Harley Davidson Forums

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.

Engine Whine After Oil Change

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 26, 2018 | 01:10 PM
Share
  #1  
Panzerfaust's Avatar
Panzerfaust
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Little Canada, MN
Angry Engine Whine After Oil Change
2004 Road King. 33k recently change all fluids in the bike and now there is a whine (sounds like a supercharger whine) that I cannot locate. Whines in all gears and neutral, it seems to go away at 40 mph and then also at 50 mph. Did have the oil pressure light go on and flicker when idling from a cold start, and goes off when warm.

Here is a video:
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Read many posts, and have heard some with the same issue, but they have never followed up to say what they found.

Thanks!
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2018 | 02:24 PM
Share
  #2  
baloot-boy's Avatar
baloot-boy
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 648
Likes: 35
From: San Diego
Default
What oil did you use? Was it different from the previous oil? Different oils will have different noises. I dont hear anything wrong. You should hear mines....lol.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2018 | 03:08 PM
Share
  #3  
mmesa005's Avatar
mmesa005
Ultimate HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,014
Likes: 739
From: Northern California
Default
For piece of mind have you checked your primary chain and tensioner?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2018 | 09:05 PM
Share
  #4  
roussfam's Avatar
roussfam
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,699
Likes: 8,309
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default
Originally Posted by mmesa005
For piece of mind have you checked your primary chain and tensioner?
And cam chain tensioner shoes...
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 27, 2018 | 10:17 AM
Share
  #5  
Max Headflow's Avatar
Max Headflow
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,960
Likes: 8,054
From: poway
Default
Did you fill the primary more the chain inspection hole in the primary? Adjust the primary chain? Or possibly something fell into go stuck in the primary?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 29, 2018 | 09:44 AM
Share
  #6  
jurgie's Avatar
jurgie
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 440
Likes: 7
From: wisconsin
Default
Also did you over primary and again is your chain to tight in your primary
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 29, 2018 | 11:54 AM
Share
  #7  
Panzerfaust's Avatar
Panzerfaust
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Little Canada, MN
Default
Yes, thanks to you all. I pulled the primary cover to check, everything looks really good. Adjusted chain to spec. Looks good, no foreign items in primary. Started briefly with cover open and still has a whine. Have not checked the cam chain tensioners yet. But that is my next step. Will post video of primary open shortly.

Thanks

Chris
 
Reply
1

Trending Topics

Old Jul 29, 2018 | 12:35 PM
Share
  #8  
Nitro 54's Avatar
Nitro 54
Road Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 979
Likes: 83
From: S.W. Oregon
Default
Your bike has the same whining-scritching noise mine has. I couldn't hear it until I got hearing aids and that noise bothered me for a while. but everyone say's it's sounded like this since new.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 29, 2018 | 01:22 PM
Share
  #9  
Panzerfaust's Avatar
Panzerfaust
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Little Canada, MN
Default
Originally Posted by mmesa005
For piece of mind have you checked your primary chain and tensioner?
Yessir, all good with just the right amount of slack. Video should post soon of open primary and chain tension.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 29, 2018 | 01:34 PM
Share
  #10  
Panzerfaust's Avatar
Panzerfaust
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Little Canada, MN
Default
Hi Jurgie,

Opened Primary, everything fine, and tension is fine also. 1/2" to 5/8" slack. Any other ideas?

Thanks!

Chris.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:46 PM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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