So I just bought my first bike it's a 1999 night train and it's started getting a tapping noise that seems to be coming from the engine. My friends recommend I drain and refill the oil. Can anyone help me out I've been searching for hours and can't find anything about it due to lack of knowledge of bikes.

 

Hard to "guess" based on a description only. Can you post a vid with sound?

Miles, history of bike and modifications would be nice to know also.

 

Uh?? 1999... 2022 -1999 = 23 years. If it runs, be happy.

Got a filling from what you say you may just have learned that only someone who is at minimum a good backyard garage mechanic should buy anything mechanical that old.

But here we go.

Do all the You Tube on Harley maintenance. Get you a OEM service manual and a Haynes one also.

Use Harley's regular Dino fluids. 20W50 in motor. Formula + in transmission and primary. A Harley filter.

And then let's see where your old girl stands.


PS. You have a double post of the same thread. Ask a moderator in the new member welcome area to delete one. It's just going to cause confusion asking the same question twice.

And while you are there, say hello with another post there.

Welcome from North Beach, FL., USA!

Just in case you have not done both of these two important items!

Be sure to add an Avatar of your favorite shot in the USER set up for the small picture others will see in the top left corner of your post with your USER name.

And most importantly a Signature Line in your USER set up for your bike model, year, and all the letters that Harley recognizes it with that others see at the bottom.

This enables others to know your exact model if you ever ask a question or another member interested in it may ask you a question about it.

​​Your all set.... Enjoy the ride! ______________

 

Ditto to everything mentioned above ... being your first EVO keep in mind a good running EVO sounds like a pissed off sewing machine

 

You said it sounds like it's coming from the engine.
Although small, Harley engines have a lot of places that can generate noises.
Having no clue where the noise is coming from, the first thing I would look at are the push rods. They are located on the right side (if seated on the bike) of the engine and are housed inside of the four tubes that go from the lower engine up to the top of it.
Youtube is your friend here. Do a search on Harley push rod adjustment to see how to go about uncovering the push rods.
Your bike originally came with one piece solid push rods but many people replace them with adjustable push rods.
If your bike has adjustable push rods, one of them may be slightly out of adjustment which could cause as tapping or ticking sound. You can determine if they are adjustable by looking at them. If they are just a solid piece of round metal, they are the original style one piece. If they have a couple of nuts on them down toward the bottom, they are adjustable.
That being said, I really think you need to find someone familiar with Harley Davidson engines and let them have a listen.
If you don't know anyone with Harley knowledge, just about any mechanic should be able to get an idea of what it could be by just hearing it however.
Good luck.

 

If this is your first Harley you may be surprised to learn that almost all of them have a little rocker noise. Get some louder pipes and ride the wheels off of it.

 

That blanket statement is simply not true.

Maybe an Evo with poorly matched cam/pinion gears and worn outer cam bushing will sound like a sewing machine, but if the gears are sized correctly, outer cam bushing is not excessively worn, rockers, shafts and lifters are in good condition, the valve train should not clatter loudly.