New Whine help needed
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Northern Ontario
New Whine help needed
So over the winter I changed a couple things on the motor and now I get a whine when I accelerate or let off. I changed the rockers along with rocker cover and I changed the cam cover over to chrome using the same HQ cam. I know for a fact I didn't have this whining sound last year. I put the cam in the year before last with no issues. As for the cam cover I had new bushings in the cam cover line reamed, the guy did this with a right side case. When he reamed the cam bushing the first time I found it real tight to go on over the cam so I got him to do it more and it was much better. I realize the line reaming can never be perfect unless its done with my case but is this whining a real bad thing like will it cause a catastrophic failure or will it quiet down and wear home?
Help Please.
Help Please.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,104
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From: South Carolina
Your old case probably had a worn bushing in it, allowing more gear backlash. Now you have decreased the backlash because the new bushing is positioning the cam gear closer to the pinion gear.
I suggest you increase the backlash by changing one of the gears.
A mild whining is ok, but if the gears are tight enough to cause loud wining, it will be a problem. I wouldn`t wait too long.
I suggest you increase the backlash by changing one of the gears.
A mild whining is ok, but if the gears are tight enough to cause loud wining, it will be a problem. I wouldn`t wait too long.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
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From: Farmington ,MS
Your description of the sound really doesn't sound like cam gear...it would be more constant. I tried ATF in my primary...and it sounded much like you describe...went back to oil because a couldn't stand the sound. What are you running in the primary?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Northern Ontario
Never did any work to primary, the only thing that changed is the cam and the rockers, I;m running ATF.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 11
From: Northern Ontario
Your old case probably had a worn bushing in it, allowing more gear backlash. Now you have decreased the backlash because the new bushing is positioning the cam gear closer to the pinion gear.
I suggest you increase the backlash by changing one of the gears.
A mild whining is ok, but if the gears are tight enough to cause loud wining, it will be a problem. I wouldn`t wait too long.
I suggest you increase the backlash by changing one of the gears.
A mild whining is ok, but if the gears are tight enough to cause loud wining, it will be a problem. I wouldn`t wait too long.
How would you describe a loud whine compared to a mild whining? Would mild whining only be heard would rolling on the throttle?
If bike is just idling I can barely hear it, its just when I roll on the throttle.
I figure I have a stock pinion gear now, do they make smaller than stock? What if I were to pull the cover and get the pinion bushing reamed more?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
I read your post, but missed an important part, the part about accel and decel...
That does make it seem more like a primary chain, as Tom said.
I have run ATF in my primary on my `89 , but notice no difference in sound (or clutch performance).
Check the primary chain tension and drive belt before you do anything else.
Does the whining sound get quieter as the engine gets hotter?
That does make it seem more like a primary chain, as Tom said.
I have run ATF in my primary on my `89 , but notice no difference in sound (or clutch performance).
Check the primary chain tension and drive belt before you do anything else.
Does the whining sound get quieter as the engine gets hotter?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Northern Ontario
Dan I can't say I paid any attention to louder or quieter when bike gets warmer. Definately didn't do anything to primary side but did just come in from checking and it's normal. I put the stethoscope to the cam cover and can here the whine and can also hear it in the rear pushrod tubes. I did some more reading and see now that oem cam covers are not reco
Mended to installing bushings in, this cam cover was traded to me for my old alluminum one. Thinking maybe I should just order a oem chrome Cover, I hate to do damage to the motor.
Mended to installing bushings in, this cam cover was traded to me for my old alluminum one. Thinking maybe I should just order a oem chrome Cover, I hate to do damage to the motor.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Northern Ontario
So assuming when the guy reamed the cover using a different casing than mine which would make it not reamed true to my case half, I'm thinking of just replacing the cover with a oem 25268-84a, can this eliminate the whine problem?
Couple years back when I rebuilt the motor I had a the cam cover bushings replaced and reamed using MY case half and I never had a whine so that makes me assume that the gears are matched ok.
Now as far as the new covers would they be bolt on with no reaming needed or am I right back at square one?
Also is there a difference between an oem and one made my say bkrider?
Couple years back when I rebuilt the motor I had a the cam cover bushings replaced and reamed using MY case half and I never had a whine so that makes me assume that the gears are matched ok.
Now as far as the new covers would they be bolt on with no reaming needed or am I right back at square one?
Also is there a difference between an oem and one made my say bkrider?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,104
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From: South Carolina
I replaced the oem cam cover on my `89 about 14 years ago, the bushing was worn out, and it was starting to get noisy from the excess gear backlash. Used an S&S cover, which came with the bushing installed, required no reaming.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Northern Ontario
Thanks Dan for the first hand info, it helps much.