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Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion 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.
Hope this post is in the right spot. I am a new member but also a new HD owner! Very happy with my new ride but I am hearing a noise and wanted to see if anyone else has had the same issue.
2017 street glide special. Has 3k miles. Once the bike is warm and I have rode for a few, when I come to say a stop light, before I go I give the throttle a twist (to let everyone else know the light is green haha) I hear a clank coming from the front of the bike. It almost sounds like something is loose. I only hear it in first gear and if I am at a full stop.
I have given the bike a look over and tapped anything that I think it could be with my hand and nothing seems to be loose. A friend that has owned HD for many years told me that it is the engine mounts but nothing to worry about. Well I am worried about it because there is nothing cooler than hearing a HD rev at a stop light and you hear what sounds like a dead bell with it... Yeah J/K that is t cool.
Any thoughts before I take it over to the shop to see if they can figure it out?
Thanks for the help all.
Last edited by dnovember99; Nov 20, 2023 at 06:54 AM.
Since it does it stopped, in gear with clutch in as I understand it, that should be easy to at minimum find it with your friends help.
Get you a two ear Harbour mechanic stethoscope. $5-$10. That will isolate it. If it's a motor mount, I would replace it. That rubber should not let medal to medal hit.
My friends Road King had the nut vibrator loose on his. When he started and stopped motor, I noticed it rocking so bad, exhaust in front was touching frame.
PS... Nice opening post and in correct location. Welcome, hope you enjoy your ride here. Only as a suggestion, make your next new post over in the new member welcome area to say hello.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 20, 2023 at 07:43 AM.
Since it does it stopped, in gear with clutch in as I understand it, that should be easy to at minimum find it.
Get you a two ear Harbour mechanic stethoscope. $5-$10. That will isolate it. If it's a motor mount, I would replace it. That rubber should not let medal to medal hit.
My friends Road King had the nut vibrator loose on his. When he started and stopped motor, I noticed it rocking so bad, exhaust in front was touching frame.
PS... Nice opening post and in correct location. Welcome, hope you enjoy your ride here. Only as a suggestion, make your next new post over in the new member welcome area to say hello.
Thanks for the reply. I honestly don't think that it's a motor mount because it's only when the bike is warmed up, when I am stopped and it either neutral or first gear. My friend that suggested it was a motor mount has about as much mechanical knowledge as a wood pencil. I trust his mechanic opinion like I trust wet toilet paper!
Not sure how well a stethoscope will work being that it isn't an all the time kind of thing. But it is definitely worth a shot. Much appreciated
If your shifting to neutral at a light, (I do it all the time) when you pop it back in gear, Harleys sometimes don't totally engage the locking dogs that engage the drive range.
That can definitely make a clunk as the slight bevel on the dogs pulls them all the way in. And acceleration loads them. There a lot of back and forth movement in them.
Remember, all gear teeth are always engaged. The side locking lugs are what engages the gear range. If you just popped it in gear, and have clutch in, and bip the throttle, oil drag on clutch plates bangs the dogs.
Nothing unusual for mine to do it as I shift. I get a extra little clunk just as I throttle.
Be careful about reminding people the light is green. Someone behind you may be texting, think you left and help you do just that without looking up.
It's called a balk.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 20, 2023 at 11:50 AM.
If your shifting to neutral at a light, (I do it all the time) when you pop it back in gear, Harleys sometimes don't totally engage the locking dogs that engage the drive range.
That can definitely make a clunk as the slight bevel on the dogs pulls them all the way in. And acceleration loads them. There a lot of back and forth movement in them.
Remember, all gear teeth are always engaged. The side locking lugs are what engages the gear range. If you just popped it in gear, and have clutch in, and bip the throttle, oil drag on clutch plates bangs the dogs.
Nothing unusual for mine to do it as I shift. I get a extra little clunk just as I throttle.
Be careful about reminding people the light is green. Someone behind you may be texting, think you left and help you do just that without looking up.
It's called a balk.
I hear you on the jackasses behind us not paying attention. Well all around us really! Lol
I will see if I can get an audio clip. It's not when I shift into gear (that sounds makes sense for sure) even if I stay in 1st gear at a light or even a stop sign and give a little rip on the throttle that is when I hear the clink.
You get a clunk when you shift into gear. That's because all gears are spinning from oil drag between clutch plates. Without a little drag on a wet clutch non syncretized gearbox, it would not always line up to go in.
That clunk in that gear range locking in and stopping from spinning.
That second cluck is that dog play from either biping throttle or letting clutch out. Driving, I hear it mainly in second.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 20, 2023 at 12:53 PM.
Make sure the screws that attach the voltage regulator to the frame are installed and tightened to specs.......sometimes when the engine revs, and this is loose, it can clatter against the downtimes.
Make sure the screws that attach the voltage regulator to the frame are installed and tightened to specs.......sometimes when the engine revs, and this is loose, it can clatter against the downtimes.
Just a thought
Double checked the voltage regulator and it seems super snug. I don't have a torque wrench but the bolts were nice and tight. I will say that is the area that it sounds like it is coming from!
And the clink I hear doesn't matter if I am in gear or not it only happens when I give a rip on the throttle.
Double checked the voltage regulator and it seems super snug. I don't have a torque wrench but the bolts were nice and tight. I will say that is the area that it sounds like it is coming from! And the clink I hear doesn't matter if I am in gear or not it only happens when I give a rip on the throttle. I guess it's a good idea to take it to the shop.Thanks
Taking it to a shop for a noise like that is not a good idea IMHO but it's JMHO.
Here's an idea. If you only hear the "clank or clink" when you "give a rip on the throttle", how about stop giving the rip on the throttle and see if the noise still presents? I am thinking tha the rip on the throttle doesn't have anything to do with the noise.
Taking it to a shop for a noise like that is not a good idea IMHO but it's JMHO>
Here's an idea. If you only hear the "clank or clink" when you "give a rip on the throttle", how about stop giving the rip on the throttle and see if the noise still presents? I am thinking tha the rip on the throttle doesn't have anything to do with the noise.
The noise only happens at that time. Now when I say a "rip on the throttle" I'm not talking about redlining it or anything. If the noise only happens when I do that then that tells me that there is something underlying that could end up damaging something. That's what I am trying to avoid
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2017 Street Glide Special engine noise
