Engine noise
Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8,538
Likes: 1,646
From: SF Bay area
John, I'm curious if installing this kit would affect the ESP service plan I have with Harley? I watched the video on your website, and I think the bike has been making that noise since I got it - just kind of noisy when approaching 3000 RPM, seems to be more pronounced when it's hot out. The current noise I'm hearing just started recently, and really sounds like it's not getting enough oil... like when you change the oil in a car and first start it. It's not all the time, just right after I've gone up a large hill under medium to heavy acceleration, and then I let up so I'm basically coasting. Once I get on the throttle again, the noise stops.
For $16, I'll certainly keep this kit in mind!
For $16, I'll certainly keep this kit in mind!
Besides... they are completely concealed once installed.
Cheers
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NO, they DON'T all do that!
ROCKOUT rocker shaft inserts... make the tapping STOP! From the guy that FOUND and CURED the problem NO ONE ELSE COULD, thank you for your support!
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Ordering & info http://www.rockout.biz On ebay! ... CLICK HERE
Also on amazon.com...
Imitated, never equaled... ROCKOUTS!
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 574
Likes: 156
From: Big Sky Country
I get the noise when I've reached the top of the hill, so I'm going from medium to heavy acceleration to just shy of complete roll off - essentially coasting, or just enough throttle to not be engine braking. Happens if I shift up a gear (into 5 or 6) or if I just let up on the throttle in the same gear. Speeds are probably between 50 - 70mph. RPM's seem to be right around 3000. I've checked all of the fluids, everything is right where it should be. I've used 93 octane gas since I got the bike last spring. I've put about 6500 miles on it, and the noise just started happening within the last few weeks. It will make this noise until I either give it more throttle or completely let off - so it seems like it's just when there is no or very little load on the engine.
I'd describe the problem thoroughly to service dept and ideally directly to mechanic and they should be able to reproduce issue and give some feedback.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 420
Likes: 64
From: Southern Bear Flag
Its most likely slop in the rocker assembly in the top end, specifically the shaft that runs through the rocker arms banging against and back and forth with the bolts holding the entire rocker assembly to the heads. The bolts are hardened by the factory and the tolerances in there arent the tightest either.
Rockouts provide a very nice solution and got rid of the ticking in my engine after installing them. Its a fair amount of work to get them in but well worth it if youre dealing with any amount of annoying tick coming from the top end.
HTH
Rockouts provide a very nice solution and got rid of the ticking in my engine after installing them. Its a fair amount of work to get them in but well worth it if youre dealing with any amount of annoying tick coming from the top end.
HTH
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Well, the dealership just called back - they are saying that they couldn't reproduce the issue, and that everything is fine. I'm planning a 7 day trip on the bike starting Labor Day weekend, and I'm really worried about doing serious damage to the engine.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 308
Likes: 60
From: Wi
Well that opens up other options
1 trade it off for new
2 find an independent or another opinion
3 ride it and put some miles on it
4 rent a machine for your trip
5 get aaa and hog insurance and hope for the best bring it home in a uhaul truck if it breaks down
What would need to happen to give you faith in the machine to make the trip?
1 trade it off for new
2 find an independent or another opinion
3 ride it and put some miles on it
4 rent a machine for your trip
5 get aaa and hog insurance and hope for the best bring it home in a uhaul truck if it breaks down
What would need to happen to give you faith in the machine to make the trip?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 359
Likes: 56
From: Chicago
If your fluids are all good and the dealer couldnt find an issue, then ride on. Some things that come to mind are both your lifters and your cam tensioner work off oil pressure, so your being quite specific about the noise occurring after a climb / load brings those items to mind. Might be the hydraulics having to load or unload some oil pressure to readjust, so to speak. Does your gauge show oil pressure?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
I'm having a rather loud "clacking" sound at cold startup on occasion. Not always. It's a lifter (one or more). My local dealer is going to replace them under warranty even if they don't hear it when I bring it in. Your problem may be lifter caused, too.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 319
Likes: 139
From: Seattle
I've started noticing a ticking kind of sound from the right side of the engine. I'm hearing the noise after the bike has been running for half an hour or more, and it seems to start up after I've gone up a long hill/mountain and then let off the throttle most of the way. It almost sounds like the engine isn't getting oil at that point - sounds dry, clackety (hard to describe!). It will usually go away after a few seconds, almost like the engine needs to recover after pulling hard for a while. Seems to be most noticeable around 3000 rpm's.
Not saying this is your issue but sure sounds the same. What you describe is exactly what I went through a few years back. Same model bike with about same mileage 2010 FLHTK 103" w/about 29K mi. Loud ticking from valve train but only when engine was heat soaked and only when off throttle on down side of hill or off throttle on a long exit ramp after an 80mph run on the freeway. Soon as given some throttle noise would quit. Oil pressure was steady at 32psi and no oil burning or visible smoking. Shop couldn't reproduce issue and said ride it. Knew something wasn't right but didn't have the extended warranty like you so decided to dig into it myself.
Turned out being a torn valve stem seal on the rear exhaust valve. Rubber had torn free from the top hat and was floating on the stem. Can't explain why a rubber piece produced that obnoxiously loud ticking noise in the manner that it did but it did nonetheless. After removing the rear rocker box problem was evident.
Didn't want to pull the head so picked up the valve spring compressor kit from NubTool.com and in less than one afternoon did all the valve stem seals in my garage. The tool uses an air compressor to pressurize the cylinder in order to keep the valves closed while the springs are removed. Also dropped in a set of RockOut inserts while things were apart. Over 20K miles later engine is as quiet as a twin cam can be.
https://store.nubtools.com/product/h...-complete-kit/
Last edited by FPV; Aug 13, 2020 at 04:03 PM.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Well, I installed the rockout sleves last week, and it seemed better for a day or two, but I'm back to the same issue again. If anything, is say it's becoming more pronounced - any time I've been under heavy acceleration for a while then let up. It's making the noise now even I completely let off the throttle.
Oh well, I'm a few hundred miles into a trip, so we're just going to roll with it and hope for the best! BTW, skyline drive is beautiful!
Oh well, I'm a few hundred miles into a trip, so we're just going to roll with it and hope for the best! BTW, skyline drive is beautiful!