It doesn't sound like lifters to me either. My guess would be either the cam chain or primary chain. I would get a stethoscope and at least figure out what area the noise is coming from (top end, bottom end or primary).

 

that's why I mentioned it I have heard more than a few 103s with a lifter that leaks down and they all sounded exactly like the sound in this video.. as soon as pressure builds noise goes way..


also I know you have new lifters but even new can have an issue

 

my bike does same thing --definitely coming from the engine, not primary--mine even seems like front cyclinder. stock 103 on a 2013 SG. A lot worse first starting when it's cold out. Warm now and don't hear it as often, if at all. I try to block it out now, because if I dwell on it it'll **** me off. I brought bike in to Harley at about 800 miles and they kept it overnight and said they didn't hear anything. Figured I'd be given the run around and didn't complain again after that, been out of warranty now, oh well..

Any potential damage to a lifter leak down?

 

That definitely sounds like bled-down lifters to me, which while irritating, isn't a mechanical issue (usually).

I installed the S&S premiums with the shims in them and adjusted the push rods only 1/4 turn off the shims when dead-cold. Never had that, or any other, obnoxious valve noise again.

As far as I know, every twin cam motor ever made has at least some kind of irritating valve noise when in stock configuration. Probably why the MOCO finally admitted (to themselves, anyway) that they aren't capable of designing a quiet valve train with two cams and went back to the original single-cam configuration with the M-8's.

Only took 'em 18 years to figure this out - that might be a MOCO record!!

 

Any updates?

 

My 13 103 had this sound it was the rockers, in my case a slightly plugged push rod. After that was fixed i still had a noisy engine in general, I quit using Syn3 and it solved the problem, I read you tried that.

Could you have a slightly restricted push rod or rocker? I would not think lifter as it did not sound like bleed down to me.

Eager to hear the resolution.

 

Hey guys, nothing yet. I've put it on the back burner for now. Between working 60 hours a week and turning wrenches for a living, I'm not overly eager to get out in my garage at night and wrench on my own stuff.

My pushrods and lifters have been replaced with S&S, lifters 3200 miles ago and pushrods 10k ago when I did cams.

 

I wouldn't even worry about it. The noise went away immediately after start up. I expect you don't hear this sound at all after start up. All my Harleys have been noisy sewing machines. It's the nature of the beast imo. Its when that kinda of noise doesn't go away that i'd show concern. I personally am not a stickler to HD engine noise or noise in general as long as it keeps running and riding well.

 

Does the noise change at all if you pull the clutch in?

 

Check the horn and make sure it's not loose