Ironhead A place to talk about Ironheads.

Generator Noise?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 22, 2010 | 06:43 PM
  #11  
IronMick's Avatar
IronMick
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 118
From: London, ON Canada
Default

The speedo cable unscrews; but you have to unscrew the whole cable not just the fitting at the wheel. Disconnect at the speedo unit up top, align the cable so it is straight, then turn it out.
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 08:20 PM
  #12  
mustangwagz's Avatar
mustangwagz
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Default

So its been crappy weather lately, rainy off and on. perfect time to disect the generator. Tore it apart and to my surprise everything looked fine other than the brushes. a little wore, and outta spec. i replaced them bearings N such all sound and look fine. no excessive end play and absolutely NO lift or wobble in them. Ran bike without gen, still makes noise. after having a local ironhead owner/ mechanic listen to it, he simply smiled, shut the bike down and said "that my friend is the typical sportster cam gear slop your hearing." SO..guess that answers my question. haha he said its nothing to worry about. Cuz i havent seen anything in my oil so it apparently aint hurtin anything. just makin some noise.

i also re routed my speedo cable so thats a plus too. (Thanks mick on the cable removal process) Drag bars make it feel a WHOLE lot different to ride, and i like it alot more. more comfortable and easier to run the controls.

Next on the list of things i'd like to try, is the CV40 Slide carb swap. imma try and do some research on this whole process. Have any of yinz heard about ppl doin this swap? i was told by a few ppl it is a nice upgrade to a hassle free carb. (mine dont gimme problems, just seems a little to big for my application? i think it was originally used on the early 1200's? )

Anyhow, thanks to all that have helped! i appreciate it alot guys! Yinz deff know your ****!
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 08:34 PM
  #13  
piniongear's Avatar
piniongear
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Default

Originally Posted by mustangwagz
So its been crappy weather lately, rainy off and on. perfect time to disect the generator. Tore it apart and to my surprise everything looked fine other than the brushes. a little wore, and outta spec. i replaced them bearings N such all sound and look fine. no excessive end play and absolutely NO lift or wobble in them. Ran bike without gen, still makes noise. after having a local ironhead owner/ mechanic listen to it, he simply smiled, shut the bike down and said "that my friend is the typical sportster cam gear slop your hearing." SO..guess that answers my question. haha he said its nothing to worry about. Cuz i havent seen anything in my oil so it apparently aint hurtin anything. just makin some noise.

i also re routed my speedo cable so thats a plus too. (Thanks mick on the cable removal process) Drag bars make it feel a WHOLE lot different to ride, and i like it alot more. more comfortable and easier to run the controls.

Next on the list of things i'd like to try, is the CV40 Slide carb swap. imma try and do some research on this whole process. Have any of yinz heard about ppl doin this swap? i was told by a few ppl it is a nice upgrade to a hassle free carb. (mine dont gimme problems, just seems a little to big for my application? i think it was originally used on the early 1200's? )

Anyhow, thanks to all that have helped! i appreciate it alot guys! Yinz deff know your ****!
A 40mm carb is too large for a Sportster.
You want to use no more than a 38mm.
The 40mm is made to use on a Big Twin which is a much larger engine.
pg
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 08:47 PM
  #14  
mustangwagz's Avatar
mustangwagz
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Default

the 40mm keihn CV came off an 883 sporty?..so..maybe he measured it wrong then possibly?

mine IS a 1981, 1000cc sporty to btw. i need to get that into my signature..dang! lol
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:03 PM
  #15  
piniongear's Avatar
piniongear
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Default

Oh, no doubt it did come off the Sportster. I am just saying a 40mm is too large.
Originally the Sportster came with a 38mm size and if I am not mistaken that was changed to a 36mm sometime in the 1980's.
I may be wrong about that because I am not up on the later model engines (after 1974), so don't quote me.
You can hang a 42mm carb on the bike if you want to, but it will not run right.
38mm is the perfect size.
pg
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:07 PM
  #16  
IronMick's Avatar
IronMick
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 118
From: London, ON Canada
Default

The CV carb is considered a good upgrade for an IronHead. Have not done it [yet] myself. There are at least a few if not several or many write-ups on the process on the internet. A Google search should turn these up. You should find some sites with detailed instructions and step by step pics. Here's one ...

http://www.sportster.org/tech/
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:07 PM
  #17  
mustangwagz's Avatar
mustangwagz
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Default

ah i see. ok. well damn. lol was hoping to update my carb setup! I'm runnin the bendix with the 2 adjustable screws on top of it. Good carb, just seems to be a bit much for the bike. ill keep researching then! haha
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:07 PM
  #18  
shepdog's Avatar
shepdog
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
Default

the 40mm cv i have came off of a 2001 1200 sporty, runs great on my "slightly" built 1000cc ironhead, didnt have to re-jet or anything, search ebay for a "branch" intake and a mikuni adaptor to connect the cv to the branch intake, i tried one of the cheapo adaptors that bolts to the stock intake, didnt work out real well,then you will have to make supports to hold the carb
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:08 PM
  #19  
mustangwagz's Avatar
mustangwagz
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Default

haha, awesome mick! Thanks! knew you'd key in sooner or later! Muhahah!
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:08 PM
  #20  
IronMick's Avatar
IronMick
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 118
From: London, ON Canada
Default

1978 was the last year for the 38 mm Keihin. Then it went to 34 mm until the CV in about 1988 or so.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:32 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE