2010 Heritage Valve Clatter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 354
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From: Pittsburgh , Pa.
2010 Heritage Valve Clatter
Just picked up my new 2010 Heritage Softail six days ago and have 200 miles on it. I have ( HEAVY ) valve chatter in mid gears, mostly in third or fourth when letting off of the throttle and applying light throttle again while moving in traffic at about forty miles per hour. The chatter goes away when you give it more throttle. The bike has only 200 miles on it and has went through twelve gallons of fuel and the dealer tells me that these things are normal. I have been riding Harleys all of my life owning about thirty of them, this being my fourth new one and never had this problem. The last bike that I traded in was a 2002 Night Train and the engine was quiet and got good gas mileage. I always use premium fuel and tried different brands. Any opinions on why it is using so much fuel and valve Chatter? Someone suggested the engine curve is out of adjustment. I understand that these fuel injected bikes don't have timing adjustments. Any advice from Harley mechanics would be appreciated.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
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From: NJ
So the dealer is telling you that it's normal for your bike to get 16 mpg. I think I'd take it to a different dealer. You should be getting 40-50mpg from that bike.
Far as the noise goes, hard to say. I have an 08 Heritage and it's got valve clatter also. Never paid much mind to what gear or speed I get it at. Hear it more at some times than others.
I took a 2010 for a demo last week and really can't say I noticed anything different in the valve noise.
Far as the noise goes, hard to say. I have an 08 Heritage and it's got valve clatter also. Never paid much mind to what gear or speed I get it at. Hear it more at some times than others.
I took a 2010 for a demo last week and really can't say I noticed anything different in the valve noise.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 969
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From: Maine
I also have an 08 Heritage. A little valve chatter is normal especially with quiet mufflers. I put V&H pipes on mine and don't hear the chatter hardly at all anymore.
Your gas mileage sucks ....... something definitely wrong there. I agree with jimmers ..... take it to another dealer. Does it blow smoke?
Your gas mileage sucks ....... something definitely wrong there. I agree with jimmers ..... take it to another dealer. Does it blow smoke?
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Pittsburgh , Pa.
I also have an 08 Heritage. A little valve chatter is normal especially with quiet mufflers. I put V&H pipes on mine and don't hear the chatter hardly at all anymore.
Your gas mileage sucks ....... something definitely wrong there. I agree with jimmers ..... take it to another dealer. Does it blow smoke?
Your gas mileage sucks ....... something definitely wrong there. I agree with jimmers ..... take it to another dealer. Does it blow smoke?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
No there is no smoke at all. thats what is baffling, it's like it just disappears, and the valve chatter is not slight, the valves are banging so hard that it seems like it would do damage if I continue to run it. I'm going to nurse it back to the dealer this morning around 10:30
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Pittsburgh , Pa.
Chatter appears to be normal
I went back to the dealer today to ride another new Heritage and it has the same clatter , so I assume that what they are telling me about these engines is true. Everyone that I talked to say it is just a characteristic to the twin cam engine that is just heard more with the quiet stock exhaust. They are still working on trying to find out why it is using so much fuel. If anyone would like to comment on their experiences with their Heritage, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
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From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
If it clatters just reving the engine while sitting still, then it could be the lifters. There's a lot of bad ones out there that dealers won't fix.
If however the engine is sounding normal while reving it in the parking lot, your issue is most likely the compensator if it only happens at certain load conditions and gears. Lifters don't care if the engine is under load or not and will behave the same in both situations. In 19k I've never heard valve clatter once, but did toss the stock comp long time ago. The sound is similar to valve clatter when you have a bad one.
Ron
If however the engine is sounding normal while reving it in the parking lot, your issue is most likely the compensator if it only happens at certain load conditions and gears. Lifters don't care if the engine is under load or not and will behave the same in both situations. In 19k I've never heard valve clatter once, but did toss the stock comp long time ago. The sound is similar to valve clatter when you have a bad one.
Ron
Last edited by rbabos; Aug 17, 2009 at 12:30 PM.
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