"Ching cha ching" sound
"Ching cha ching" sound
Guys, don't beat me up too bad, this is my first Evo bike and I still getting used to the "little things" that make it special. I'll have a bunch of dumb questions for the group for quite a while, I'm sure. Please don't ban the n00b.
So, this is on the '96 FLHR in my sig pic. Here's the story:
Got the bike with 33K on it, got about 36K on it now. Lately, when cruizing at say, 55 - 60 MPH in 5th, ya know, just putting along. I'm hearing a new noise. It sounds like a ring of 3-4 keys getting "jingled". Pretty faint, but noticeable, even over my CycleShack mufflers.
I've checked the obvious, loose external stuff, heat shields, etc. Nothing obvious. Then I get's to thinkin'. Since I don't get this noise when accelerating, Could this be the primary chain telling me I need to adjust it? One of the first things I did to the bike was take it to my local indy and have them change the inner primary seals due to a leak back there. I'm spoiled from years of riding bikes with automatic tensioners.
I have the shop manual, figure I might as well dive in and take a look anyhow, but I thought I'd run this by you guys first.
Thanks guys!
So, this is on the '96 FLHR in my sig pic. Here's the story:
Got the bike with 33K on it, got about 36K on it now. Lately, when cruizing at say, 55 - 60 MPH in 5th, ya know, just putting along. I'm hearing a new noise. It sounds like a ring of 3-4 keys getting "jingled". Pretty faint, but noticeable, even over my CycleShack mufflers.
I've checked the obvious, loose external stuff, heat shields, etc. Nothing obvious. Then I get's to thinkin'. Since I don't get this noise when accelerating, Could this be the primary chain telling me I need to adjust it? One of the first things I did to the bike was take it to my local indy and have them change the inner primary seals due to a leak back there. I'm spoiled from years of riding bikes with automatic tensioners.
I have the shop manual, figure I might as well dive in and take a look anyhow, but I thought I'd run this by you guys first.
Thanks guys!
Yea, I know but this is a higher pitch. And I went over the heat shields, tapping them with the back of my knuckles so they'd hit the pipes. Had to rap pretty hard, and it was a different sound. That was my first guess too.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Aruba
In my experience, a loose chain doesn't make a "jingle" sound like keys. Most of the time it doesn't make any noise at all you just can hear and feel the chain slop especially in a low gear in start and stop traffic. Noise from the chain is either a whining meaning it is too tight or a slapping meaning it is really loose and is banging on something inside the primary, usually the side of the case.
That said, it's only 4 bolts to open the inspection cover and take a look. Remember that different parts of the chain will be at different tensions so you want to walk the chain around its cycle until the tightest part is at the top where you check the tension. Adjust the tension to specs at the tightest spot, not the most loose spot.
Higher pitched jingle sounds are usually thin metal parts that are working loose like a heat shield which you mentioned or things like the chrome covers over the coil or shift brackets. As you know, they're a pain to find because a lot of times they only make noise at certain RPM or vibration ranges. Eventually they get loose enough that you can find it or else it just falls off.
That said, it's only 4 bolts to open the inspection cover and take a look. Remember that different parts of the chain will be at different tensions so you want to walk the chain around its cycle until the tightest part is at the top where you check the tension. Adjust the tension to specs at the tightest spot, not the most loose spot.
Higher pitched jingle sounds are usually thin metal parts that are working loose like a heat shield which you mentioned or things like the chrome covers over the coil or shift brackets. As you know, they're a pain to find because a lot of times they only make noise at certain RPM or vibration ranges. Eventually they get loose enough that you can find it or else it just falls off.
Thanks!
Now I know the symptoms of the primary chain. I'll take a look again at some of the excess chrome stuff the PO put on. Much if it is flagged to come off anyway :-)
Thanks guys!
Now I know the symptoms of the primary chain. I'll take a look again at some of the excess chrome stuff the PO put on. Much if it is flagged to come off anyway :-)
Thanks guys!
Stage I
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: RHODE ISLAND
New to the forum been looking since i got my bike is july last yr. Had similiar noise on my bike. I would check the rubber mounts that hold the spedo in place. My bike broke one of the bolts and and caused a rattle only noticeable at high speeds. Hope this helps
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 912
From: South La.
Mine did that once and I found it was a lose clamp on the heat shield. See if it will "pull" away from the pipe. Another source could be the gas cap. Put your hand on it while you're riding and see. Mine rattles while at speed but I don't worry about it since I know what it is.
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