103" lifter (?) noise
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1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
103" lifter (?) noise
I have a 2011 103 inch Road Glide that develops a noticeable loud valve train noise between 2200 and 2600 rpm. It does not do it above or below that range. When I took the bike in for it's 1000 mile check, the dealer thought it may be because the automatic chain tensioner was about to ratchet or it would come out of it with more miles on the bike (typical answer?). It doesn't matter what gear it is in, if the engine is hot or cold, under load or not, acellerating or de-acellerating. it is really annoying to have it in that rpm range. My 03 Dyna was much quieter. Has anyone else had this problem or any ideas?
Last edited by 1mg2hd; Sep 3, 2010 at 10:02 PM. Reason: Sentence was wrong
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Peoria, IL
Sorry to hear that.
I bought a 2011 SG with the 103 last month, and you can hear the lifters, but it's just because the stock pipes are too quiet. I wouldn't consider them noisy though. Mine just sounds normal.
I'd take it back to the dealer again.
I bought a 2011 SG with the 103 last month, and you can hear the lifters, but it's just because the stock pipes are too quiet. I wouldn't consider them noisy though. Mine just sounds normal.
I'd take it back to the dealer again.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
Mine is going in for it's 1k check on Wednesday, and has a similar noise to what you've described. I spend a lot of time listening to it, it's definitely most noticeable around what I think is 2500 rpm. It is still present at higher engine speeds but is harder to hear. It's not audible when cold, but fairly noticeable warm.
I'm only slightly concerned because the few 96" bikes I've ridden didn't make the noise. I'm okay with sewing machine noise, but mine sounds like a knock. I'll let you know what the dealer says on mine next week.
-Nick
I'm only slightly concerned because the few 96" bikes I've ridden didn't make the noise. I'm okay with sewing machine noise, but mine sounds like a knock. I'll let you know what the dealer says on mine next week.
-Nick
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
I can offer something on this. My stock TC-96 I could hear the valve train, barely. When I added the SE-255 cams, the valve train became much more audible (as expected). What I didn't expect, was when I changed out the cylinders and pistons to go to 103, the valve train became much louder again. I've had the same push rods (the originals, the SE-255s have the same base circle as the stock cams so why change them...) through the whole process. No change to the heads, other than having been off twice. Strange, but there it is.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
I can offer something on this. My stock TC-96 I could hear the valve train, barely. When I added the SE-255 cams, the valve train became much more audible (as expected). What I didn't expect, was when I changed out the cylinders and pistons to go to 103, the valve train became much louder again. I've had the same push rods (the originals, the SE-255s have the same base circle as the stock cams so why change them...) through the whole process. No change to the heads, other than having been off twice. Strange, but there it is.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
Heck, it seems most dealers are anxious to comfort then. They seem to say "that is normal" to just about every issue brought up to them.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 3
From: Nashville, TN
My 2010 Limited has a valve train click at all RPMs. Dealer says they all do it. I tell him that my other Harley doesn't do it, and I get the infamous blank stare. If the truth were to be known, I think they don't don't have a clue of how to fix it.