Try this.
Start her up and let warm for a few minutes.
Is the noise present, no revving and out of gear.
If noise present, pull in the clutch, does it stop.
If the answer is yes, I'm afraid the inner primary bearing is on the way out.

The HD auto tensioner is not the best design. As the chain warms it stretches and the ratchet style tensioner will take up the slack but can't release when cold. I changed mine to Hayden version after the 50 mile ride back from the store.

Mind you with the mileage you have its a bit early for the IPB to take a dump. My RK went around 25000 or so I think.

If the above doesn't fit your symptoms let us know.

 

The tensioner could be loosened once the primary cover is off yes may not stay but it can be. At least a closer inspection could be done metal on the plug etc.


I don't have my softail manual handy but I did ride my ultra yesterday and had the manual out just to reassure myself I wasn't giving you bad info.


Which I started to say 36 but after looking I the manual changed my statement to 38.


So maybe someone else here will chime in on maybe a softail having a smaller primary but I am 99% positive the dealer told me 38 on it also. ymmv as always


Oh yeah I never got an exactly the same oil amount from change to change either don't have an explanation for that one haha!

 

Drained the primary- oil is grey already, may be ok tho

Took the cover off
Chain has about 6/8" deflection (Manual does not specify this is correct but this is within tolerance of models with manual tensioner)

Clutch looks ok- no wiggle to it

Compensator was torqued to 150lbs But does have a slight wiggle to it, dont have a dial indicator but i would say 5-15 thousandths

Chain tensioner is in great shape.
I still have everything torn apart so any more suggestions?

And thank you all for your input

 

The noise is only present while riding and under a load

 

Hate to say it but i think its also the innerprimary bearing.

 

Is there a way to check without tearing the clutch and inert primary off?

 

Yea. Its going to get noisier and eventually start leaking oil. Im betting the auto tensioner got too tight. I ditched my auto tensioner and got one of those Baker manual tensioners.

 

There's little evidence that the auto-tensioner gets the primary chain too tight, and that this contributes to Inner Primary Bearing failure. Just speculation and wishful thinking, as far as I've seen.

One of my bikes is an 06 Dyna, which has the highest reputation for trashing the inner primary bearing. I've read up on all the proposed solutions pretty thoroughly, and if there was a simple and proven solution, I'd be all over it in a heartbeat.

 

Well mine went from 100k of being perfect to piano string tight and a blown primary bearing. No primary bearing issues since. Just my experience though. I was very happy with my auto tensioner for a long time.

 

I'd be quite happy to get 100K out of my original setup too.
How many miles so far on your manual tensioner? If it was really better, Harley could easily go back to it. The bikes are scheduled for 5000 mile service intervals anyway.