Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Primary Noise (?)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 7, 2015 | 03:57 PM
  #1  
rayban01's Avatar
rayban01
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: pa
Default Primary Noise (?)

Hi all.. new here and need some help. I have a 2001 bagger, 42k miles. My problem is... When bike is COLD( not run for a day or so), when I start her up and ride down my hill, I get a fairly loud, as my wife calls it.. "sleigh bell jingle sound". It only happens when I'm off throttle, clutch out and rolling, or decelerating. If I give it throttle, it goes away. If I pull the clutch in it stops. After a few miles and as the bike warms up, it goes away. My guess was a bad comp. sprocket, so I took the primary cover off and looked around in there. Everything LOOKED ok, but obviously something ain't right in there. Primary chain was properly tightened... everything looked good. Sounds like the noise is coming from the primary...or am I chasing the wrong area? How would I know if the comp. sprocket was bad ? Its been doing this for a while, but it seems to be getting louder, and winter is a good time to see what's going on. Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!!
 
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2015 | 04:19 PM
  #2  
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Default

Hi Rayban-

First before opening the primary ALWAYS disconnect the battery.
manipulating the primary drive may activate the starter motor...and pluck off fingers.

This can occur with your keys in the next State.

For the noise- try a stethoscope or a long rod/screwdriver handle to your ear-bone and contact the other end to various parts of the motor...try to track down the location.

my first guess would be in the clutch


welcome to the forums

Mike
 
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2015 | 04:33 PM
  #3  
RiverB's Avatar
RiverB
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
Default

Could be your drive belt. I'd have sworn my problem noise was coming from the primary, but it was originating from the belt drive sprocket. Lubed the belt and the noise is gone.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2015 | 09:33 AM
  #4  
rayban01's Avatar
rayban01
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: pa
Default

Originally Posted by RiverB
Could be your drive belt. I'd have sworn my problem noise was coming from the primary, but it was originating from the belt drive sprocket. Lubed the belt and the noise is gone.
What did you use to lube belt ? Mine sounds more mettalic but I'll look into anything!
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2015 | 10:40 AM
  #5  
seehogs's Avatar
seehogs
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 14
Default

I had same problem with an evo softail. Use water from a hose
to soak the belt/pulley b4 taking off for your test ride.
If it is the belt/pulleys the noise will be gone.
Also had a chrome primary cover (kurryakn)on a bagger rubbing an exhaust heat shield clamp, same thing when hot it went away.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2015 | 12:29 PM
  #6  
riglide's Avatar
riglide
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Default

I had a similar problem turned out to be a headbolt cover
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2015 | 02:40 PM
  #7  
RiverB's Avatar
RiverB
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
Default

Mine sounded like a metallic chirping - under precisely the circumstances you've described. Thought for sure it was coming from much higher up on the bike, and more forward. Like under the tank, even.

Tried silicon spray on the exhaust hangers, engine mounts, etc. After reading here, tried it on the belt - noise gone. But it didn't last long. So I used a LITTLE bit of lithium all-purpose grease. Noise gone permanently.

I understand Harley, as you would expect, makes a proprietary lube for this application, but I'm fine with the nice clean, white lithium grease.

PS: as coincidence would have it, mine's a 2001 also.
 

Last edited by RiverB; Feb 8, 2015 at 02:43 PM.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
66impala
Softail Models
1
Apr 19, 2015 04:02 PM
Ultradickweed
Touring Models
14
Mar 10, 2012 11:43 PM
Naz_Man
Dyna Glide Models
26
Mar 26, 2008 06:13 PM
chopper_53e
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
7
Sep 24, 2007 02:47 PM
abjones
General Harley Davidson Chat
1
Sep 24, 2005 07:30 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:37 AM.

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