650 miles ago I had my engine upgraded. 2006 Road King now with 98" big bore kit and reaper 543 cams. No headwork but obviously new gaskets.

Up until now I assumed the noise was because of new parts wearing in. Now I'm wondering if what I'm hearing isn't normal.

First of all the engine is a lot more tappy/sewing machine sounding. Could be the new lifters. Can deal with that as long as it's not damaging anything. What worries me is what sounds like the pistons going up and down. Literally sounds like what you would imagine, the piston rings scraping up and down in the cylinder.

Is this rhythmic scraping sound normal for new rings pistons and cylinders? Am I not getting lubrication in there? Powervision says temp was at about 270 after a 40min highway ride. I don't believe I'm losing/burning oil. Engine runs great but sounds weird.

I can hear hear it at idle and steady rpms while in motion.

i can try and get audio/video uploaded later...

 

How did you break it in ? You do a nice & easy or are you of the camp that says break it in like your going to ride it?

 

My shop advised to keep it under 3000rpm for 500 miles and go easy on it. So that's what I did. This sound has been present since I picked it up though. Not worse not better.

 

How many miles have you put on it since the upgrade? Are you losing any oil? The tapping sound is more than likely from running a more aggressive cam.

650 miles and no oil loss...got it

 

As said the tapping is lifter/valve train related, aggressive cam profiles can be be noisy. The scrapping could be a few things and being a fresh tight motor is one of them. If it bugs you have the builder put an ear to it.

 

I am getting close to 700 miles. Changed the oil at 500 and just had a long week of riding so I'll check oil level when I get home but oil was at normal level prior to the oil change.
I figured the tapping is probably normal. The scraping sound I'm not so sure of

 

That is why I asked. At first I assumed this to be the case but now pushing 700 miles it doesn't sound any different. I will stop at my shop this week but figured I'd ask here.