As stated above. You can pull the oil filter and cut it open to see if there are any orange plastic particles floating in there. That's an indication of worn tensioners. Easier than opening the cam chest too. Do this during an oil change obviously.

 

Got 105k on my 07 FXST and yes it has always had valve train noise. Pulled my tensioners at 90k when I put the woods 555 cam and lifters and all was fine with the tensioners. Maybe 40% worn. But check them for piece of mind if you wish.

 

[QUOTE=Freightran;9729203]
What I don't know is why the 96in motor doesn't like <2000 rpm in higher gears. Not that I'm lugging it, but it just doesn't seem to have the "grunt" that I thought it would have. Kinda weak feeling til you wind it up a bit. My 1100 Shadow would pull down more and still not complain as much as as this much larger HD motor. That is what I wondered.

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The 96 in stock or even stg1 one will not pull 6th IMO at anytime the way one would think it should.
At least my didn't.

I've posted many times in here that I used to get my best mileage at 55 in 5th gear, That's mean's she's running right at 2500 rpm's and the motor felt like she was running really good and free.

UR close lugging the stock motor IMO at 2000 rpms in 6th. That rpm is ok in the first 4 gears, maybe 5th, but not in 6th in stock form,, That's M.O.
That's only about 52 mph and in stock form the 96 doesn't have enough TQ at that rpm to pull the bike.

Even after I did the STG 1, "Anytime" I shifted into 6th even at 70 mph the motor felt like I needed to be on the throttle a little to keep it at speed and I always got 4-6 mpg less mileage when I used 6th.

Overall,, IMO the stock and even a stg 1 96'er is UNDER Powdered for using 6th gear.

After I installed the CAMS... All I can say is "BIG", "MAJOR" Difference.
In fact, U wont believe it until U do it..

I now can ride at 55 mph all day in 6th gear and the motor runs free and easy, also now I get my best mileage between 55 and 65 mph in 6th gear. Where I used to get 37-38 pre cams, now I can get 45-47 easy in 6th on the road as the cams increased my mpg.

I also have as much passing power now in 6th at 60 mph as I did stock stg1 riding in 5th and 55 mph. No need to downshift at all..

IF U don't do cams,, try keeping U bike at 55 or above in 5th and 65 or above and that should help. That's between 2400 and 2500 rpm's.

The reason why is with the cams I have almost 20% more TQ at 2k rpms than when she was stock 70lbs vs 83lbs with cams.
That what makes the BIG DIFF.

Hopes this explains why and helps Ya.
.

 

I too have an 07 fxstc my question for you is do you get this noise in any gear at that rpm or is it just 5th gear? I ask because mine has a similar sound in 5th gear and it is do the the cut of that gear in 07 6speeds. If it is only in 5th gear I'd say you don't have an issue it's simply due to the way that gear is for that year.

 

Sorry should have specified do you have this sound in any of the higher gears 4th 5th 6th say.

 

Ok. I never use 6th in town, basically. I've found that it's not happy there unless I'm just coasting down a hill. It needs to be 60 or higher to keep enough rpm to not lug. I've only taken a few highway rides and the 6th gear is nice once you are running 65-70 mph. It will accel without fuss.

Most of the noise is in 5th gear, going 40-45 mph? I have a tach and watch it carefully to see what it likes and when it likes it. I know these 6 spds have a whine issue with 5th gear, but the noise isn't a whine. It's a "clunk" or "Clack" type noise like a chain is slapping due to being too loose. It reminds me of my previous Honda, the shaft drive pinion gears would clunk if you lugged it too much.

I know my friends SE Fatboy pulls really well, even down low but it's got 100" kit, cams, etc. Dynoed right at 99hp. I was just kinda expecting mine to lug down better. I suppose it's just not made that way(though you think the factory would build it for low end torque).

 

I wish I could give ya more insight. I just know my 07 fxstc had that "chain slapping steel" sound in 5th gear only. I bought it with only 1k miles 3 years ago, after much research, consultation and inspection I found out about the "5th gear issue" on 07s
Not saying I'm an expert on MCs in any way, shape or form, I'm used to working on much larger drive trains like turbines, ball mills and coal pulverizers.
However I thought it sounded like there was something quite wrong in 5th gear initially, like I've stated, but it appears to be a "standard" issue with the 6 speeds of the time.
I've only put on about 8k since I've purchased this bike, but all of my maintenance and inspections have revealed nothing that leads me to believe my "5th gear" issue is anything that is harmful to the MCs drive train.

 

Freightran, i believe the noise you're hearing is normal for stock. when i got my 07 fatty, the noise in 5th gear under 50 mph drove me nuts. i had a couple different people ride and said it was normal and all said the noise was from the cut of 5th gear as mentioned above. well after doing some reading here, i found a lot of people were mentioning that the "normal" noise's associated with starting, shifting and cruising in 5th gr went away with the installation of the SE compensator. i installed the SE comp and all the quirky noises, clunks etc are gone. we have a lot of back roads here and cruising at 45 or so in 5th seems normal for the bike. i can cruise and no rattle what so ever.

if you do go with a SE Comp, make sure you get the updated version, i think it ends with a "B".

 

Thanks guys. Guess I'm finding that it's the bike, not a problem. Both other HD's I've been on are 5spds and don't have this issue.

Guess we'll just Ride on!

 

If it is a problem then it will get worse. If it is normal then it will t=stay the same. Pay attention and let it develope. Me thinks normal noise but hard to say from here.