Help, wierd engine noise
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From:
Help, wierd engine noise
Coming back from Leesburg Bikefest yesterday my 2003 road king classic started making a wierd noise. It's hard to describe but it's a rapid light tapping that is more like a flutterring sound. Itoccurs at higher RPMs, like after 75mph in 5th gear but I can do it in any gear as long as the RPMs are up there. (Dont have a tach so I can't tell you how high)
I put synthetic in a couple of weeks ago with the 5 micron Harley Filter, not sure it's related to that at all. I'm also at my 10,000 mile tune up after buying the bike used a couple of months ago, so I'm not sure of the previous history of the bike.
Any ideas guys, not that confident that my dealer will figure it out?
I put synthetic in a couple of weeks ago with the 5 micron Harley Filter, not sure it's related to that at all. I'm also at my 10,000 mile tune up after buying the bike used a couple of months ago, so I'm not sure of the previous history of the bike.
Any ideas guys, not that confident that my dealer will figure it out?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Help, wierd engine noise
prolly a heat sheild banging away. I had one and it drove me nuts. Take a small block of wood with you, find a nice open area like a deserted parking lot, and drive around at the engine speed that makes the most noise and press the wood on all the heat sheilds. If the noise goes away, you found the right one.
Tim
Tim
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Gahanna, Ohio
RE: Help, wierd engine noise
I had a tapping in my 05 RK over the winter, pulled the rocker covers off and found a rocker support plate broken, swapped it out for 130.00 and 1 hour of labor. good as new.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Help, wierd engine noise
ORIGINAL: rkc9999
Cowracer I hope it's that simple. But it sounds like it's coming from the engine, like a valve or something.
Cowracer I hope it's that simple. But it sounds like it's coming from the engine, like a valve or something.
MyTC88 still sounds like I put gravel in the oil. Runs strong, but way more clatter than I think should be. But it sounds exactly like the three other twinkies I have driven (07 EG Classic, 06 Sloptail Heratige and another 06 RK).
I guess a 1400+ CC pushrod, air cooled v-twin is just a noisy contraption by nature.
Tim
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 2
From: Winslow, Arizona
RE: Help, wierd engine noise
I know this has been said about a bazillion times on this forum, but if you ride with a windshield every noise the bikemakes sounds like its coming from the engine. Take the shield off and cruise it around a parking lot like Cowracer suggested. It might make pinpointing the noise a little easier.
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 571
Likes: 3
From: Loudoun County, Virginia
RE: Help, wierd engine noise
The 88's definitely make a ot of noise. One of my heat shileds came loose too and I found the higher the RPM the more noise. Where around Leesburg are you? I am in Purcellville, maybe we can meet and I can tell you if it is the same as mine.
Buzz
Buzz
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
Banned
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Help, wierd engine noise
Get a mechanics stethoscope and probe around the engine with it.
Will help determine the location.
But it does sound like a faulty valve.
Could be simple or not.
Bad lifter, pushrods, valve springs etc.
Will help determine the location.
But it does sound like a faulty valve.
Could be simple or not.
Bad lifter, pushrods, valve springs etc.
