5th Gear Whine
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From:
5th Gear Whine
Got my first touring bike last week and am riding as much as possible to break it in but need some help. I noticed when I am in 5th gear I notice a loud whining sound that gets louder the faster I go. I contacted the dealership and was told it was "normal" on 08 Road King's. Anyone else have any experience with this or is the dealer blowing smoke.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, OH
Don't know if this is what you are refering to or not but, as I understand, the gears for fifth are straight cut gears whereas the others(maybe not all)are helical cut, which are quieter running but not quite as strong, I think. I hear a difference when I'm in 5th versus the others.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 697
Likes: 1
From: Just west of Tahoe
Been runnin' redline shockproof heavy in my trans for 14,000 miles. Don't ever hear 5th unless I'm really loaded and pulling.
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,471
Likes: 5
From: Ocala, FL
As far as the 5th gear noise, you should have heard my 07 before I installed thew IDS, scary!
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
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
As said, 5th gear has square cut gears and they will sing. Nothing is wrong with this, it is normal for there to be a whine from square cut gears. Even with AMSOIL in mine, I still hear 5th gear, which was good before I put in Dakota Digital gauges, because I always knew when I was in 5th. The DD gauges have a gear counter that pops up 1 through 6 on the tech to tell me what gear it is in
