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Is a little whine while engine braking normal?

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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 06:09 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by squaco
I normally DON'T engine brake, I'm glad I did it once so I could notice the noise and diagnose it.

I recently cleaned my carb, and I'm sure it was pulled and replaced when my mechanic did the cam bearing, any chance the shudder is just a stumble from lean condition as the RPM's decend? (Manifold vacuum leak or something).
Did your problem only start after your indy worked on it?
If so I would bet it is something he did.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 06:16 PM
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From what I can see in the picture, that mount needs replacing. Looks like a good oil leak nearby also.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 06:40 PM
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First thing. That shudder vibration or whatever you want to call it has been mentioned and undiagnosed many times in the forums by many people. I had an extreme case of it and went through my bike still haven't found it. I'm currently apart now hoping that my leaking valves and worn cam lobes are my issue but I doubt it. Your mount does look worn but it's not going to cure your problem. Do you have any cornering instability? When my front mount was shot it felt like hell cornering. I couldn't ride with low bars has to put 12" apes on to absorb the vibrations.
 

Last edited by br549A1; Mar 11, 2015 at 07:07 PM.
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 07:02 PM
  #14  
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My 91 softail is making the whine noise when slowing down mine stops if I pullnin clutch first thing I will check is primary chain
 
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 07:18 PM
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Wish I could help further, what I do know is that when you pull the clutch you are releasing reverse drag in many places from rear pulley to internal components. Making it harder to diagnose.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 07:41 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by glidein wide
From what I can see in the picture, that mount needs replacing. Looks like a good oil leak nearby also.
Fortunately, it doesn't leak a drop, or at least my garage floor is always spotless. I think that side of the motor is oily because the cam chest was opened and it drooled down a little bit of oil. It wasn't like that before and it isn't like that now, this was taken right after I got it back.

As for the clutch in / out, I just want to clarify that the whine I hear is when I release the clutch after downshifting (shift down, slowly let clutch out, compression braking decelerates the bike).

It doesn't make any noise when it's in. I'm triple checking the cam chain but it may just be the normal sound of the clutch going from sitting still (idle with the clutch in) fighting the oil to spin up when the clutch is released (my Kawasaki makes a very similar noise, and I watched several videos of different bikes engine braking and they all have at least a little bit of a "whine" as the motor spins to catch up with the rear tire).

I'm also going to check the compensator nut while I'm in there. Any recommendations for primary lubricant when I button it back up? (Can of worms... I know).

I'm thinking my "shudder" is a lean condition stumble at this point, probably from an intake leak. I'm going to use the carb cleaner trick and verify that tonight. It only seems to do it once the bike is up to operating temp.

Thanks SO much to everyone who's replied so far. I'll update when I've got the primary buttoned back up (or if I find anything telling inside).

Edit: I should also note that in the picture, the front motor mount being gooey is my fault, it gets that way when I change the oil filter, I hadn't cleaned it up yet.
 

Last edited by squaco; Mar 11, 2015 at 07:43 PM.
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 08:07 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by squaco
Fortunately, it doesn't leak a drop, or at least my garage floor is always spotless. I think that side of the motor is oily because the cam chest was opened and it drooled down a little bit of oil. It wasn't like that before and it isn't like that now, this was taken right after I got it back.

As for the clutch in / out, I just want to clarify that the whine I hear is when I release the clutch after downshifting (shift down, slowly let clutch out, compression braking decelerates the bike).

It doesn't make any noise when it's in. I'm triple checking the cam chain but it may just be the normal sound of the clutch going from sitting still (idle with the clutch in) fighting the oil to spin up when the clutch is released (my Kawasaki makes a very similar noise, and I watched several videos of different bikes engine braking and they all have at least a little bit of a "whine" as the motor spins to catch up with the rear tire).

I'm also going to check the compensator nut while I'm in there. Any recommendations for primary lubricant when I button it back up? (Can of worms... I know).

I'm thinking my "shudder" is a lean condition stumble at this point, probably from an intake leak. I'm going to use the carb cleaner trick and verify that tonight. It only seems to do it once the bike is up to operating temp.

Thanks SO much to everyone who's replied so far. I'll update when I've got the primary buttoned back up (or if I find anything telling inside).

Edit: I should also note that in the picture, the front motor mount being gooey is my fault, it gets that way when I change the oil filter, I hadn't cleaned it up yet.
Yeah, I gotcha on that, pertaining to hillbilly about noise gone when pulled in. Oil is a can of worms, I don't run atf in primary, I use ds primary oil.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 08:09 PM
  #18  
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Not a lean condition. Been there, rejetted no change. Bought a whole new carb and carb slide and different jet kit! Did the intake seals as well. You can pull the enricher and confirm. Also it will do it when you are decelerating with the throttle closed or when you hold it at a specific rpm with the throttle opened. Doesn't matter if your in neutral or not. Read what I did. Been through this trying to assist you. Still going through it. Also had the primary off a dozen times and replaced everything from the comp nut to the clutch basket and bearings
 
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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 08:57 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by glidein wide
Yeah, I gotcha on that, pertaining to hillbilly about noise gone when pulled in. Oil is a can of worms, I don't run atf in primary, I use ds primary oil.
I figured you had, just wanted to be sure my hastily typed verbiage wasn't making a mess. =)

Something about the idea of ATF in the primary has always seemed like a bad idea, but then again I'm neither a mechanic nor engineer. I'm pretty sure what I had in there was correct per owners manual but it definitely wasn't "primary" anything, just the correct weight. I'm rethinking that going forward because I'm sure there's a lot more to oil than just the right weight.

Thanks again!
 
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