Thanks for all the suggestions. I did put in synthetic oil and it made no difference in the noise, just in the $$$ of the oil change. I have larger and louder pipes but with te windshield on, the noise maintains itself. I have about $5,000 into the scoot outside of the dealer selling price in 2007 but am thinking of trading it in because of the noise. Might be worth the Baker Transmissions tranny change would be worth it just to be able to keep the bike. FXDSE2

 

I just talked to Baker Transmissions and they have a 7 gear Kit (no case...uses your old case). 1st gear is lower, 7th gear is like the original 6th...no noise and no shift clunk sounds. Cost is $2,895 with 4-5 hour installation time.

So I do have a solution but my new question is do I put $3,400 into a new transmission or use the $3400 toward a new Softail? FXDSE2

 

Sounds like you were referring to gear noise and not the 5th gear clatter. Don't have any noticible gear noise in my 08, so guess I don't have any "helical" gears.

 

Ya got it backward, its the helical gears that are quite, not the straight cut gears.
Depends on what YOU want, personally I would keep the bike you have, that one is too nice to get rid of, especially as anything newer is going to have essentially the same tranny in it. But I 'might' not bother with the 7 speed and just get the cheaper F6F setup instead.

 

Redline Heavy Shockproof. I can barely hear mine at all now. 08 Ultra Classic almost 5,000 miles on it. When I first got it the noise was terrible, after 1000 mile break in a little better, put the Redline in at 1000 miles and noise almost gone. 4000 miles later either is getting quieter or im just learning to tune out the little noise it makes.

Well worth the little extra $

 

Depends on which noise. There are two different sounds that can come out of these trans. Some whine and some don't and it's cause is straight cut gears on fifth. Then there's that clatter usually in fifth. It's caused from the helical gears. The impulses from the engine coupled with the helicals pound the two shafts in the trans in different directions. Shafts reach their end play limits and the helicals cause rebound on the straight cuts in the gear clearances. Sorry no ids for softails. I did however stop my clatter by modifying the comp so it would seem that if the initial impulse rate is modified at the engine, it won't develop at the trans. The only hope is MAYBE the new heavy duty SE compensator that will be available in Sept from what I've been reading. Everthing that sucks in the stock comp has been addressed with this new model. If you want to feel the effect of helical gears moving the shafts place your hand on the clutch lever in 2-3-4th gears and accel and decel. The deflected shaft will actually change the clutch adjustment.
Ron

 

I took aLL the suggestions from the threads on this topic (5TH fear noise in my 2007 Softail Heritage) and went to my HD dealer. They said that none of the suggestions would really solve my problem and would probably spend $$$$ and end up with the same situation. OK, I will take them at their word since they are turning away money.

I have 2 choices and am asking for your opinions...1. Spend the bucks and have a 7 speed tranny with all cross-cut gears put in...probably $1600 or more OR 2. trading in the bike for a new one...probably a $6000 loss and losing all my upgrades.

Economically the tranny exchange would be the best bet by far from a financial standpoint but the money is not my primary concern. What would you do? FXDSE2

 

Since I've reinstalled my slipons I can barely notice it. If a cheap fix comes along I'll fix it. Otherwise I can live with it.

 

+1 on the Redline Heavy Shockproof - No noise here.

 

You said that at 45MPH your gear of choice is 5th?

Anything below 50-55 and my bike lugs in 5th, making a gawd awful racket. At 45MPH I'm still in 4th.

I get a gentle whine in 5th below 60MPH but it's soft and goes away as soon as I pass 60. I don't use 6th until 70 or above on the superslab.

I spend 90% of my riding time in 5th at 60-65 on the rural back roads, so maybe with 6200 miles now I've worn 5th in pretty good? The whine was louder when it was new....but I now have the miles plus Mobile1 75/90 in the tranny....