Ticking sound!!
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 370
Likes: 16
From: Kansas
Ticking sound!!
My 88 FLHTC is making a ticking sound. It sounds like it is either right under me or just in front of me as I sit on the bike. Not sure if its a rattle or something in the motor or transmission. It does change as the RPM's go up and down but not enough to convince me it's not a rattle. Now I did change the primary fluid the other day and after I dumped it in noticed that I grabbed synthetic fluid. I've heard that synthetic can sometimes cause them to make a noise. Could this be a possibility ?
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
I'm guessing this is a new sound since the oil change and not the normal lifter noise that our motors make normally.
Synthetic in your primary won't do anything to motor noise but synthetic in the motor will make the normal ticking louder.
Synthetic in your primary won't do anything to motor noise but synthetic in the motor will make the normal ticking louder.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 370
Likes: 16
From: Kansas
Yes this is a new sound. I haven't changed the motor oil. Just the primary fluid. I changed the fluid on Saturday and rode 45-50 miles. Then noise started on Monday. It doesn't sound like the normal sound has gotten louder. The noise is loudest at the bottom of the motor.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
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From: Ohio
Diagnosing engine sounds is tricky on motorsickles, they tend to travel especially when there is a fairing. So, for us to help you we need for you to do some work. Using a long screwdriver placed on different parts of the engine, put the handle to your ear. It is a symphony it there, but the tick should stand out when you find it.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Yes this is a new sound. I haven't changed the motor oil. Just the primary fluid. I changed the fluid on Saturday and rode 45-50 miles. Then noise started on Monday. It doesn't sound like the normal sound has gotten louder. The noise is loudest at the bottom of the motor.
How many miles on the bike and any mods?
FWIW reading about a sound makes it kinda hard to hear.
Could be a collapsed lifter at a wild guess.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,198
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From: NW AR
Synthetic in the primary won't cause any noises. Get a mechanic's stethoscope and poke around on your lifter blocks. A large screwdriver will work too. How many miles? History? Those lifters tend to go bad around 50K miles. Without starting another lifter debate, let's just say that anything after 50K miles on a set of lifters is borrowed time.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 370
Likes: 16
From: Kansas
Ok..... I started it up and used a long screwdriver to listen. There are a lot of sounds in there. The ticking sound stood out the most when I had it on the front of the primary cover.
texashillcountry........The motor is stock. As far as I can tell. The bike has 75K on the dial. I know it has more than that cuz in the stack of paperwork I got with it there are records with 150K. In that stack there are records that the top end was rebuilt in 2013 and only 8K put on since.
texashillcountry........The motor is stock. As far as I can tell. The bike has 75K on the dial. I know it has more than that cuz in the stack of paperwork I got with it there are records with 150K. In that stack there are records that the top end was rebuilt in 2013 and only 8K put on since.
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