Big Twin Neutral Rattle
Account Retired
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,448
Likes: 8
From: On Parole - Grays Creek, North Carolina
Motor hot, clutch pulled in, in neutral. Noise comes from the right side, under the clutch cover.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
I have it too. Noticed it starting around 3k mi. Now at 3300 and its pretty loud and embarrassing. Seems as if it got louder after replacing my cams and headers.
I think the slightly added vibration made it worse.
I will try the heavy gear oil. Right now it has the 20W-50 Synthetic from the 1k service.
I think the slightly added vibration made it worse.
I will try the heavy gear oil. Right now it has the 20W-50 Synthetic from the 1k service.
Last edited by Cliff-AZ; Apr 19, 2013 at 12:03 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 313
Likes: 84
From: Central KY
Yup. Have one. Different issue. The Ducati sound comes from the clutch design. The Harley rattle apparently comes from the gearbox, specifically the gear backlash.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 313
Likes: 84
From: Central KY
Then you're causing abnormal wear to your clutch release bearing. The whole time you're sitting there the release bearing is grinding away.
As an aside, VW received a large number of complaints of clutch release bearing failures on the beetles that they began exporting to the U.S. They didn't have the problem in Germany. The VW clutch release bearing at that time was a solid carbon block. They sent an engineer to the U.S. who discovered that Americans sat at lights with their foot on the clutch. VW began fitting roller bearings on their U.S. export cars. Apparently Europeans knew to only depress the clutch long enough to change gears.
As an aside, VW received a large number of complaints of clutch release bearing failures on the beetles that they began exporting to the U.S. They didn't have the problem in Germany. The VW clutch release bearing at that time was a solid carbon block. They sent an engineer to the U.S. who discovered that Americans sat at lights with their foot on the clutch. VW began fitting roller bearings on their U.S. export cars. Apparently Europeans knew to only depress the clutch long enough to change gears.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 313
Likes: 84
From: Central KY
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 313
Likes: 84
From: Central KY
I'm not hearing anything. I'm referring to the quoted post.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 278
From: USA
HD put out service bulletin M1304 for all 07 and later twin cams which states:
"When a motorcycle is at operating temperature and in neutral, a rattling sound may be heard on the right side coming from the area of the transmission side cover. This sound is normal and is referred to as neutral rattle. To verify the sound is neutral rattle, pull in the clutch lever and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. If the sound stops, it is neutral rattle. Neutral rattle is caused by the necessary backlash within the first gear pair."
"When a motorcycle is at operating temperature and in neutral, a rattling sound may be heard on the right side coming from the area of the transmission side cover. This sound is normal and is referred to as neutral rattle. To verify the sound is neutral rattle, pull in the clutch lever and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. If the sound stops, it is neutral rattle. Neutral rattle is caused by the necessary backlash within the first gear pair."
I had all the bearings replaced in the trans and primary along with a new compensater. Bike is like new now, smooth as ever but now has the neutral rattle.