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For several months now I've had a mysterious noise coming from around the transmission area. It sounded like a heat shield, or perhaps some light metal loose somewhere -- but I could never find the source. It would come and go -- I could never hear it when the motor was cold, but once hot the rattle would come and go intermittently. Worse, it was loudest just around the transmission trapdoor -- which had me worrying about shaft bearings or loose bits inside the tranny! A trans oil change last week found nothing -- clean fluid and no metal on the drain plug.
Today I finally found it -- the tip of the screw on a hose clamp holding the heat shield of the exhaust CROSSOVER pipe -- which runs directly under the end of the trans -- was hitting my brake rod. The expansion when the exhaust was hot was just enough, combined with the vibration of the engine, to hit the rod. I jammed a big screwdriver between the clamp and the brake rod, and the noise stopped. Removed the screwdriver, noise started again. Did it several times just to be sure!!
Anyway, these forums have been great to me -- lots of good hints and advice. So I thought I'd share my experience with this annoying noise. And my relief that the problem was not a tranny about to grenade on me!
Mike
98 Dyna FXD
with Forward Controls, SE exhaust, SE A/C, rejeted carb, V-Thunder 3030 cam, Branch heads, and more...
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