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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 10:39 AM
  #11  
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Remember; There are no dumb questions, just the dumb people who ask them...
Hah!
J/K

I had an '06 Road King, now I have an '08 Ultra. With both bikes, I've had a similar noise that was intermittent.

Turns out, the noise happens when the front tire picks up a small stone that then rattles around inside the fender. Once the stone clears, the noise stops.
Maybe that's what happening with your bike too?

Hope this helps.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 11:19 AM
  #12  
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Possibly one of the exhaust nuts on the front jug is loose, (exhaust leak?????) it happened to me last summer.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 11:32 AM
  #13  
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wow I just went through this, I went through my bike like you did, finally I took it into the dealer, glad i did it was the cam lifter went bad, its good to ask,but take it in and find out for sure what it is 85 an hour is better than a 6000 dollar motor, good luck bro
let know what they find
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 11:39 AM
  #14  
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make sure the exhaust brackets are tight.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 06:25 PM
  #15  
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Thank you all - Good ideas -

As far as a gear, mostly when in 4th sometimes in 5th around 40-45mph - every now and then when I get up around 60mph - Just drives me crazy because it not constant - Just when I think I fixed it, there it is again -

With gas, always putting in super or highest octane available -

I will double check the exhaust again -

One good thing, when I was doing my indepth inspection, I did find a clamp under the fairing that was broken - I thought that maybe the issue - nope -

Oh well, I will keep looking - Thanks for all the input -
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:00 PM
  #16  
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Well you have touched and tightened every nut and bolt, resealed the shield and fixed everything that you think could be it, but have you really looked for actual ball bearings that could be rolling around? Just sayin'. I'm also sayin' you might be hearing things. Ride a different Harley and see if you hear the ball bearings. You may need help. The bike may be fine. Just sayin'.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:01 PM
  #17  
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This may sound a little extreme, but you may want to check your cam chain tensioners. Depending on the mileage, your '02 may be just about ready for tensioners, cams, lifters and/or pushrods. Mine sounded like a bunch of nuts and bolts shaking around in a tin pie pan on the right side of my engine, mostly during deceleration around 35 - 45 mph. If the sound is on the left side, check your primary chain tensioner. It may need adjusting. You could also try different/synthetic oils in your crankcase, primary and transmission. Hopefully it's a simple fix, but my noise cost me a bundle.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:13 PM
  #18  
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Just a thought from a new guy- If you have a small tape recorder (mini cassette or digital) put it in each area where the noise could possibly be coming from, punch record an go for a ride. If after an afternoon of tests you still haven't found it, you at least got to put on some miles in the name of research!

Keith
58 days 'til I get my Classic!
OK, OK, I'll go back to the corner and shut up now.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:19 PM
  #19  
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Shifter linkage? given the age.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 09:25 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by rinja64
So, over a course of time at this site, I have learned quite a bit here, so please do not flame me too bad for what I am about to ask - I have an 02 Ultra - around 40-45 mph, I hear what sounds like ball bearings rolling around - Last time I heard this, I had a dime bouncing around in my lower fairing - Now, I have no idea - I have pulled the clam shell fairing off and touched and tighten ever part I can find in and around the dash - I have replaced the seal on the winshield - I have pulled the seat, and touched every nut and bolt - I have, what I believe is to have gone over this bike with a fine tooth comb in sections - It is driving me crazy - I am sure it is something real simple but I am at a loss -
Any ideas??? Thanks

I had the same issue...I called it loose change in the head. Anyway, my 07 FLHTC had a software update to recalibrate the "whatever" and the pinging stop. May be, there is a software update for you.
 
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