Another "noisy sportster engine" thread
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk, England
Another "noisy sportster engine" thread
Hi,
My GF has a 2005 XL883 low which makes a lot of noise that sounds like very noisy tappets. It is not very noticeable at idle but is distractingly noisy at normal road speeds. The bike may have been standing for a little while before she bought it. She previously had a 1998 883 Hugger which sounded lovely and tight.
I am not an HD expert but given that she says it sounds like tappets what could be causing this excessive noise?
Is it likely to be an issue with the lifters and if so is it a big deal?
My GF has a 2005 XL883 low which makes a lot of noise that sounds like very noisy tappets. It is not very noticeable at idle but is distractingly noisy at normal road speeds. The bike may have been standing for a little while before she bought it. She previously had a 1998 883 Hugger which sounded lovely and tight.
I am not an HD expert but given that she says it sounds like tappets what could be causing this excessive noise?
Is it likely to be an issue with the lifters and if so is it a big deal?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 6
From: Fayetteville NC
I know my 2012 sounds terrible, was told is normal. I've owned multiple bikes and have worked in automobile industry for close to 20 years, if we put out a vehicle with a engine that sounded like mine we'd having a line of unhappy customers 300 miles long.
Last edited by Ricketts; Aug 27, 2014 at 05:17 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Idaho
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk, England
Wow. TBH I am shocked that an engine that makes such a noise is released by HD, like Ricketts said.
So does anyone know what it is in the engine that has changed from the earlier, far tighter, models? and is it rectifiable?
So does anyone know what it is in the engine that has changed from the earlier, far tighter, models? and is it rectifiable?
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,122
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From: Boise Idaho
Synthetic oil will make the valve train a little noisier on a Harley, don't worry about it. JUST RIDE. I've had synthetic in mine for years and it has always been louder than the old dino stuff.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,755
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From: Northern Los Angeles area.
I am told that Valvoline 20W-50 Synthetic has reduced some peoples' sewing machine noise. Has anybody experienced that?