lifter nose
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: canfield,ohio
lifter nose
on my 2011 road glide 103 the front cylinder when i start it i can here a lifter tapping lightly and it does not go away , but it is very lightly ,i do have about 3300 miles on this oil ,its amsoil full synthetic,i still have 3 months left on the warranty. just wondering if i might have a lifter problem starting.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 448
Some top end noise is completely normal with these engines. I used to get worried about it also but I've learned that all that noise is normal. Did this just start or maybe you just really noticed it so your attention is now drawn to it when the bike runs. If it doesn't get any worse I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. These engines are often more top end noisy with synthetic oil.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 5
From: CT
on my 2011 road glide 103 the front cylinder when i start it i can here a lifter tapping lightly and it does not go away , but it is very lightly ,i do have about 3300 miles on this oil ,its amsoil full synthetic,i still have 3 months left on the warranty. just wondering if i might have a lifter problem starting.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
It's not the oil. How do you know it's a lifter? Have you listened with a something to help you isolate the knocking? You mention the front cylinder. It could be several things other than lifters. Harleys make a lot of racket, so don't be alarmed at odd noises from time to time. If they go away, forget about them. If they don't, then do what you are doing and try to track it down. The dealer is most likely to say it's normal. (wow, go figure).
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 5
From: CT
I have had dealers tell me not to use synthetic cuz it's noisier. Not sure how syn 20w-50 can be noisier than dino of the same weight. Must be the sound amplifying properties of syn. Ha! Disclaimer: this is not intended to start another synthetic oil thread!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
now back to the rattle's and taps, ticks and clicks.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 5
From: CT
reason syn vs dino oil and noise. Syn oil on a molecular level all molecules are the same size, they do not fill voids and pockets as well as dino oil with various size molecules. This is just a quickie on the topic so you have an idea to look further and understand.
now back to the rattle's and taps, ticks and clicks.
now back to the rattle's and taps, ticks and clicks.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 36
From: tx
most of that rattling and clicking may not be lifters,I thought the same thing for the last 2000 miles,was the compensator,now no more noise any worse than my o5
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: dual locations: wash. & az.
This is a "COULD BE".
If you are not an aggressive rider, the carbon CAN build up on top the piston and get a light compression Knock in that cylinder.
Did you pull the spark plugs and visual check them?
If it showed signs of black carbon inside the porcelain area, that could be it.
Taking off the air filter and a sprayer bottle with water****At fast idle, squirt water Mist into the venture of the intake. Keep motor running about 2ooo RPM. Make sure nothing is behind the exhaust when you do this as lots of carbon will come out.
This can be done BEFORE that next oil change, just to clean out the carbon.
I always put in a set of adjustable SE Slender Tapered push rods on any bike I own and suggest to do so to others like you... IF that front cylinder has a Tic from one of the lifters, a adjustable p-rod will benefit that lifter by a little more Pre-load on it.
signed....REDHEAD
If you are not an aggressive rider, the carbon CAN build up on top the piston and get a light compression Knock in that cylinder.
Did you pull the spark plugs and visual check them?
If it showed signs of black carbon inside the porcelain area, that could be it.
Taking off the air filter and a sprayer bottle with water****At fast idle, squirt water Mist into the venture of the intake. Keep motor running about 2ooo RPM. Make sure nothing is behind the exhaust when you do this as lots of carbon will come out.
This can be done BEFORE that next oil change, just to clean out the carbon.
I always put in a set of adjustable SE Slender Tapered push rods on any bike I own and suggest to do so to others like you... IF that front cylinder has a Tic from one of the lifters, a adjustable p-rod will benefit that lifter by a little more Pre-load on it.
signed....REDHEAD