Engine noise during cold start
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 478
From: Appalachia
Engine noise during cold start
The last couple times I’ve started my bike from cold I’ve heard a rattling type sound around the engine. The first time it happened, I wasn’t sure about it but today I was paying attention and definitely heard something. It only does it when starting up cold, right when it first fires up and only lasts a second. No matter what I do I can’t replicate the noise after that first start-up. It’s an 18 fatboy with 13xxx on the clock, all services have been done by me except the first 1k mile which the dealer did for free. The factory warranty ran out a month or so ago but I did purchase the ESP. I’ll be calling the dealer tomorrow, I just hope I’m not bike-less for an extended period of time. Anyone have a similar noise and what was the outcome? Any ideas ?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 856
Likes: 373
From: Duke City, NM
Might be lifters/pushrods. No oil in the top end for a second or two. Having it checked is a good idea. If they say no problem, cobra neighbor haters will fix it.
Last edited by Dseago1969; Jun 7, 2020 at 05:21 PM. Reason: Typo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
sounds like lifters to me. one is leaking down but not that bad. i dont think i would worry about it until you can get the noise to happen all the time. if its only at first start of the day. but thats just me
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 478
From: Appalachia
It seems we have a consensus. This is what I was thinking too, but since it’s my first H-D and there are some pretty knowledgeable people on here I figured I’d ask around. Now we’ll see how much trouble my dealership tries to give me about warranty, I remember shortly after I bought the bike I asked about doing my own services and the service manager tried to tell me it would void my warranty, when I told him I knew that was b.s. he got an attitude and mumbled something like “keep your receipts “, which I have. Thanks for the replies.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,923
Likes: 266
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
If you still have the stock cams, and push rods in the motor, they have to honor the pre-paid repair contract. If anything was replaced with aftermarket parts not sold or installed by Harley, your most likely sol.,,,,
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 478
From: Appalachia
Yeah I should have mentioned it has stage one with H-D parts( street cannons, k&n direct replacement ventilator filter, and pro street tuner) installed by me
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 777
Likes: 45
From: Beaumont, Ca
Your bike sounds like mine, which is like starting a Detroit diesel. But I do not suspect the cams or push rods. The noise does not seem to come from the engine. Upon start up, it seems to come from the starter/transmission on the right side. Not a clanking or grinding noise. Just loud noise for a half a second. I have a 2000 Springer with a 103 ci Screaming Eagle motor with compression releases, six speed transmission and high flow breather. It had a CNC job and seems to have too much compression, thus a more powerful starter, if that is the case.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
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From: poway
Your bike sounds like mine, which is like starting a Detroit diesel. But I do not suspect the cams or push rods. The noise does not seem to come from the engine. Upon start up, it seems to come from the starter/transmission on the right side. Not a clanking or grinding noise. Just loud noise for a half a second. I have a 2000 Springer with a 103 ci Screaming Eagle motor with compression releases, six speed transmission and high flow breather. It had a CNC job and seems to have too much compression, thus a more powerful starter, if that is the case.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 777
Likes: 45
From: Beaumont, Ca
Can I jump in here and ask about the possibility of a bad clutch? Is the starter clutch part of the starter, or the Primary? Can it be narrowed down to the starter clutch as the culprit? In other words, is there a way to confirm it without having to remove the primary cover? I've already removed the primary cover in the last week to check the Compensator, and I am not looking forward to doing it again. Thx.
