09 SG trans noise
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 373
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From: N. Kentucky
09 SG trans noise
Bought an 09 SG about two months ago. Now, I've never had a new bike before let alone a six speed tranny. Within a hundred miles the trans started screaming. It got louder and louder for a while, then some of the gears quieted down. I figured (or hoped) it was just normal run-in having had nothing to compare it to. However, 5th sounds like a supercharger on a V-8 to this day with well over 2000 miles on it. 1st whines pretty good when downshifting. I put in synthetic on its 1000 checkup, it quieted down a little but not much.
Dealership says its because of Harley stuffing 6 gears into a 5 speed case, because of that 5th gear is a straight cut gear. I don't have a maintenence manual yet to verify, but at this point I ain't buying. It's annoying as hell. It goes away when I pull in the clutch, and is only in 1st and 5th, so I figure it isn't the primary.
Any ideas? Does anyone else have this issue?
Thx
Dealership says its because of Harley stuffing 6 gears into a 5 speed case, because of that 5th gear is a straight cut gear. I don't have a maintenence manual yet to verify, but at this point I ain't buying. It's annoying as hell. It goes away when I pull in the clutch, and is only in 1st and 5th, so I figure it isn't the primary.
Any ideas? Does anyone else have this issue?
Thx
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,552
Likes: 3,954
From: Vermont
It's true because 1st and 5th are straight cut for strength and the others are helical cut. 2010 changed 5th to helical because of the whiners.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
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From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Remind the dealer that Harley was able to squeese a helical fifth into the case of the 2010s, magically somehow, and as far as I know the case is the same. Yes, first and fifth are spur gears and will or should only quietly whine. Excessive whining is a result of too tight of a gear mesh. If you can't get dealer satisfaction in the form or warrany, the only likely cure is to dump the synthetic and run a lower grade oil (formula) so the gears will wear in better, and then switch back to syn at a later date. I know, this goes against wisdom, but short of that, replacement of the spur gears or complete gear set is the only real fix.
There's also the possibily the whine you are hearing could be within normal levels, if this is your first new bike and not been subjected to the six speeds before. Get somebody else with a six speed to ride it, for a second opinion. Can't hurt?
Ron
There's also the possibily the whine you are hearing could be within normal levels, if this is your first new bike and not been subjected to the six speeds before. Get somebody else with a six speed to ride it, for a second opinion. Can't hurt?
Ron
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Stockton, CA
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 373
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From: N. Kentucky
Ahh, I take it this isn't a new subject. I haven't been on in several months. I was about to post that I had just read the answer in another post. Apologies. At any rate, this isn't just a little whine, it's a LOT of whine (from the bike, thank you very much hahaha). rofl
So, they made 1st and 5th straight cut but thinner to accomodate the sixth gear. It annoys me because I got tired of worrying if my tranny is going to take a crap when I need the bike the most, but I'll take the stronger gear and live with the noise any day. I just suspected that the dealer didn't want to do the work.
Anyway, thanks for clearing it up for me.
So, they made 1st and 5th straight cut but thinner to accomodate the sixth gear. It annoys me because I got tired of worrying if my tranny is going to take a crap when I need the bike the most, but I'll take the stronger gear and live with the noise any day. I just suspected that the dealer didn't want to do the work.
Anyway, thanks for clearing it up for me.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 726
Likes: 12
From: Eugene, OR
My 09 Streetglide also has the whine in first and fifth gear with 12 thousand miles on it. I put Redline synthetic fluids in all three holes shockproof in the tranny and that did help make the tranny a little less whine. I guess you get used to it, maybe compare it to another 09 bagger to just make sure it not much worse that any others, make sure it has proper fluid levels and ride the crap out of it. Good Luck and enjoy the bike.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 513
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From: Utah
Gear Whine
I have a 09 Electra Glide and the fifth gear whine was a shock to me when I first got it. On the first service I put http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/svt.aspx in the gear box and it quieted it down some and made it shift quieter as well. Later at 2000 miles I put the Vance and Hines Ovals on the bike. I have to really listen to hear it whine now 