07 tranny probs?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 9,763
From: Montana & Arkansas
RE: 07 tranny probs?
If one assumes the noise problems: A. Get diagnosed by the moco, and B. The fix gets done... then the remaining issue may be lugging the motor. Sometimes kinda cool noises at low rpm's and many have always had an aversion to overrevving/wearing the motor out too soon. But there's hardly an engine alive (but many dead) that can deal with long term hammering of lugging.
Consider the 14 cylinder radial aircraft engine with damn near perfect balance and harmonics that can safely idle or putz along at incredible low rpm's cause of the design. Then consider decades ago my friend's 500cc Matchless single cylinder with hot cam, etc. Everytime the beast fired it jumped forward... was kinda hilarious to watch and worse to ride!.... well the bike, by design, destroyed its own engine. Big 45 degree twins at low revs are just gonna hammer the crap out of themselves if we don't keep em up in the sweet humming range.
You guys and gals have great insight and history about the causes. A side line benefit of reading all the threads is I think I must get a tune to richen the a/f mix and also get rid of some of the retard to get the heat down... and run syn oil too.
Cheers,
Big Sled
Consider the 14 cylinder radial aircraft engine with damn near perfect balance and harmonics that can safely idle or putz along at incredible low rpm's cause of the design. Then consider decades ago my friend's 500cc Matchless single cylinder with hot cam, etc. Everytime the beast fired it jumped forward... was kinda hilarious to watch and worse to ride!.... well the bike, by design, destroyed its own engine. Big 45 degree twins at low revs are just gonna hammer the crap out of themselves if we don't keep em up in the sweet humming range.
You guys and gals have great insight and history about the causes. A side line benefit of reading all the threads is I think I must get a tune to richen the a/f mix and also get rid of some of the retard to get the heat down... and run syn oil too.
Cheers,
Big Sled
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 6
From:
RE: 07 tranny probs?
I posted a test done by a 07 clatter bike owner who tried redline and amsoil and he found amsoil 75-140 got rid of the noise, see here
https://www.hdforums.com/m_787957/mp.../tm.htm#787957
https://www.hdforums.com/m_787957/mp.../tm.htm#787957
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 9,763
From: Montana & Arkansas
RE: 07 tranny probs?
That info helps, re Amsoils promo info. As soon as I can air-hose the cobwebs outta my brain (with age it takes about 90psi these days) I'm gonna see what tech specs Redline's website may have to match up against Amsoil's.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
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RE: 07 tranny probs?
My American Motorcycle Assoc. magazine just arrived. In the October issue is an article about the 07 Harley's. You can read it at http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2006/FXSTC/ Funny how Harley gave them a Softtail to test drive and the article says the gears are all helical-cut gears. Hmm, a little misleading marketing going on. Anyway I sent them (AMA) an email correcting them on the gears and telling them about the related whine and the extreme clattering on many of the touring models. Their email address is letters@ama-cycle.org. Send them an email and let them know just how wide spread this problem is and that the MoCo is dicking us around (ok, reword that last part).
As for the calling in to the MoCo and bitching, how about the next week or the week after. Let's pick one and give the MoCo a week long headache.
As for the calling in to the MoCo and bitching, how about the next week or the week after. Let's pick one and give the MoCo a week long headache.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 2
From:
RE: 07 tranny probs?
I stopped by my dealer on Wednesday and got talking to a couple of the guys in service. They were straight up and one of them is good friends with one of my buddy's. Anyway, HD is aware of the problem and they are trying to localize it and come up with a fix. Problem is, it's not an easy fix. He said they think it's either an issue with the primary or the tensioner. I guess neither of which is easy to just swap out. They said they should be hearing more within the next few weeks. As far as they know there is no harm in riding it, it's just sounds horrible.
Thank god I still don't have any problems with mine.
Thank god I still don't have any problems with mine.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 6
From:
RE: 07 tranny probs?
Not to start a bunch of ****, but after reading many posts Im begining to think its not a transmission problem at all,(clatter, not gear whine) but related to a weak compesator, this sound you all say mimics the same sound as lugging the motor, since the transmission is conected by the primary chain to the copensator sprocket which is designed to compesate for changes in momentum, this could very well be the cause, more and more are saying it sounds like its coming from the primary, just a thought, and if it is, a relitive quick fix for the moco once a suitable replacement part is found.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 4
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RE: 07 tranny probs?
I too believe its in the primary although my dealer couldnt duplicate the noise I had in the last 2 or 3 days,I also believe that heat is part of this.While my bike was in for this the oil cooler was put on,plus the temps here have been in the 40s to low 70s.His testing was riding this bike home after work and back to work in the morning.Coolest times of the day.I am picking my bike up tomorrow and will have time to see if things have changed until the area factory rep and I can hook up.Keep you all posted.