Noisy Top end?
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: New York
The windshield made you hear all of that. Try riding a Ducati with a dry clutch. Noisy as hell.
Get rid of your stock pipes and get something Loud so you don't hear the noise
Edit to add: This be a old thread. Arghhhh !!!!
Get rid of your stock pipes and get something Loud so you don't hear the noise
Edit to add: This be a old thread. Arghhhh !!!!
Last edited by Totally Bored; May 17, 2012 at 07:30 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 12
The only Harley that's quiet is one that isn't running. I agree that with loud pipes you don't hear it as much. I just switched to my stock exhaust and a windshield. I am use to it now after about 500 miles.
I have some Cycle Shack baffles that might go on this weekend to give me some rumble, but I am enjoying being able to hear what is happening around me. Might take the packing out of the stock mufflers also to see if it gives a little more thump.
I don't hear "the noise" when I go over 25 mph. Even with the windshield on.
I have some Cycle Shack baffles that might go on this weekend to give me some rumble, but I am enjoying being able to hear what is happening around me. Might take the packing out of the stock mufflers also to see if it gives a little more thump.
I don't hear "the noise" when I go over 25 mph. Even with the windshield on.
Last edited by editbrain; May 17, 2012 at 05:04 PM.
Synthetic oil is a contributing factor. I let the dealer talk me into trying it once and my motor sounded like a big sewing machine. But up here in Wisconsin it doesn't get that hot out so I switched back to H-D dino oil and my top-end quieted right back down
again real nice. I've run dino oil since I got my first bike back in 1974 and have never had a problem. There really is a noise difference between the two.
again real nice. I've run dino oil since I got my first bike back in 1974 and have never had a problem. There really is a noise difference between the two.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
If U post a question and get some questions back because U don't provide enough info to help U find an answer,
Please at least let us know how/what the results are..
other wise, some might think Ur just trolling..
.
Please at least let us know how/what the results are..
other wise, some might think Ur just trolling..
.
Last edited by oct1949; Jan 14, 2013 at 04:50 AM.
Stage III
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
Guess I'm a troll to. Been signed up with HDF for a few years. This is my first post. I also have noisy top end on a 03 TC88. Just tore into it. Found Andrews 37g cam everything else stock. I'm going back 95 inch, .030 head gasket , new lifter and adjustable push rods. Also installing fuel management. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks. And I will repost. KYK
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
Other than Stock cams with aggressive grind or other than stock base circle will cause more top end noise. If you like a quiet top end, stick with Harley SE cams and don't go above the 211's. The 203 or 204 grind will give you a bit more power but be much quieter than the others (Woods, Andres, S&S etc)
I have woods TW-555-6 cams in mine and with the shield on it sounds like a cement mixer down low, but it pulls like a Freightliner.
You have relief cams in there. They rattle down low even before you get to top end noise. It's just the nature of that beast.
Full face with ear plugs and you will never hear it. As stated above, oils will make a difference too. I don't agree with Dino is better than Syn's but all Synthetic are not created equal. I have experience with Mobil 1 in race motors and can tell you that after only one or two 1/4 mile runs there was enough bronzing in the top end to make me worry. Swapped it out for Amsoil and did not see the same deposits after 10 or 12 runs. Perhaps its just the additives in the Mobil 1 are supposed to bronze like that but I am a fan of Amsoil now. I did switch to straight 60 weight in my Heritage recently as well.
Back to the noise issues, my Woods grind has a real aggressive opening ramp that makes a bit of noise with the beehive springs that I have installed and could use a bit higher seat pressure to quiet them down. I guess the point here is not all builds are setup to be quiet. You need to balance power with noise. I love the way my bike performs, I just hate the way it sounds. Perhaps a stereo fairing is in my near future.
I have woods TW-555-6 cams in mine and with the shield on it sounds like a cement mixer down low, but it pulls like a Freightliner.
You have relief cams in there. They rattle down low even before you get to top end noise. It's just the nature of that beast.
Full face with ear plugs and you will never hear it. As stated above, oils will make a difference too. I don't agree with Dino is better than Syn's but all Synthetic are not created equal. I have experience with Mobil 1 in race motors and can tell you that after only one or two 1/4 mile runs there was enough bronzing in the top end to make me worry. Swapped it out for Amsoil and did not see the same deposits after 10 or 12 runs. Perhaps its just the additives in the Mobil 1 are supposed to bronze like that but I am a fan of Amsoil now. I did switch to straight 60 weight in my Heritage recently as well.
Back to the noise issues, my Woods grind has a real aggressive opening ramp that makes a bit of noise with the beehive springs that I have installed and could use a bit higher seat pressure to quiet them down. I guess the point here is not all builds are setup to be quiet. You need to balance power with noise. I love the way my bike performs, I just hate the way it sounds. Perhaps a stereo fairing is in my near future.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
Running 37s in my '04 88. Soon to be a 98. Noise level rises considerably with the W/S on. Only use it for long trips, not around town. Being my first H-D, I didn't know what to expect, but I figure if it doesn't sound like it is doing any damage to itself, it's normal. Strongly recommend Hillside cycles for your engine work. FuelMoto for fuel management. Has your cam plate been upgraded to the hydraulic tensioners?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Stage III
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
Noisy Top End
I started reassembly yesterday, i put 95" jugs and CT pistons in, I had already checked the inside cam gears for backlash, had .001 to .0015, checked the pinion run out, found .0035 runout, dicided I could live with that but when I checked the backlash on the pinion drive gears I found starting at TDC and checking every 90 degrees, .001, .004, .001, .003, I dont have any whine from the gears but I think this could be the source of my noise. Im thinking of going back with SE hydraulic plate and 209 chain drive cams, adjustable push rods. Would like some suggestions. Thanks, KYK