Harley Davidson Forums

Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

soft tail problems..help please

   
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 07:58 PM
Share
  #1  
hddave2's Avatar
hddave2
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: harrodsburg
Default soft tail problems..help please
heys guys my uncle has a 2003 softtail standard and he told me when the bike is cold he can hear a loud knock like a piston slap..it only does it when its cold...now he told me while its cold he can roll the bike to where the front tire hits a wall and he can let out on the clutch and put a load on the bike the noise stops..he also says that the noise will stop after the bike warms up after he rides it up the street and back....what could be causing this....thanks for any help
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 08:15 PM
Share
  #2  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default
How many miles are on the bike, and what kind of work has been done to the engine if any?

Drew
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 08:26 PM
Share
  #3  
hddave2's Avatar
hddave2
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: harrodsburg
Default
it has 1124 miles,,,88tc bone stock
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 08:27 PM
Share
  #4  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default
Has it had the 1000 mile service? I'd say clutch adjustment although I could be wrong. If not , when was the last fluid change?

Drew
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 08:39 PM
Share
  #5  
hddave2's Avatar
hddave2
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: harrodsburg
Default
im not sure ..he just bought the bike and the guy did say he changed the oil but im not sure about the complete 1000mile service or the clutch adj... i will ask him and post
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 09:53 PM
Share
  #6  
Dixie Dreg's Avatar
Dixie Dreg
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 6
From: Gray's Creek NC
Default
Have him pull it up to your monitor and I'll give it a listen.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 12, 2010 | 04:53 AM
Share
  #7  
hddave2's Avatar
hddave2
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: harrodsburg
Default
Originally Posted by Dixie Dreg
Have him pull it up to your monitor and I'll give it a listen.
well im in ky and my uncle who bought the bike is in deland fl. so i cant do that...lol...
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jul 12, 2010 | 04:57 AM
Share
  #8  
hddave2's Avatar
hddave2
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: harrodsburg
Default
Originally Posted by DR. V-TWIN
Has it had the 1000 mile service? I'd say clutch adjustment although I could be wrong. If not , when was the last fluid change?

Drew
are there any write ups on clutch adj. on a 03 that i can pass along to him so he can adj. the clutch and see if that dont help him...
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 12, 2010 | 09:36 AM
Share
  #9  
tk353's Avatar
tk353
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
Default
i had a knock sound that went away when warm. it turned out to be the rear mounting bolt was loose
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 12, 2010 | 12:33 PM
Share
  #10  
Geoff's Avatar
Geoff
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 814
From: Nevada
Default
I'd start with a oil change and clutch adjustment as suggested above. If that doesn't fix it, visit a dealer and ask them to listen to it. Opinions are free, at least at the dealers by me.
 
Reply
0
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Clutch noise.
kwo51
Touring Models
2
Nov 12, 2013 06:46 PM
Transmission noise at idle, while in neutral
Roger C6R
Touring Models
63
Jun 3, 2012 12:40 AM
dealership picked up bike tomorrow
Dawgtraxx
Touring Models
7
Mar 21, 2012 11:51 AM
clutch noise
forever young
Sportster Models
3
Apr 20, 2008 07:24 AM
2002 EG Classic new noise
rustyrun
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
10
Feb 3, 2008 06:44 PM
Tags
Back to Subforum
Softail Models
View Next Unread
Chrome pulley and rotors that match 2007 fatboy wheels?


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:24 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE