Fatboy to Road King
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
Fatboy to Road King
Just traded in my 02 Fatboy with the TC 88B for a 2011 Road King Classic TC 103. I expected the 103 to vibrate more than the 88B, but I didn't expect it to as noisy as it is. I guess the extra power comes with some extra noise. Of course I can only hear the noise when I'm sitting still and in neutral. Most of it seems to be coming from the primary case and only when in neutral, not when in gear and the clutch pulled in. Normal?
I love this bike, it pulls like a tractor on steroids and it's easy to tell when you hit the sweet spot in the RPM. The vibration smooths out like a baby's ***.
I love this bike, it pulls like a tractor on steroids and it's easy to tell when you hit the sweet spot in the RPM. The vibration smooths out like a baby's ***.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: Americus, GA
It sounds like the primary chain tensioned has not popped up to the next level. Mine did it right after I got it. Took it back to the dealer and they fixed it. They said they have been seeing it alot.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
what does that mean exactly?
OP congrats on new RKC
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
BTW Congrats on the new RK. Was looking at that bike myself, but I already have an orange car and figured it would be too much.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
Once you're certain it's not the regular top-end racket, you could have either a loose or a busted compensator sprocket that resides beneath the primary cover. I'm 99% certain that is what is going on with 09 RK. I am going to open it up tomorrow and see for myself. Do a search, and you'll find this problem is fairly common, causing a lot of headaches, and may warrant a recall. I've heard enough "That's normal" stories from Harley techs to just check for myself. Hopefully, it's just a loose bolt that I can torque back up to spec without going with the beefier SE replacement unit. I'll post up with what I find either way.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
Whether the bolt that holds it, or the plain old stock compensator in place is another thing.
Plenty of tales here of later models than mine with a whole lot of clanging going on.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
The primary is a little noisy on mine, too. The noise goes away with the clutch being pulled in, regardless of if it's in neutral or in gear. It's not terrible, but it's noticeable. I've had other bikes make similar noise in neutral with the clutch out so I don't think it's the end of the world. This is also my first Harley though, so I don't have anything to compare it to.
I think the dealer fixed the primary chain tension on mine at the 1k service, it lost a notable amount of driveline lash after I got it back. I thought they reset the belt tension, but it sounds like what was mentioned above, the auto tensioner was ratcheted up a notch.
I think the dealer fixed the primary chain tension on mine at the 1k service, it lost a notable amount of driveline lash after I got it back. I thought they reset the belt tension, but it sounds like what was mentioned above, the auto tensioner was ratcheted up a notch.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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Am I the only one that does not sit in neutral? I always sit at stop lights in first with the clutch pulled in. Now if it is going to be a long wait like at a railroad crossing, I just shut down the engine. Just curious about what others do.
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