Engine Knock
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2005
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Engine Knock
I am looking for some re-assurance. I am new to Harley. I have an 03 Road King that I purchased 1 year ago. Great Bike, and I have not had a bit of trouble with it. I have put around 7,000 miles on the bike. It has almost 11,000 on it now. I have an engine knock that comes in at the high end of each gear range. When I am in 5th gear cruising at 65/70 it is almost constant. You do not hear it under acceleration, just when you reach top speed at each gear range. It is a fairly rapid knock, not overly load, and will go away when you let off the throttle. I switched to Sys3 synthetic oil and that made no differance. Is this normal or is there something going on that I should be addressing? I see there is no valve adjustment on my engine, so I'm a bit worried. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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RE: Engine Knock
I ride an '01 RK with about 30,000 miles on it, and it's my fifth bike. I would be very concerned about the kind of knocking you are hearing. It's almost certainly caused early detonation which can, if allowed to persist, lead to piston failure. It's worth a talk with your dealer. Detonation (or 'pinging') can also occur when the engine is extremely hot. My Harleys have done this in only two circumstances: 1) slow riding conditions when it's warm (e.g. the Rolling Thunder parade in DC); or, 2) freeway speed riding when it really hot (e.g. 100F degrees in the desert). In both cases, pulling over and letting the engine cool is a smart thing. If you do a lot of parade riding, get an auxilliary fan. If you do a lot of desert riding, run synthetic and get an oil cooler.
Your pinging sounds like it might be caused by a failure in the engine management system. A bad sensor, a loose wire, or something like that. Are you getting a Check Engine light? The other cause might be gas. You can try changing brands, or going to a higher octane.
Your pinging sounds like it might be caused by a failure in the engine management system. A bad sensor, a loose wire, or something like that. Are you getting a Check Engine light? The other cause might be gas. You can try changing brands, or going to a higher octane.
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From: My house
RE: Engine Knock
03,
Did the knocking just start recently or has it been going on for a while? Can you tell if it's coming from the top end or bottom end of the motor? Could be the primary chain needing adjusting, see if you can determine the area the knocks coming from, it could be something simple, but you need locate where exactly it's coming from first. Keep us posted
John TN
Did the knocking just start recently or has it been going on for a while? Can you tell if it's coming from the top end or bottom end of the motor? Could be the primary chain needing adjusting, see if you can determine the area the knocks coming from, it could be something simple, but you need locate where exactly it's coming from first. Keep us posted
John TN
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: South Jersey
RE: Engine Knock
I've been doing some research on this. It seems as if a lot of late model twinkies are doing this. Dealers are unable to find anything wrong. My glide has this same problem. I've had it in the shop twice so far and they can't find anything wrong. The 1st time, they tore the fairing apart. Pulled the primary, adjusted EVERYTHING... nothing. The last time, they tore the top end down and measured and inspected everything. Nothing! On my EG, the "noise" starts at 2700 RPMs and above. It was worse in the beginning and has quieted down some now but it's still there. I've got 5000 miles on the bike now and it runs great, but... I figure if it's a serious mechanical problem, it'll give out soon enough and being under warranty, the dealership will replace the motor. On a side note, a member of another forum said his dealership couldn't find the problem and went ahead and replaced the motor... the new motor has the same noise. [:-] I guess time will tell... mean while, do like me and... "Ride it like you stole it!" 
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From: My house
RE: Engine Knock
"Ride it like you stole it!"
Well that's one way to find it, but I think it's time to pull out the engine stethoscope and locate exactly where the noise if coming from. Have you tried reving the engine up to a steady rpm out of gear to see if you can hear the noise.
Well that's one way to find it, but I think it's time to pull out the engine stethoscope and locate exactly where the noise if coming from. Have you tried reving the engine up to a steady rpm out of gear to see if you can hear the noise.
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1st Gear
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RE: Engine Knock
Thanks to all that responded, what a great site. The knock has been there since I have owned the bike. I am a mechanic by trade. I know all the basics just not familiar with Harley engines. The knock is not detonation. I always run the best fuel, and detonation typically occures under load. My knock is not as rapid as a detonation knock and only occures when the engine is reaching higher rpm's and under very little load. I believe it is in the valve train. I had a Suzuki that made a very similar knock. It had solid lifters and was adjustable. After I adjusted the valves the knock was much quieter. I was not as concerned because all my friends that owned the same bikes had the knock. From what I read the Harley Engine valve train is not adjustable. When I took it to my local Harley dealer last year, they would not even test ride it. They blew me off by saying it is normal. There explanation was Harley engines are built "loose" because they are air cooled. They expand greatly when hot and if they were built tighter they would fail. This is all well and good, however I ride with several friends that have road kings. Their engines do not knock. One is an 03, and another an 05. As Phil pointed out, there are a lot of these knocking engines out there. although I have not heared of one comming apart. I guess I need to convince the wife it's time to trade in the 03 and move up to an 06......HaHa OK back to reality. Thanks again, and I will keep everyone updated. Ride Safe
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From: My house
RE: Engine Knock
03,
Since you think it's coming from the valve train, here is a quote from Skip from another post on VTN.
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Quote:
When did the excess noise start? Were any modifications done to the bike, including adding a windshield or fairing? Is the bike still under warranty?
There could be many reasons for excess valve train noise. And it might be something besides the valve train. Hydraulic lifter failure, bad heat treatment on the cam lobes, pushrod rubbing a cover, pitted or otherwise damaged rocker arm surfaces, damaged pushrod ends, cam chain crapping out, cam chain adjuster shoes heading south, or adding a windshield/fairing and getting all the noise reflected back atcha!
_____________________________
PocoCJ
Life in Christ should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, âWOW - What a ride!!
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I think Skip covered most issues that could be causing your knock. I think I would change out the lifters, check the cam chain shoes although they should'nt be bad at 11K, but you know how mechanical things are good today bad tommorow. If you do this you will cut out the old push rods and go back with adjustable push rods that you set the lifter preload which I like a lot better. Jims makes some good lifters and since you're a mechanic you would have no trouble working on the simple engine you have. Keep us posted
Good luck
John TN
Since you think it's coming from the valve train, here is a quote from Skip from another post on VTN.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
When did the excess noise start? Were any modifications done to the bike, including adding a windshield or fairing? Is the bike still under warranty?
There could be many reasons for excess valve train noise. And it might be something besides the valve train. Hydraulic lifter failure, bad heat treatment on the cam lobes, pushrod rubbing a cover, pitted or otherwise damaged rocker arm surfaces, damaged pushrod ends, cam chain crapping out, cam chain adjuster shoes heading south, or adding a windshield/fairing and getting all the noise reflected back atcha!
_____________________________
PocoCJ
Life in Christ should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, âWOW - What a ride!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Skip covered most issues that could be causing your knock. I think I would change out the lifters, check the cam chain shoes although they should'nt be bad at 11K, but you know how mechanical things are good today bad tommorow. If you do this you will cut out the old push rods and go back with adjustable push rods that you set the lifter preload which I like a lot better. Jims makes some good lifters and since you're a mechanic you would have no trouble working on the simple engine you have. Keep us posted
Good luck
John TN
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Engine Knock
And in your case let me add one more thing to John's post: Find another dealer. One who will not even attempt to address your concerns with a possible problem ain't worth spit.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: South Jersey
RE: Engine Knock
ORIGINAL: pococj
And in your case let me add one more thing to John's post: Find another dealer. One who will not even attempt to address your concerns with a possible problem ain't worth spit.
And in your case let me add one more thing to John's post: Find another dealer. One who will not even attempt to address your concerns with a possible problem ain't worth spit.
