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Just wondering if this whine from the primary is a normal sound. I’ve had this bike 4 years and have put about 5000 miles on it. It sounded like this when I bought it and I thought the whine was normal since I had nothing to compare it to. A little while ago I heard another shovel head recently and it sounded pretty quiet.
Total miles on the bike are unknown but at least 30,000. The primary is stock oiling. The primary chain is adjusted to spec and is wet from oil. Any ideas? Thanks Jerry
Last edited by 80Glide; Sep 10, 2023 at 08:35 PM.
Reason: Adding video
Probably Not the Primary...unless somehow the Mainshaft bearing got Mis-aligned...or the chain is too tight.
More likely the Ratchet Top 3rd gear whine... common!!
For some reason I’m not able to download a video, so I’ll try to describe it.
The noise has been there as long as I’ve owned the bike. It’s present in neutral or in any gear and varies with engine rpm. It’s not overly loud but now that I don’t think it’s supposed to be there it bothers me.
When I bought the bike about 4 years ago I removed the inner primary to repair a stripped engine case hole that the inner primary is bolted to. At that time I noticed the main shaft support bearing in the inner primary was loose in the primary. I dimpled the bearing hole in the primary and used bearing retainer lock tite when it was reassembled.
The noise was there before and after I’d had the primary off.
Thanks for the replies guys, I think It’ll be a winter time project along with new clutch plates and a ram jet retainer. I’m kind of leaning to the support bearing being loose in the hole again or worn.
I know you said it's on the primary side, but noise carries. Could it be cam gear to pinion gear noise? They make those gears in various sizes, and they need to be properly matched. Too tight causes whine, too loose causes clatter.
My primary whines, my bestie's doesn't, his has a belt primary, mine is a chain of unknown mileage. I fixed one for a guy last year and what had happened was his primary chain adjuster ratchet was bent somehow and the chain rubbed on it. Fitted another one and it was quiet again.
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