I have used sen 3 since 1000 miles and changed at 2500 . the valve noise raddles while crusing 60/70 mph sometimes it will raddle under light throttle then it will quit it does it louder when it is hot but it is not a consistant peck all the time.

 

Before someone jumps on this - you can buy adjustable pushrods but they are made that way for hot rodders who might run solid lifters and to ease the job of replacing cams. You can just collapse the pushrods and remove the cams without having to take the rockers off. Hydraulic lifters run at zero lash - there is no adjustment needed with ordinary pushrods like your engine has.

 

My '04 Dyna had pretty noisy valves, my '07 Ultra has a pretty noisy transmission. Both engines will last 100,000 miles. Don't worry about it.

Lots of times people compare Harley engine noise to Japanese bikes which are (1) water cooled; (2) OHC designs with shims under the rockers; (3) unit construction with transmissions deeply encased in the engine.

The Harley sounds different because it's built different.

Other factors are the Ultra lowers reflect noise back toward the rider, the fairing cuts a lot of wind noise so you can hear the engine more, the '06 stock mufflers are very quiet, and lots of Harley guys wear shorty helmets or no helmet at all. All those things make the engine sound much worse than it is.

 

OK, the way my engine is worn it starts to be annoying around 45mph and then again at 60mph. That will vary depending on the wear. At 70mph and up my engine sounds pretty good but I figure that is because of all the other noise factors at that speed or just conditions. Before using syn oil it would knock real hard about 3 - 4 times on startup. You could tell it was a valve lifter knock. Not the way a lifter would do if it lost its oil while sitting for a while but like it would do if it didn't really want to follow the cam lobe. Kind of like a real hard bind. I believe the syn oil being much slippery than dino kind of relieved this problem because it hasn't done it since.

 

Thanks, I'm not worring about it. I just plan on replacing the cams with good ones as soon as I can gather up the money. Getting rid of the chains and tensioners will be a good thing that probably will allow the engine to last that long. With the first engine I did have a miserable first year but now I understand about the company. Now, I'm just disappointed in them. But, I'm going to make the best of it. Have to, I've got too much money invested in it to bury it like that guy did those Cadillacs. Nose first in concrete.

 

Now I.m beginning to understand why H/D riders keep their bikes for a long time, By the time they get all the problems fixed, they are either broke or too worn out from the process of fixing all the things that was wrong with their bike when they got it. Does any one know if a Screaming Eagle Version of a bike has any less problems. I want to ride not work on it, or have it in the shop. What a disapointment.

 

Personally I deal with it by writing them a letter every now and then. I just sort of let it all hang out. Then I feel better. I doubt they are capable of making something good. Been at the bad stuff too long to change.

 

My 06 roadglide has been doing the same thing since I bought it. Until it is warmed up'd the engine while emit a very loud noise coming from the valve train. Is it normal? Who knows? It never has a loss of power or has let me down, but I sure don't enjoy the noise!
Or the dealer attitude about how it is NORMAL.
Gary D.

 

I put "roller rockers" in . No more noise.

 

I have a friend that had some lifter noise. He replaced his lifters with Feuling lifters and it got REAL quiet. A pair can be had for around 85 bucks on line.