Odd noises or picky ears?
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Odd noises or picky ears?
I just got my 2004 Electra Glide Classic. Long time reader, first time owner.
Test drive was great, I drove a 03 that scared me, it just did not run well; pinged under load, smelled of oil on acceleration, and it sounded like poop.
Test drove the 04 Classic, much better! It has True Dual Rineharts, less restrictive air cleaner, and Harley said they changed the map, and included the little SE tuner with it.
I put about 1000 miles on it this weekend, and a few noises are starting to gather my attention.
1.) It sounds like it has an exhaust leak. (If it were my car, that is what I would credit the noise for.) I am not getting any exhaust escaping around the where the exhaust and heads meet.
2.) It sounds like it has sticky lifters (again, that is what I would accredit the noise to if it was my car)
Neither seems to have gotten any worse, and they are prevalent from cold start to running down the highway. This tells me that they are probably normal, but I can't get my dad's voice out of my head telling me to cut up a bear can and patch my exhaust! (worked on our chevy!) Probably not the best descriptions of what I hear; hopefully someone can identify the same noises and let me know my dad's voice was good on cars, but not so much on bikes.
Test drive was great, I drove a 03 that scared me, it just did not run well; pinged under load, smelled of oil on acceleration, and it sounded like poop.
Test drove the 04 Classic, much better! It has True Dual Rineharts, less restrictive air cleaner, and Harley said they changed the map, and included the little SE tuner with it.
I put about 1000 miles on it this weekend, and a few noises are starting to gather my attention.
1.) It sounds like it has an exhaust leak. (If it were my car, that is what I would credit the noise for.) I am not getting any exhaust escaping around the where the exhaust and heads meet.
2.) It sounds like it has sticky lifters (again, that is what I would accredit the noise to if it was my car)
Neither seems to have gotten any worse, and they are prevalent from cold start to running down the highway. This tells me that they are probably normal, but I can't get my dad's voice out of my head telling me to cut up a bear can and patch my exhaust! (worked on our chevy!) Probably not the best descriptions of what I hear; hopefully someone can identify the same noises and let me know my dad's voice was good on cars, but not so much on bikes.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
Not sure about the exhaust leak sound, but I too have sensitive ears and the engine "ticking" sounds like lifters or the valve train is out of adjustment.
I've had numerous other people including mechanics listen to it, they don't hear it like I do. Meaning they're used to it I guess. Or at least it doesn't stand out to them like it does me.
I took a buddy's bike for a ride and heard the same noise on his when I got back, I said mine must be nothing because yours does it too. He said "what noise?".
I think it's best to summarize the way someone once told me, "you're sitting on top of an air cooled engine that's about 3 feet from your ears, you're going to hear engine noise".
I've had numerous other people including mechanics listen to it, they don't hear it like I do. Meaning they're used to it I guess. Or at least it doesn't stand out to them like it does me.
I took a buddy's bike for a ride and heard the same noise on his when I got back, I said mine must be nothing because yours does it too. He said "what noise?".
I think it's best to summarize the way someone once told me, "you're sitting on top of an air cooled engine that's about 3 feet from your ears, you're going to hear engine noise".
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Probably some good advice.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Figured it out... sorry for slow reply
Sorry I was slow to update.. I know everyone was watching attentively 
.
The noise ended up being a crack in the headpipe. I commented on the noise when i test drove it and when I took it in for a service a couple of months later, the service department noticed the crack. They were great, and without prompt from me remembered I noted it on the test drive and they offered to replace it at their cost; seems they 'overlooked' it on their inspection.
It took a month to get the new headpipe in... during prime riding time. Rinehart had the parts on back order, or so I was told.
.The noise ended up being a crack in the headpipe. I commented on the noise when i test drove it and when I took it in for a service a couple of months later, the service department noticed the crack. They were great, and without prompt from me remembered I noted it on the test drive and they offered to replace it at their cost; seems they 'overlooked' it on their inspection.
It took a month to get the new headpipe in... during prime riding time. Rinehart had the parts on back order, or so I was told.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I used to hear those noises and it would drive me nuts. They're normal, and I know they are, but still.
My new pipes solved the issue. Now I can't hear the motor at all. Pipes aren't loud enough to hurt my ears, or prevent me from hearing other things going on around me. But they sure drown out the engine noises.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington, NC
I noticed that after I have some sort of problem...Like the short I had a couple of months ago, I seem to here little noises and things until I get my confidence in my bike back. I don't think this is a bad thing...You had the presence of mind to note the header leak on your test ride, saving you from the wrath of HD.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,115
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
was gonna say that my SE A/C with just a cap on it, no real cover sounds like an exhaust leak sometimes.
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