Harley Davidson Forums

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

Is this normal?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 08:45 PM
Share
  #1  
pkvir's Avatar
pkvir
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: North Texas
Default Is this normal?
My 2012 Heritage is a little over two months old and I love it. I do have a question for those who have the 103B engine. It rides and sounds great up to 3500 rpm, when it gets to 4000 rpm it sounds like a can of rattlin tin. Is this normal? I have a stage one, V&H pipes and a SERT. Any comments would be appreciated.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:03 PM
Share
  #2  
oppirs's Avatar
oppirs
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
Default
Your description sounds like a need for mote octane!

My 26 yo ride has all types of sounds you live with it! But my VOES takes care of pre-ignition.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:08 PM
Share
  #3  
pkvir's Avatar
pkvir
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: North Texas
Default
Originally Posted by oppirs
Your description sounds like a need for mote octane!

My 26 yo ride has all types of sounds you live with it! But my VOES takes care of pre-ignition.
I have only put in the highest grade I could, 93 octane.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:22 PM
Share
  #4  
redheadfred's Avatar
redheadfred
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: concord nc
Default Is this normal?
Pull the spark plugs and see what they look like .
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:22 PM
Share
  #5  
oppirs's Avatar
oppirs
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
Default
I know thats a good grade. Just ryde it! It still quite new unless you have 10k under the belt on your ride! Did you up the compression? What is your miles Now?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:27 PM
Share
  #6  
pkvir's Avatar
pkvir
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: North Texas
Default
Originally Posted by oppirs
I know thats a good grade. Just ryde it! It still quite new unless you have 10k under the belt on your ride! Did you up the compression? What is your miles Now?
910 miles. Taking it in for the 1,000 service tomorrow. I will ask them why it rattles, but wanted some honest opinions before I did.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:37 PM
Share
  #7  
oppirs's Avatar
oppirs
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
Default
Ok under 1k. Bolts need to be tighten, If your over your head on this- do take it it in to the dealer. No worries dude!
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:45 PM
Share
  #8  
pkvir's Avatar
pkvir
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: North Texas
Default
Originally Posted by oppirs
Ok under 1k. Bolts need to be tighten, If your over your head on this- do take it it in to the dealer. No worries dude!
Thanks man, taking it in tomorrow.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 09:53 PM
Share
  #9  
dyeates's Avatar
dyeates
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Buckeye, AZ
Default
Ok. My thoughts... Why 4000 rpm? You are really still just breaking the engine in. On my SG at 4000 rpm the whole neighborhood knows I'm coming. Let the scoot break in a little more. It should sound better, especially after the 1k service. My .02.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2012 | 10:06 PM
Share
  #10  
pkvir's Avatar
pkvir
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: North Texas
Default
Originally Posted by dyeates
Ok. My thoughts... Why 4000 rpm? You are really still just breaking the engine in. On my SG at 4000 rpm the whole neighborhood knows I'm coming. Let the scoot break in a little more. It should sound better, especially after the 1k service. My .02.
It is rare that I take it over 3K rpm, just wondering why it struggles at 4K rpm. Wondering if it is normal. I am by no means a Hot Rod.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:47 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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