. Which gives me concerns about being a little fun shy on the lifter issues. I will be doing lifters and adjustable pushrods this coming winter but in the mean time I would like to try to find the cause of this noise. All suggestions would be helpful. The noise appeared after the cam change. Thanks all
 
Reply
Old May 7, 2015 | 11:47 PM
  #2  
Ed Ramberger's Avatar
Ed Ramberger
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 1,208
From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by lineman06
Gentleman. Need a little help locating a noise in what sounds like the top end of the front cylinder. Recent modifications to my 99 FXSTC includes new S&S steel breather gear new S&S cam as well as a new full roller bearing. The noise I'm hearing seems loudest at the front left side of the rocker box. It's a ticking sound but not overly loud and only appears after it warms up and sometimes it disappears without warning. I have listened with a stethoscope and cannot hear anything out of the ordinary ANYWHERE BUT WHILE SITTING ON THE BIKE I CAN HEAR IT REFLECTING OFF THE WINDSHIELD. When I did the cam the bearing looked fine but replaced it and junked the INA. The lifter rollers looked just fine and nothing out of the ordinary. I'm approaching 17k on this bike and I know about the lifter issues with them. I had a lifter fail on my twin cam totally out of no where. No warning or anything. Which gives me concerns about being a little fun shy on the lifter issues. I will be doing lifters and adjustable pushrods this coming winter but in the mean time I would like to try to find the cause of this noise. All suggestions would be helpful. The noise appeared after the cam change. Thanks all
Did you mix up any pushrods or misadjust one (if you installed adjustables) and have clearance once the engine grows?
 
Reply
Old May 8, 2015 | 05:38 AM
  #3  
Hillsidecycle.com's Avatar
Hillsidecycle.com
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Default

EV-27?
Scott
 
Reply
Old May 8, 2015 | 10:17 PM
  #4  
lineman06's Avatar
lineman06
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 11
From: Alabama
Default

Non mixing the pushrods. Thought about that myself. Good idea though. Cam is a S&S 503 or 505. Something like that
 
Reply
Old May 9, 2015 | 04:25 AM
  #5  
Hillsidecycle.com's Avatar
Hillsidecycle.com
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Default

If you did not use an adj pushrod upon install, the base circle of the cam could be so that the F/exhaust(?) needs to have a better pre-load than what is currently being established.
Scott
 
Reply
Old May 9, 2015 | 09:32 PM
  #6  
lineman06's Avatar
lineman06
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 11
From: Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by Hillsidecycle.com
If you did not use an adj pushrod upon install, the base circle of the cam could be so that the F/exhaust(?) needs to have a better pre-load than what is currently being established.
Scott
Yep that's what I'm thinking too. Got the good stethoscope out today and listened again. All sounded normal in the rockers and cam. The only time I'm hearing it is sitting on the bike behind the windshield. If I take the windshield off and sit on it boom noise gone. Club brother is a master tech for Harley and said all sounded normal to him. He said he hears what I'm talking about but he says its just reflecting the exhaust valve opening and closing and the rocker/pushrods noise.
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2015 | 03:29 PM
  #7  
Hillsidecycle.com's Avatar
Hillsidecycle.com
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Default

Adjustable pushrods are standard equipment here when doing most any cam work.
Helps insure that our clients have a nice quiet engine.
Scott
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
street bob 59
EVO
7
Aug 15, 2018 04:31 AM
lineman06
EVO
7
May 7, 2015 08:26 PM
Jd1a
Softail Models
4
Sep 18, 2013 06:32 PM
cmose
Touring Models
9
Jan 25, 2013 04:01 PM
Ridetard
EVO
9
Apr 1, 2009 02:31 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:05 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE