Ok I am going insane here. I have an 08 Ultra Classic that I have been chasing the top end sewing machine noise. Today it sounded louder than normal and the noise comes from the front cylinder. Easy to hear even at idle.

To date: I have installed S&S lifters, S&S adjustable push rods, rocker lockers , twin performance high performance oil pump, S&S 561 cams and a UltraCool 2 oil cooler. The noise did get louder after the upgraded cams but it’s always been there. I’ve been told it’s “normal” but I refuse to believe that. I went to a buddies and he has the 88” engine and his does not make the same sound.

Is it possible that I’ve tightened the rocker plates too tight? It’s pretty much impossible to get a torque wrench in there. Or any other suggestions. It seriously drives me insane and it’s all I can focus on.

 

You have to remember that you're sitting on top of an air cooled pushrod motor that has its design roots dating back 100 years lol. There's just going to be some noise. I've done some chasing too...lifters.lockers, different oils even trying different preloads on the lifters. I had an 06 springer softail that had an 88 and that motor was so quiet so I really thought this 110 was self destructing. My buddy has a 2016 road glide with about 6k miles and his sounds pretty much like mine so I'm done spending money trying to do the impossible. You'll know when something doesnt sound normal.

 

After recently going back to dino oil, mine got quite a bit quieter. I also run the Axtel oil bypass

 

I used new S&S lifters and take-off SE adjustable push rods in my build and I had an annoying tick when I first got it running. I read and asked around and got answers ranging from normal to rockers ticking to needing to adjust the push rods again. I decided to try to readjust the push rods first and was pretty successful with the rear cylinder, but the front just kept ticking. After a long ride a few weeks back, the ticking seemed louder so I decided to stop messing around and replaced the used push rods and S&S lifters with new SE Adjustable push rods and SE lifters, even though I can not find anything wrong with the new S&S lifters and take-off SE push rods.

I have not had that tick since I installed the new SE lifters and push rods. I have about 400 miles on the new parts and even when the temp hovering at 230 stuck in traffic today coming back from a long ride and it was not ticking. I am starting to think that the S&S lifters were not performance enough to handle the high lift cam and racing valve springs.

 

interesting!!! What adjustments did you try on the push-rods? I did 4 complete turns on all of them which followed the instructions. Maybe I should just put my stock Harley lifters back in. With the SE parts did you buy a quickee model or just regular adjustable?

 

Drive it. It's a Harley. If you wanted it to sound like the cab of a Mercedes, buy one. From all you have done, that's is like saying Kyle Bush wants a muffler on his race car.

 

OP, I’m a little unclear. Did this noise just make s sudden change on its own? If so, that’s it good. A collapsing lifter would be s likely suspect for a suddenly increased clatter.

But if it’s a long term chronic noise, I’d be far less worried. Especially with the modifications you describe.

 

Reminds me of my 1st Harley - a brand new 1990 FXRT. Coming off of two 750 Hondas, I initially thought something was wrong with the motor. After 43,000 miles, 2 exhaust systems, 2 hi-po cams, and a carb kit - yeah, that's how they sound! My Kitchen-aide dishwasher is very quiet.

 

There is a sponsor on here that has researched this in great detail. what he discovered was the rocker arm shaft is moving in the head when the rocker arms are in motion and clack against the shaft mounts. So the gentleman developed a fix for locking those shafts I believe there are vids on youtube.

Rockout Rocker Products.

 

i have those already