The bearing is NOT the root cause. The source of the problem is the cheapo crank assemlies that "sissor" or the halves twist slightly, with respect to one another. Once that happens, the runout on the crank goes thru the roof. There is NO bearing that could endure those conditions for an extended time ~ not stock, not Timken, none...

 

Would this cause what i will term as a "rythmic vibration" small vibration that keeps a rythm

 

That's a good question.

I suppose it is certainly possible, but there are other things that should be checked first.... Off the top of my head, I'd check tires (wear, pressure, balance), alignment, primary chain adjustment to start....

Has it just started & is it getting progressively worse?

Phurion ~ is this something you experienced?

 

been consistent for a while now and doesnt seem to be getting worse. can really feel it when feet are on the pegs mounted on the engine guard

 

Mine wasn't really a vibration, and more audible than anything. A high pitched "whirring" to some ears, but to mine it really sounded like a speedo/tach cable that needed some graphite. The higher the RPM's the faster the "whir".

Other than that sound the bike felt fine. It was just getting progressively louder over the past few weeks. At first I thought it may have been amplified by the addition of the fairing lowers (simply deflecting normal engine noises back up at me), but the last few days before I finally took it in to be looked at...it was getting noticebly louder. I was just out riding around a bit last Friday after I got off work and decided to swing by NTHD to kill some time looking over some bling. While there I had Jeff come out so I could get his opinion. It was loud enough it caused him concern, so he had someone else look/listen.

While I was there today I made sure to listen to a few other bikes. None of them had this same noise, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't just my lowers throwing normal engine noises back up at me, and that they found the culprit. I'll know for sure mid next week.

 

Well Phil I'm certainly not going to argue with you. I'm just reporting what I read posted by other forum members.

 

Yours sounds like it "may" be an out of spec crank. Go over to the motor section and do a search. There are a few guys with the problem that have talked about the symptoms.

 

Year make and model of engine / bike sure would have been helpful.
So generally speaking.
Has it always been there?
did it JUST show up? or intermittent?

Did it appear after a service job on the bike?

Is it a whirr or a clank clash, you used both to describe it!

Clank clash, something is loose or machined wrong.
Loose most likely would have been there from day one.
Machined wrong, could have graually appeared, then suddenly became obvious.
You don't say how long you've had the bike, what year it is, mileage, first or second owner
Modifications done.

Whirring, is from something sliding and or spinning and rubbing.

Does it do it all the time?
Does it go away with clutch pulled in?

If it appeared after service, I would suspect primary chain adjusted too tight and whirring
across the adjusting shoe.
Normally will decrease or go away when clutch handle is pulled in.

Other whirring sounds can come from roller bearings, but not normally if immersed in oil.
Or possibly air flowing across an opening. Maybe check the air cleaner / manifold area.

Clank / Clash, HD had an "apparent" machining /adjustment problem in the compensator.
I say "apparent" as I don't think anybody actually proved this, although there were articles
on it in magazines.
But it makes sense.
It is designed to reduce the suddent power strokes from the engine going to the primary
chain and thus the clutch / transmission.
It is spring loaded and should stay in constant mesh.
But if yours was machined wrong, assembled wrong, or not properly tightened, it could
cause the clank / clash sound you describe.
Sitting on or standing around the bike the originating area of the sounds could be deceiving.
A good mechanics stethoscope, should be used to probe all areas of the engine / tranny when
the noise is apparent.
Where it is loudest is normally where it is at, but not always.
You have to determine what is in that area that can cause the sound you are hearing. Or
what is there that can transmit the noise to that area.
It could be something other than the above, will be interesting to hear what it is, and how often does this problem exist in other bikes.

Went back and looked at your sig picture closer and saw that year / model in the bottom.
My eyes are old and worn out didn't see it in the pic first time.
Also agree with others, HD has had crank problems in past with 07's, so that is a possibility.

You know HD could eliminate all of these problems.
Put a common man with common sense in charge.
They keep trying to shave corners and save a buck.
Then things like the bad crank issue comes back and bites them in the ***.
Go back and design a solidly built crank and case and bearings. Rest of engine will follow.
Trying to shave it thinner and thinner to save weight and cost of materials you ziemer can have more money in his pocket, just doesn't work very long.
Bearing designed to last 15K inside and engine?????
I expect my engine to last 100K or longer, my car and truck does regularly since the 90's