Tapping at Start
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Alpha, NJ
Tapping at Start
I have a 2012 Street Glide with 75K miles. When I cold start, it has a noticible tap. If I ride it for a mile, get gas, and then restart the tap usually goes away. Any thoughts? Cam tensioner?
Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for your comments.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,212
From: San Diego, CA
Without hearing it... a failing lifter could be a good guess because the 2012s have the crappy "C" series HD lifters.....
But also, a tapping when cold that goes away when warm, could be an exhaust leak...... as well as several other possibilities....
Better to do some diagnostics rather than to guess and just throw parts at it....
You need to locate, as accurately as you can, the location of the sound... use a stethoscope if necessary.... The location will give a good clue, to narrow down the choices, and where to go from there....
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Without hearing it... a failing lifter could be a good guess because the 2012s have the crappy "C" series HD lifters.....
But also, a tapping when cold that goes away when warm, could be an exhaust leak...... as well as several other possibilities....
Better to do some diagnostics rather than to guess and just throw parts at it....
You need to locate, as accurately as you can, the location of the sound... use a stethoscope if necessary.... The location will give a good clue, to narrow down the choices, and where to go from there....
But also, a tapping when cold that goes away when warm, could be an exhaust leak...... as well as several other possibilities....
Better to do some diagnostics rather than to guess and just throw parts at it....
You need to locate, as accurately as you can, the location of the sound... use a stethoscope if necessary.... The location will give a good clue, to narrow down the choices, and where to go from there....
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
Some people like having other people do it for them. I don't have one, but a mechanis scope might help.
I had noisy new lifter for thousands of miles in the morning. Was concerning thousand of miles from home, on a engine I built myself. Can't explain it, but it went away
I had noisy new lifter for thousands of miles in the morning. Was concerning thousand of miles from home, on a engine I built myself. Can't explain it, but it went away
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 482
From: MA
if its a lifter, replace it quickly! mine tapped for a minute one cold start during a trip and the second day it came apart and went through my oil pump, cam plate, and took out the cams too...$1,500+ mistake.
Trending Topics
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
The lifters drain down the oil in them from sitting. Typical Harley... nothing to be done AFAIK. Not supposed to hurt anything according to HD.
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
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,212
From: San Diego, CA
Maybe typical Harley crappy "C" series lifters.........
I'm sure lifters leak down to a point, and I suspect it's not the end of the world if they clatter a little at start-up, as long as they pump up quickly and the noise goes away....
But having said that... of the 2 shovelheads, 1 EVO, and 4 twin cams that I have owned.... not one ever had the lifters leak down to the point where they made any noise as they had to pump up when I started the engines.... OK, the shovel heads didn't have hydraulic lifters, but that's beside the point...
One year I had an injury and a couple back surgeries, I only managed to ride 3 times that year.... with months in between rides.... not a peep from my lifters of my '03 twin cam at start up...
So while it may not be a terrible thing, I'd change out the lifters it my bikes were doing it....
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 8, 2019 at 04:55 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
D777
Milwaukee Eight (M8)
4
Aug 14, 2019 09:43 PM