Flathead A place to talk about Flathead motors.

Grinding noise

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 9, 2011 | 06:18 PM
  #1  
FL54's Avatar
FL54
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Default Grinding noise

I've got a '62 Panhead motor that has developed a grinding noise AFTER the ignition switch is turned off. It only does it about half the time but it sounds awful. It almost sounds like a ratchet going backwards. If I kick the kickstart, it stops.
Any one else ever experience this? Any Ideas?
Thanks in advace for any help.
 
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2011 | 07:55 PM
  #2  
46u's Avatar
46u
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 2
From: Macon, GA USA
Default

Sounds like the bushing is bad on your kick gear that spins on the main shaft. Or the kick cover bushings are bad or the cover is cracked. All this can be checked by pulling the kick cover.
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2011 | 09:38 AM
  #3  
FL54's Avatar
FL54
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Default

Thanks for suggestion 46u. What would you expect to find upon removing the cover? Would the mainshaft continue to spin after the ignition is shut off?
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2011 | 01:08 PM
  #4  
46u's Avatar
46u
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 2
From: Macon, GA USA
Default

Originally Posted by FL54
Thanks for suggestion 46u. What would you expect to find upon removing the cover? Would the mainshaft continue to spin after the ignition is shut off?
It could for a short time. I am mostly going by you say you can push down on the kicker and it stops. There are 3 kick gears in the cover. One that goes on the kick shaft the kick arm is on, one on the end of the main shaft that has a nut holing it fixed to the main shaft then one on the main shaft that has a bushing and floats. When you push down on the kicker there is a plate on the back of the gear on the kick shaft that lets the gear with the bushing engage with the one fixed on the main shaft. If the one that has a bushing the bushing gets worn it will let it try to engage with the fixed gear on the main shaft. Just for the heck of it crank it up and push and pull out on the kicker arm and see if you hear the noise while it is running. Do not push down on the kicker just push in and out on it. Keep in mind when you do not have the bike in front of you figuring out a problem is MUCH harder. When I started riding Harley s Pan heads have only been discontinued for 5 years and the shovel was the new kid on the block. If I can help let me know.
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2011 | 02:45 PM
  #5  
FL54's Avatar
FL54
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Default

Hey 46u, thanks for your time. I really appreciate it. I know that it's hard to troubleshoot something from what someone else is describing. I'll play around with it and see if I can get it to make the noise while it's running.
I've got an old service manual that has an expoded view of the whole assembly so I can see what you're describing.
When I get some time, I'll pull it off to see if the starter clutch is worn.
Thanks again for your help.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
grab68
Shovelhead
1
Jun 18, 2016 08:31 PM
FL54
Panhead
20
Apr 19, 2011 08:03 PM
brinleem
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
0
May 12, 2009 11:42 PM
78LowRider
Shovelhead
1
Mar 10, 2009 08:17 PM
justin_faulhaber
Ironhead
0
May 20, 2008 10:13 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:38 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE