Primary hell!
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
Primary hell!
I'm going to try and make this as short as possible!
On my 07 Street Glide I developed a small oil leak and had some minor whining on the primary side. I took it to the dealer under warranty. They replaced the inner primary bearing and race and pronounced all is well. I get the bike back go on a 350 mile ride the next day. Towards the end of the day the primary is getting quite loud, howling. I thought well maybe it's just hot. I get on it the next day and it gets loud after the bike warms up. I'm like what the hell. So I schedule it back in for service and on my way to the dealer it gets a little loud but not as bad as before. Then at a stoplight I hear some loud knocking, almost like a rod knock then when I take off most of the primary noise is gone. The dealer has the bike for three days not finding much of anything (I give them credit for trying). They give the bike back to me and tell me they think the chain adjuster got stuck. Okay I ride it for a day or two, still seems a bit noisier than I ever remember it being but not terrible. Yesterday I ride it and it is hot out. I'm getting a constant ticking noise any time I approach 3000RPMs that sounds like a bad lifter but it's on the wrong side of the bike. I start listening and its coming from the primary. It's steadily getting louder as I ride. Then I pull up to a stop sign and bang, bang, bang, there is what sounds like a rod knock again. Now the ticking noise has settled down quite a bit but still present. I would really like some opinion on what might be wrong here. Chain adjuster? Chain stretched? Compensator shot?
Thanks in advance
Ron
On my 07 Street Glide I developed a small oil leak and had some minor whining on the primary side. I took it to the dealer under warranty. They replaced the inner primary bearing and race and pronounced all is well. I get the bike back go on a 350 mile ride the next day. Towards the end of the day the primary is getting quite loud, howling. I thought well maybe it's just hot. I get on it the next day and it gets loud after the bike warms up. I'm like what the hell. So I schedule it back in for service and on my way to the dealer it gets a little loud but not as bad as before. Then at a stoplight I hear some loud knocking, almost like a rod knock then when I take off most of the primary noise is gone. The dealer has the bike for three days not finding much of anything (I give them credit for trying). They give the bike back to me and tell me they think the chain adjuster got stuck. Okay I ride it for a day or two, still seems a bit noisier than I ever remember it being but not terrible. Yesterday I ride it and it is hot out. I'm getting a constant ticking noise any time I approach 3000RPMs that sounds like a bad lifter but it's on the wrong side of the bike. I start listening and its coming from the primary. It's steadily getting louder as I ride. Then I pull up to a stop sign and bang, bang, bang, there is what sounds like a rod knock again. Now the ticking noise has settled down quite a bit but still present. I would really like some opinion on what might be wrong here. Chain adjuster? Chain stretched? Compensator shot?
Thanks in advance
Ron
Last edited by FX4; Jul 9, 2010 at 11:25 AM.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
The thing that sucks for me is I am supposed to be riding to Florida and there is no way in hell I am going to risk it with the drive-train making this kind of noise.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 95
From: lancaster, pa
mine howels a little,,ive always asumed it was just the prim. chain adj. I have the se comp sitten next to me waiting for a rainey summer day to install.Oh yes and can hear the stock comp bangin away just saying...neither of these are problems but im always trying to improve things. I would just ride the Hell out of it!! make life an adventure!! good luck
Supporter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 89
From: Vermont
Motor mount stabilizer link.
In front of the engine at the top of the motor is a motor mount stabilizer link. Place your hand on that while the noise is happening. Some came from the factory and appear tight as hell but they are not! It feels that way because of the factory loctite. Good chance thats the trouble. You will have to really clean the threads with a tap and use blue loctite on it. If its loose even a hair it bangs on the frame and you won't see it, but it sounds like a bad lifter sometimes and other times like a bad or loose compensator sprocket. Putting your hand on it and pushing on the link with the motor running and you'll know if thats it. Remember when putting a wrench on it it will seem tight. Pushing on it when its happening at idle will tell the story. If thats it, you will also notice more idle vibration.
Last edited by Rickr01; Jul 9, 2010 at 05:53 PM.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
I'm fairly certain this noise is coming out of the primary. I didn't have any of it prior to the bearing being changed out.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: El Cajon Ca.
Sounds like a loose compensator to me. Try this test. When it's making the noise put it in gear and while holding the front brake slip the clutch just a little. If the sound goes away it's a loose compensator.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 310
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From: White Rock, BC.
It could be the Compensator being loose like BLKBAGGER said but I agree with you that it could also be the Adjuster. I have never liked the Self adjuster idea. In fact I didn't even like the style they put into my bike from the factory and changed it out to the Old Style assembly(1990's style where Shoe is supported on both sides by plates) when I put my 120 in.
