Tick, Tap, gone!!!
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 997
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte, N.C.
I will say that after i did the shims it took a few miles for the oil to get into every nook and cranny and coat all the upper valvetrain and it seemed to get more and more quiet as i rode. I am still riding like i did b4 and this thing is super quiet now. I do notice that if i open her up i hear a little chatter on decel and idle but once the oil cools it gets back quiet as b4 and it is never as loud as it was. Like i said earlier it seem like the tick tap and chatter is a combination of a few things but most of the sound I was getting is gone completely once i did these shims. Please post more results guys we will get this thing licked soon.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
I hope you missed an extra 0 on your numbers, if you had .16 of play you need new rocker arm supports.
I did this last weekend and it quiet the bike right up. Still have slight valve train noise but not near the racket I had before. I measured my end play at .016 to .013. Installed the shims on all 4 rocker arms and measured the play at .006 to .005
I did this last weekend and it quiet the bike right up. Still have slight valve train noise but not near the racket I had before. I measured my end play at .016 to .013. Installed the shims on all 4 rocker arms and measured the play at .006 to .005
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
I will say that after i did the shims it took a few miles for the oil to get into every nook and cranny and coat all the upper valvetrain and it seemed to get more and more quiet as i rode. I am still riding like i did b4 and this thing is super quiet now. I do notice that if i open her up i hear a little chatter on decel and idle but once the oil cools it gets back quiet as b4 and it is never as loud as it was. Like i said earlier it seem like the tick tap and chatter is a combination of a few things but most of the sound I was getting is gone completely once i did these shims. Please post more results guys we will get this thing licked soon.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 997
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte, N.C.
Mine is quiet when cold, but after I get hot it's noisy. I did find one arm on the rear cylinder exhaust at the upper limit .019 and shimmed it down to .004. I rode it 3k miles after shimming so I'm certain it had plenty of time to get oil in the system. I'm currently thinking I didn't get the oil pump aligned quite properly and may have scored it. I'm going into the cam chest this weekend.
Man sorry to hear that, I wonder if there is a way to tell for sure by checking the oil pressure once its warm you should see a drop with a mechanical gauge. Your symptoms sound like an oil flow problem.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
I have good oil pressure. What is leading me to go after the oil pump is air bubbles in the oil. Other than one chattering rocker, which I'll bet was the .019 rocker my bike was quiet prior to the cam upgrade. I honestly don't recall aligning the oil pump so I'm thinking this is the issue.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
BTW: I found my noise, it's a pushrod rubbing against the tube when it gets hot. I can the marks on the pushrod plain as day. I'm trying a set of Wood lifters to see if they hold things a bit tighter.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 10
Was it the stock push rods that were rubbing?
Thanks
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
Replace the tubes and use a lifter that doesn't bleed down. My best guess is one of two things. Either I'm not getting the rocker arm assembly quite centered (there is a lot of slop) or the tubes are a bit worn from being on and off a few times. A lifter like the Wood Nightprowler doesn't bleed down so it should hold the pushrod in position better. It's not the solution to every noise but I'm pretty sure it will help solve my problem.