Ticking getting louder in 09 RKC
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
09 Road King Clacking Away
That clacking was my first complaint 2 days after picking the bike up. It's loudest around 2000 - 2200 RPM
I was told it was normal. "It's a Harley" he says.
Just had it in for its 1000 mile checkup, and had them put Syn3 in all 3 holes. The top end clacking seems a bit quieter, but then again, the weather has been cooler here too...
Wouldn't you think if there were a real problem the the dealers would be happy to charge the MoCo the labor to tear into these top ends.
I was told it was normal. "It's a Harley" he says.
Just had it in for its 1000 mile checkup, and had them put Syn3 in all 3 holes. The top end clacking seems a bit quieter, but then again, the weather has been cooler here too...
Wouldn't you think if there were a real problem the the dealers would be happy to charge the MoCo the labor to tear into these top ends.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 19
From: Ashland Ohio
#1.MOCO has to say that it IS a problem before a dealer can try to 'fix' it and get paid.
#2. How many mile does the average rider ride a year? 5k miles? I just rode over 20k in a year and the topend held together like a champ! NOISY, but mechanically very sound. Again... MOCO aint gonna pay for a 'noise' complaint.
#3. AT most... each dealer has ONE tech that could conceivably even attempt to fix... a dealer is NOT going to have THAT tech fixing noise complaints.
They will tell you that they 'all do that' because they all DO it. It's just a matter of degree how each individual bike will make noise. Folks coming from metrics flip out about this noise thing when it really is how they ALL do. This bike is AIR COOLED and nothing is buried inside of the engine like a water cooled bike. It's the 1 ina 1000 that is NOT just noisy that is the worry. (like mine... and maybe that is actually 1 in TEN thousand...)
My thought is this... whatever noise it makes when new... that IS the noise they make. If one notices a CHANGE in the noise, THAT is when it should be looked at.
A Harley is NOT a mechanically quiet bike.
Keep the oil changed and ride. It's basically a 1940s tractor engine and built like one too.... to last.
Last edited by wurk_truk; Aug 31, 2009 at 10:44 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,578
Likes: 19,791
From: Ramona, Ca
this is what 99% of us are talking about
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,239
Likes: 3,261
From: west Michigan
By constantly changing brands of lubricants, you'll end up with several mfgrs additive packages in your oil. I don't want four types of oil in my engine or trans.
Harleys are designed to run on Harley oil. If you have a noise problem, it's seldom the oil's fault. My main reason for recommending Harley oil for bikes under warranty is so the owner can't get screwed in the event of a catastrophic failure. I've seen this happen with another brand of bike so I'm just wary of it. I've run hard with Syn3 in engine, primary and transmission for 43k miles with no problem, sounds OK too.
With my '04 Road King, I'm in 3rd at 50, 4th at 60 and 5th at 70, so it looks like the OP runs his (6 spd) bike at lower RPMs than I do.
Harleys are designed to run on Harley oil. If you have a noise problem, it's seldom the oil's fault. My main reason for recommending Harley oil for bikes under warranty is so the owner can't get screwed in the event of a catastrophic failure. I've seen this happen with another brand of bike so I'm just wary of it. I've run hard with Syn3 in engine, primary and transmission for 43k miles with no problem, sounds OK too.
With my '04 Road King, I'm in 3rd at 50, 4th at 60 and 5th at 70, so it looks like the OP runs his (6 spd) bike at lower RPMs than I do.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Not much of a believer in oil brands making a difference, however two 09s here developed lifter noises at about the same time, milage wise. One an ex mc mechanic put Kendall in his and it silenced it. The second guy did the same and his noises went away. Don't know what to make of this, but I can't argue with the results. Both bikes were running Harley 360 20/50 dino oil before that, which is usually quieter than any syn.
Ron
Ron
Last edited by rbabos; Sep 2, 2009 at 07:50 AM.
Stage III
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
For what it's worth, my '99 FLHRCI made all kinds of terrible top end noises when new. Enough so my Evo-riding friends would immediately stand back for fear of catching aluminum shrapnel.
At 2,500 miles I switched to HD Syn3, made no difference. At 10,000 miles I switched to Lucas and their additive, immediately quieted down.
I change engine every 2K, primary and transmission every 4K. religiously. Overkill, I know, but oil is cheaper than parts.
85K miles and I don't burn a drop of oil. Only issues I've had are worn out can chain tensioners, which are a **** design, and worn out motor mounts.
The best theories I've heard on the noise are lifter issues and too severe a drop on the can lobes. Everything in mine, other than the lifters, has looked spotless and clean. So far ...
At 2,500 miles I switched to HD Syn3, made no difference. At 10,000 miles I switched to Lucas and their additive, immediately quieted down.
I change engine every 2K, primary and transmission every 4K. religiously. Overkill, I know, but oil is cheaper than parts.
85K miles and I don't burn a drop of oil. Only issues I've had are worn out can chain tensioners, which are a **** design, and worn out motor mounts.
The best theories I've heard on the noise are lifter issues and too severe a drop on the can lobes. Everything in mine, other than the lifters, has looked spotless and clean. So far ...
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 2
My Dyna started making a noise recently - never made it before. Huge rattle for a couple of secs when it starts and then calms down into just being ticky and clacky all the time - hot or cold.
Back with my mechanic now and we think it's a lifter got leaky but he's going to check all the usual clearances first and if he finds nothing he'll do the lifters.
What most posts here are saying sounds like whatever I've got and I think it's lifters - I'll let you know.
Back with my mechanic now and we think it's a lifter got leaky but he's going to check all the usual clearances first and if he finds nothing he'll do the lifters.
What most posts here are saying sounds like whatever I've got and I think it's lifters - I'll let you know.
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: VA
Crappy lifters , usually. They won't maintain zero lash in the valve train and sound like solid lifters, which really suck in any engine not made out of a slab of cast iron. A heavier oil will quiet them, but if you've been listening to them for a while the damage is already done. These things are very close tolerance inside and it only takes a very small amount of wear to destroy the leak down properties of the unit. Increase the leakdown rate and noisey operation follows. Due to these close tolerances needed to function, quality control is extremely important, but sometimes lacking.
Ron
Ron
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
For me, it will be HQ's black opp lifters. Each one is tested for leak down rates to be in spec. That way I should be guaranteed to get four the same. This will only work if it is your lifers causing it. Stethoscope should find it, placed on each pushrod tube to determine which one. Remember some light ticking will always be heard from rockers and the valves themselves bouncing off the seats. Clacking would better describe a lifter noise, and it's usually quite noticable.
Ron
Ron