'83 FXRT valve noise... sometimes
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 742
Likes: 23
'83 FXRT valve noise... sometimes
The bike is all original when I got it with only screaming eagle exhausts.
Now it has CycleShaks tapered and K&N filter in the original case.
I've had and worked on shovelheads for about 10 years, but this never happened to me.
the bike runs great, sounds great, does NOT leak any oil (which I am not used to)
This is what bothers me:
-ONLY after riding for more than 10 miles (about) at interstate speeds (65-75), as soon as I pull off the interstate for gas or anything, I can hear valve noise/pinging for about 30-60 seconds. After that everything is back to normal. In everyday use no noise.
Other things as information:
-every once in a while, idle speed drops below normal once I pulled off the highway
-bike idles fine but sometime s at a stop light it just dies. I hit the button and it starts. There IS gas and idle speed is set to +- 850 rpm
-Exhaust backfires when throttle is released, but I expected that with the cycleshaks
I was told by a mechanic specialized in classic bikes to use 20-60 oil (I always used straight 50 and never had noise problems). I did but same thing.
The I had to leave for about 1 month and left the bike at the mechanic's to work on it:
-he retarded the ignition
-put a bigger mid jet (if I am not wrong) in the original Keihin
-I believed he checked the oil pressure.
He never got the bike to have the pinging/noise symptoms.
Symptoms are still present, not worse, not a lot better.
Any ideas?
I was thinking about getting new hydraulic tapets..
help!
Now it has CycleShaks tapered and K&N filter in the original case.
I've had and worked on shovelheads for about 10 years, but this never happened to me.
the bike runs great, sounds great, does NOT leak any oil (which I am not used to)
This is what bothers me:
-ONLY after riding for more than 10 miles (about) at interstate speeds (65-75), as soon as I pull off the interstate for gas or anything, I can hear valve noise/pinging for about 30-60 seconds. After that everything is back to normal. In everyday use no noise.
Other things as information:
-every once in a while, idle speed drops below normal once I pulled off the highway
-bike idles fine but sometime s at a stop light it just dies. I hit the button and it starts. There IS gas and idle speed is set to +- 850 rpm
-Exhaust backfires when throttle is released, but I expected that with the cycleshaks
I was told by a mechanic specialized in classic bikes to use 20-60 oil (I always used straight 50 and never had noise problems). I did but same thing.
The I had to leave for about 1 month and left the bike at the mechanic's to work on it:
-he retarded the ignition
-put a bigger mid jet (if I am not wrong) in the original Keihin
-I believed he checked the oil pressure.
He never got the bike to have the pinging/noise symptoms.
Symptoms are still present, not worse, not a lot better.
Any ideas?
I was thinking about getting new hydraulic tapets..
help!
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,455
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
First welcome to forums . Next you have to post a picture of the shovel man it's a rule 
Shovels ALWAYS use straight weight 50 or 60 anyone tells you different is blowing smoke the old beasts where designed for it , all I do are shovels or the occasional pan been at it 30+ now . Miles on the bike ?
Sounds like he hit all the usual problem areas and hit the correct fixes . Only thing I'll add is change where your getting your gas go 90+ oct. and try to avoid high ethanol content if you can , shovels don't like it and the later model ones had just enough difference in the heads they ping . This time of year colder states are switching to winter fuel mix ???
Find a local source for racing gas and try some 95 - 96 octane and see if she still makes noise . Keep us posted please some good people in here to brain pick .
If you do go new lifters , drop the bucks and get the Jims setup I run them in big inch motors with big cams and they are the best thing since blow jobs for a shovel .
Shovels ALWAYS use straight weight 50 or 60 anyone tells you different is blowing smoke the old beasts where designed for it , all I do are shovels or the occasional pan been at it 30+ now . Miles on the bike ?
Sounds like he hit all the usual problem areas and hit the correct fixes . Only thing I'll add is change where your getting your gas go 90+ oct. and try to avoid high ethanol content if you can , shovels don't like it and the later model ones had just enough difference in the heads they ping . This time of year colder states are switching to winter fuel mix ???
Find a local source for racing gas and try some 95 - 96 octane and see if she still makes noise . Keep us posted please some good people in here to brain pick .
If you do go new lifters , drop the bucks and get the Jims setup I run them in big inch motors with big cams and they are the best thing since blow jobs for a shovel .
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Oct 10, 2011 at 08:02 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 742
Likes: 23
thanks for the welcome...
I've been here for a while but post very seldom
Pictures are attached
Bike is all original, it only lacks the radio.
Seller said it had about 38K miles and I put about 3-4K since i got it in january
Tacho showed 23K when I got but the cable was broken. Replaced that and it works.
I've had the same problem since I got in SC. Rode it to NC, GA and TN and it has the same issue wherever I buy gas.
I often use Ethanol gas treatment on it and always 93+ octane gas.
I used a few time some octane booster additive... but can't remember if it made any difference OR if i hit the Interstate... might try that.
I always knew shovels run straight 50 and was surprised when suggested to try 20W-60, but gave it a try... :S
How do I know I really need new lifters?
Few years ago I remember I installed a "racing" spring in my 1979 FLH's oil pump to get higher oil pressure or something, but then took it off. Cannot remember how was that called. Would that help?
Thanks!
I've been here for a while but post very seldom
Pictures are attached
Bike is all original, it only lacks the radio.
Seller said it had about 38K miles and I put about 3-4K since i got it in january
Tacho showed 23K when I got but the cable was broken. Replaced that and it works.
I've had the same problem since I got in SC. Rode it to NC, GA and TN and it has the same issue wherever I buy gas.
I often use Ethanol gas treatment on it and always 93+ octane gas.
I used a few time some octane booster additive... but can't remember if it made any difference OR if i hit the Interstate... might try that.
I always knew shovels run straight 50 and was surprised when suggested to try 20W-60, but gave it a try... :S
How do I know I really need new lifters?
Few years ago I remember I installed a "racing" spring in my 1979 FLH's oil pump to get higher oil pressure or something, but then took it off. Cannot remember how was that called. Would that help?
Thanks!
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,455
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Could be your just hearing more upper end noise now because the fairing configuration on those ? Late model shovels had much looser rocker arm end play tolerances than early ones and make more noise , early ones set around .005" to .007" later ones went up to .025"+ . Get warm they rattle .
I think your talking about the Super Spring kits that where popular , I used them too and your right no noticeable difference in real life but in the mind it helped . Harley motors don't have enough solid bearings in them to maintain high oil pressure at an idle like a car engine and they do not do they require it except the at the rocker arm bushings and I suspect that's what your hearing . If it's a real bother they make a decent winter project for peace of mind and you can shim the arms to the older specs it does take a lot of the noise out and the metal rocker box gaskets are worth it alone to me my shovels went through those about every 2 years till I found those .
Had a plain 82 FXR I'm sorry now I ever let go I do like those bikes . If the guy said 38k I'd add some to that to real and a valve job on a shovel with those miles is always a plus if not needed .
I think your talking about the Super Spring kits that where popular , I used them too and your right no noticeable difference in real life but in the mind it helped . Harley motors don't have enough solid bearings in them to maintain high oil pressure at an idle like a car engine and they do not do they require it except the at the rocker arm bushings and I suspect that's what your hearing . If it's a real bother they make a decent winter project for peace of mind and you can shim the arms to the older specs it does take a lot of the noise out and the metal rocker box gaskets are worth it alone to me my shovels went through those about every 2 years till I found those .
Had a plain 82 FXR I'm sorry now I ever let go I do like those bikes . If the guy said 38k I'd add some to that to real and a valve job on a shovel with those miles is always a plus if not needed .
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Oct 11, 2011 at 09:06 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 742
Likes: 23
mmm... looser rocker arm on late shovels...
Actually the guy who sold me the bike had an 82 FXR many years ago, and remembers beeing noisy.
Would that explain the noise ONLY for 30/60 seconds ONLY after pulling off the Interstate?
My worry was oil starvation while cruising at high RPM... but your explanation about the solid bearings to mantain high oil pressure makes sense I guess...
Actually the guy who sold me the bike had an 82 FXR many years ago, and remembers beeing noisy.
Would that explain the noise ONLY for 30/60 seconds ONLY after pulling off the Interstate?
My worry was oil starvation while cruising at high RPM... but your explanation about the solid bearings to mantain high oil pressure makes sense I guess...
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
From: North
Like TB said, check your rocker shaft end play. Earlier engines were good between .004 and .025. Newer specs were a little loose. Its easy enough to do. Any reputable indy will have the shims, or can cut down an existing shim to a closer tolerance on a lathe. Don't buy a kit that has Belvidere washers [wavy washers] under any circumstances.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: SE Florida
What type of ignition do you have? Mechanical advance or full electronic?
How far is your timing retarded?
Edited to add can you be any more specific about the noise? Is it valve clatter (as in ticking like too much clearance) or pinging, or both?
The possibilities I am considering, based on what I have read so far, are sticking advance weights, timing retarded too far, causing high cylinder head temps and localized hot spots that take a little time to cool after reducing power, and incorrect mixture settings.
If it is valve clearance related, the multi-grade oil could be getting hot and thinning to the point that it's not maintaining sufficient pressure to the top end, but that could be related to the above also.
How far is your timing retarded?
Edited to add can you be any more specific about the noise? Is it valve clatter (as in ticking like too much clearance) or pinging, or both?
The possibilities I am considering, based on what I have read so far, are sticking advance weights, timing retarded too far, causing high cylinder head temps and localized hot spots that take a little time to cool after reducing power, and incorrect mixture settings.
If it is valve clearance related, the multi-grade oil could be getting hot and thinning to the point that it's not maintaining sufficient pressure to the top end, but that could be related to the above also.
Last edited by Panshovevo; Nov 3, 2011 at 08:41 AM.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 742
Likes: 23
ignition is the original one. No mods
The noise is more like valve clatter to me.
The noise was there when I bought the bike (it had straight 50 in it), so before I took it to the mechanic, and after I picked it up.
Straight 50 or synthetic 20-60 made no difference.
The timing on the bike when I got or the new retarded timing (mechanic) made no difference.
The noise is more like valve clatter to me.
The noise was there when I bought the bike (it had straight 50 in it), so before I took it to the mechanic, and after I picked it up.
Straight 50 or synthetic 20-60 made no difference.
The timing on the bike when I got or the new retarded timing (mechanic) made no difference.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: SE Florida
Hmmm... maybe a valve stem hanging in a carboned up guide temporarily due to the difference between the contraction rates of the guide and stem while cooling? Just a wild guess, but a possibility...
Edited to add: Do you feel that you could hear the noise if it was happening on the interstate?
Edited to add: Do you feel that you could hear the noise if it was happening on the interstate?
Last edited by Panshovevo; Nov 3, 2011 at 12:33 PM.