I recently traded my 02 Ultra in on a 2010. The only problem so far (aside from the crappy Garmin GPS mount that has already been replaced once) is some annoying drive train slack.

If this were my OLD bike, I would think it was the primary chain in desperate need of adjustment. But these NEW ones supposedly have a hydraulic chain adjuster.

I can feel and hear the slack being taken up on both clutch release, and throttle release.

Has anybody else encountered anything like this? There IS no inspection port on the primary cover, so how do ya check the primary chain tension? Could the compensator be loose? Do the 2010s have the IDS, and am I just hearing/feeling it??

 

Hey stranger! Where ya been lately? Your 2010 does have IDS, built right into the wheel hub I think. I just made an appointment today for something similar on my own '07. I hear what I'm pretty sure is primary chain slap when the bike is cold. Loud as heck up above 2600 rpm's. Just started maybe 1000 miles ago. Gets quiet as soon as it warms up completely. I'm due pretty soon for a 30K service so I called and made the appointment a little early and told them to listen for the noise at start-up and to plan on pulling the outer primary for a full inspection. I don't know the ins and outs of the hydraulic tensioner, but it seems that mine isn't working the way it used to work. I hope it's not bearing troubles...seems I read about a lot of mainshaft bearings going bad at around the 30K mark.

 

It is hard to explain the frequency it happens with mine. If there is a load on the drive train, there is no noise...it is at the initial "take up" in the slack (ie....when letting clutch out from a start or even shifting), and when slack is introduced, such as rolling off of the throttle.

Not even close to YOUR mileage tho...I just turned over 3000 miles last weekend.

BTW.....based upon the weather you have had up there this year, have you sprouted webbed feet and gills yet?

 

Not yet, but if this keeps up???

 

Same thing going on on my 09 road king 5800 miles. It didn't always have this noise.

Tim_dad

 

Hey CSI...might have found the source of my noise. Clutch hub bearing is toast. The clutch was smacking against the inner primary.

 

It is the compensator in the primary. The factory compensator is weak. As you are on and off the throttle the two sets of ramps that run againest each other are rocking back and forth in each other causing the slack. It won't hurt anything, it is just annoying. The Screaming Eagle compensator will help, but not stop it completely.

 

Just an FYI, at least thru 08 Harley does not have a hyd primary chain adjuster, and I believe this is true on all newer models. They do have an automatic adjuster that use a spring loaded wedge to set adjustment, and is setup to not back off, but does have a built in slack system to prevent binding.


Hobe

 

Thnx.......

I had the bike at the dealer a couple of weeks ago, to do the 1 and 5k services (minus fluid change). The service manager rode it around for the afternoon, and while he was able to hear the noises I was talkin about, he said it is normal to the 09s and newer.

 

I took my 09 egc for the 5000 service and have the same issue (slack). I told the service people about it. After the service they said they could not hear the noise but stated that is has been reported before but should be normal noise.