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I have been on my Evo FXR/FXDL hunt for a long while now and recently came across this 1998 fxdl with 22k miles for $5k. The bike is one state over, I'm in CA, so the owner and I have been exchanging messages, pictures, and videos through FB Marketplace. The bike seems to be fairly stock, only changes are aftermarket rear suspension and air intake, both of which I will swap out. No engine work, stock cam, drivetrain, etc. Everything seems to be fairly clean and tidy, id say 7.5/10 condition, from the photos and videos he has sent. However, today he sent me a cold start and idle video and I noticed some pretty obvious whining in the audio when the engine revs. I have posted the video below and want to get the communities feedback on what the noise might be, and if it is something I should be concerned about. I will add some photos too so you all can give me your input if this seems like a fair deal or not. As always, I appreciate all your help!
That video messed with head until I figured out how to flip it so it didn't look like the primary was on the right side
I've been terrible at diagnosing abnormal noises from a video lately but I can honestly say from that one - the whine you hear is exaggerated from being inside a building. What you hear is slight whine from the pinion and cam gear and that's normal. More often than not, that whine will totally disappear when it's up to normal running temperature.
Get it out of the building and go down the road, doubtful you'd hear it or if you did, you wouldn't notice it after 5 miles. If I were interested in the bike, I wouldn't give it second thought, sounds great overall.
That video messed with head until I figured out how to flip it so it didn't look like the primary was on the right side
I've been terrible at diagnosing abnormal noises from a video lately but I can honestly say from that one - the whine you hear is exaggerated from being inside a building. What you hear is slight whine from the pinion and cam gear and that's normal. More often than not, that whine will totally disappear when it's up to normal running temperature.
Get it out of the building and go down the road, doubtful you'd hear it or if you did, you wouldn't notice it after 5 miles. If I were interested in the bike, I wouldn't give it second thought, sounds great overall.
I have been doing a little internet digging, and it seems like it could also potentially be a primary chain tensioner that is a little too tight. Nothing I can't fix once I get the bike back to my house. I am curious though, can a primary chain that is too tight cause any real damage outside of buying a new primary chain and possibly a tensioner?
And yes, this video was in a garage which messes with audio, it was a cold start on a COLD day.
I have been doing a little internet digging, and it seems like it could also potentially be a primary chain tensioner that is a little too tight. Nothing I can't fix once I get the bike back to my house. I am curious though, can a primary chain that is too tight cause any real damage outside of buying a new primary chain and possibly a tensioner?
And yes, this video was in a garage which messes with audio, it was a cold start on a COLD day.
Yes, they will make a swishing sound if too tight and somewhat if it has ATF rather than something closer to what "was" primary fluid. One too tight is not the best thing, but usually only an issue when everything is hot (gears expand and tension is tighter) but those shoes are really tough and such issues are basically non-existant compared to the later Twin Cam models with the self tightening adjusters.
Again, I'm sure it'll sound a lot more comfortable outside an enclosed space.
Sounds like a cold Evo from over here, I would not worry about it. A good set of drag pipes and you will never hear that again . I would ask the current owner to let the damn bike warm up by herself before blipping the throttle, especially on a cold morning. Just let her idle dude, no patience. Nice looking bike, a good detail and you should be good to go. Good luck.
That video messed with head until I figured out how to flip it so it didn't look like the primary was on the right side
I've been terrible at diagnosing abnormal noises from a video lately but I can honestly say from that one - the whine you hear is exaggerated from being inside a building. What you hear is slight whine from the pinion and cam gear and that's normal. More often than not, that whine will totally disappear when it's up to normal running temperature.
Get it out of the building and go down the road, doubtful you'd hear it or if you did, you wouldn't notice it after 5 miles. If I were interested in the bike, I wouldn't give it second thought, sounds great overall.
I caught that too and did a triple take...I'm like is this a trick with mirrors??? Must be one of those European Harley's...
The "whine" you hear in that video is absolutely normal in a Evo or older Big Twin Harley engine, geared driven camshaft with straight teeth sound like that, don't worry about that, in real life you won't hear that so much unless you put stock mufflers
Choke and plug cables are even stock, good deal for that price, quite low imho for a good preserved low mileage Evo, go for it!
Last edited by davicico; Jan 11, 2022 at 12:09 PM.
Sounds like a normal Evo to me. Gear driven cam makes that sound. My Twin Cam friends tease me that my bike sounds like one of the space ships from the Jetsons. They're not wrong.
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Need Help Identifying Whining Noise
. I would ask the current owner to let the damn bike warm up by herself before blipping the throttle, especially on a cold morning. Just let her idle dude, no patience. Nice looking bike, a good detail and you should be good to go. Good luck.
