My 2005 Road King has had this rattle as seen in the video since a 2-hour ride in about 90° heat. I am not a mechanic, but I am interested in knowing if anyone has an idea about what is wrong before I dive into this problem.

Video will not attach for some reason, so here is the YouTube link.
https://youtu.be/kZ3tTqTXlfc

 

Hard to tell , but it sounds like it could be in the primary , remove the primary cover and inspect the chain , tensioner etc , could be a bad compensator . I wouldn't run the bike until you get to the bottom of it , could be more serious , like cam chains , tensioners .

Welcome to the forum !

 

Here's the link. I'd pull the rocker covers and take a look.

 

Get you a Harbor Freight two ear mechanics stethoscope and pinpoint it.

How many miles? Last maintenance?

PS.. Make your next new post over in the new member area.

Just in case..

Welcome from North Beach, FL., USA!

Just in case you have not done this and I recommend this only as a suggestion....

Add a Signature Line in your USER set up for your bike year, model, and all the letters that Harley recognizes it with. Others will see it at the bottom which enables them to know your exact model if you ever ask a question. All Harleys are not the same and year and all the model letters make a big difference.

Also, add an Avatar of your favorite shot in the USER setup for the small picture others will see in the top left corner of your post.

It's also very helpful to read the 'HDF Site Rules' listed at the top of the new member area.


​​You're all set.... Enjoy the ride! ______________

 

My guess..

1. Shot cam chain tensioners.
2. Shot lifters.
3. Loose Pushrod adjuster.
4. No oil pressure.

 

Hi my 2005 Road King has now sheared off 3 lots of bolts on my front engine mount.
HD also say it has a bad vibration and it could be the crank that has scissored. Has anyone heard of this happening? It’s only got 18,000miles on it and the engine purrs along. It’s just when I am stationery it shakes even through the handlebars. Any ideas.
I’m being quoted nearly $5k if it’s the crank.

 

What you describe about idle shake and purrs along a speed sounds normal. Three front engine mounts unless you are one of those kind of guys who thinks ever few blocks between street lights is one's own drag strip is a bit much.

I think your service center has a cash cow and are nursing it good.

Now keep in mind it's just an opinion since I don't have a clue how you drive and I have never knew an honest dealership of any kind.

Harley's will scissor a pressed together crank with abuse. If they do, you will see metal on oil plugs if it's enough to affect running vibration at speed..

You need to start your own new thread and title it carefully. However Max is the expert here. He will chime in shortly.

Be sure like I mentioned to the first poster..



Welcome from North Beach, FL., USA!

Just in case you have not done this and I recommend this only as a suggestion....

Add a Signature Line in your USER set up for your bike year, model, and all the letters that Harley recognizes it with. Others will see it at the bottom which enables them to know your exact model if you ever ask a question. All Harleys are not the same and year and all the model letters make a big difference.

Also, add an Avatar of your favorite shot in the USER setup for the small picture others will see in the top left corner of your post.

It's also very helpful to read the 'HDF Site Rules' listed at the top of the new member area.


https://www.hdforums.com/forum/welcome-area-only-4/

​​You're all set.... Enjoy the ride! ______________

 

Hi RIPSAW
Thank you for the heads up on what you think.
I feel like that’s is what is happening, a money making
venture for them.
I am a female and like to ride my bike hard but
I am not Street Racer between light changes.
I do a lot of mountain and corners and I do change
down gears instead of breaking so much around corners
but I am sure I don’t ride this bike harder than some
guys would.
I do get comments of how this big girl and I handle
corners but there are boys that do it faster and harder than
I do.
I have running boards that scrape and that isn’t the best feeling so
I make sure I am riding at a speed that takes the corner not
scraps the corner.
I love my bike and I have had several negative comments from
the Harley Shop, like “The Road King death wobble” and a scissored
crank suggestion but they won’t tell until it is pulled down and
inspected and then $2k-$3k later I may find out or I may need to spend
more.
I may as well buy an M8 and put it in for the price.
I am really not sure if I should keep riding it and wait until something
happens or not!!!!!
Confused !

 

I use the brakes. Of course, one must be in proper gear if one slows in the turn. I unlike the motorcycle 101 says to gear down at ever stop use brake there also.


I don't ride hard however and am aware of what's going on behind me. Been on two wheels since the 60s and only been down once and that was on a two stroke 250 off road.

One does need to keep in mind and this is just my opinion is one on a Harley probably weighs 700 lbs or more. Now what slams back thru a down shift is limited to how stuck that rear tire is.

Logic may just mean hard down shifts could easily be applying extreme torque to the crank comparable to a super modified motor.


If motor smooths out sitting still when you spin it up to 2k and sounds OK, I would drive it.

I personally don't like all that shake at idle. That's the way they are. I came from metric cruisers and why I stopped at the Softail.

My friend had a Road king around yours age. One of his motor mount bolts fell out and he was so use to that idle he didn't even notice motor was bumping frame till I pointed it out to him. Motor shouldn't be rocking, just shaking in it's mounts
​​​​​​

 

While it's common for the bolt that goes thought the center of the rubber front mount to have it's nut fall off, losing the 2 bolts that go to the engine case is not. I'd expect that the flat area of the engine case that rests on the front mount is not flat. The cause is likely due to the first set of bolts coming loose and mount rattling against the mount.

Root cause for bolts loosening could be from crank runout, bad from motor mount or they simply came loose.. No telling.

You'll likely need to find someone that knows more about possible causes and fixes.