Solutions for valvetrain noise!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Where our Gov. makes our license plates
I got a question for everyone. How many people have top end noise with a stock motor, vs motors with adjustable push rods and cam work? The common thought seems to lean towards oil being the only thing that will quit the motors noise. I've owned 2 Evos and 2 Twin cam bikes. All had the batwing fairings and the amount of motor noise was different on all of them. When cold all seemed relatively quiet, but as the got hot the noise started. What I think is the caused is , different metals expand at different rates. The cylinders are made from different materials then the cams and pushrods,gears and chains, valve springs and other parts found in the heads. Some parts don't "stretch" as much as others and become looser fitting, then when cold. Thicker oil might mask the sound, but doesn't actually correct the cause. Some guys say they tighten their push rods a hair more then the instructions say to, and there noise level is lower. Guys with stock push rods don't have that option and are forced to live with the noise. Someone mentioned Pan head motor noise earlier, my '48 pan had what looked to be felt pads glued to the inside of the valve cover. I'm thinking this was 1) to allow more oil to drip on the rocker arms and 2) muffle some of the noise. Just another view on this topic.,,
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
The Redline 20/60 did not cure the enormous Singer sewing machine noise my engine makes after it's heated up...Sounds great when you first start it after sitting overnight or after say 1/2 an hour after running it hard. Once that oil heats up, forget it. No tapping and clacking sound, just the sewing machine racket. It's embarrassing when you pull into a parking lot and people are drawn to the noise.
For me, it's ear plugs and volume adjustment on my radio, What Noise????
Not going to play around with pushrod adjustments until this winter since the bike "appears" to be running fine. Don't want to adjust nothing prior to a big trip.
I have postponed my Tail of the Dragon Trip now twice and I'm hoping to go next weekend if the weather cuts me a break.
Question, since the 20/60 didn't help, do think some Lucas Treatment may??
For me, it's ear plugs and volume adjustment on my radio, What Noise????
Not going to play around with pushrod adjustments until this winter since the bike "appears" to be running fine. Don't want to adjust nothing prior to a big trip.
I have postponed my Tail of the Dragon Trip now twice and I'm hoping to go next weekend if the weather cuts me a break.
Question, since the 20/60 didn't help, do think some Lucas Treatment may??
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
Sounds great when you first start it after sitting overnight or after say 1/2 an hour after running it hard. Once that oil heats up, forget it. No tapping and clacking sound, just the sewing machine racket. It's embarrassing when you pull into a parking lot and people are drawn to the noise.
For me, it's ear plugs and volume adjustment on my radio, What Noise???
For me, it's ear plugs and volume adjustment on my radio, What Noise???
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
The Redline 20/60 did not cure the enormous Singer sewing machine noise my engine makes after it's heated up...Sounds great when you first start it after sitting overnight or after say 1/2 an hour after running it hard. Once that oil heats up, forget it. No tapping and clacking sound, just the sewing machine racket. It's embarrassing when you pull into a parking lot and people are drawn to the noise.
For me, it's ear plugs and volume adjustment on my radio, What Noise????
Not going to play around with pushrod adjustments until this winter since the bike "appears" to be running fine. Don't want to adjust nothing prior to a big trip.
I have postponed my Tail of the Dragon Trip now twice and I'm hoping to go next weekend if the weather cuts me a break.
Question, since the 20/60 didn't help, do think some Lucas Treatment may??
For me, it's ear plugs and volume adjustment on my radio, What Noise????
Not going to play around with pushrod adjustments until this winter since the bike "appears" to be running fine. Don't want to adjust nothing prior to a big trip.
I have postponed my Tail of the Dragon Trip now twice and I'm hoping to go next weekend if the weather cuts me a break.
Question, since the 20/60 didn't help, do think some Lucas Treatment may??
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,173
From: Oxford, Nc
So he talked me out of it and I just did another 5,000 service running Mobil V-Twin in the summer (15W-50 in the winter - it flows way faster in the cold,) which I've run for the last 80,000 miles.
I've got the quieter 95" '00 short stroke motor ( that doesn't run as hot as newer bikes,) relatively mild Andrews 26 cams, and recently shimmed rocker arms.
When it's 80 degrees or so, the motor sounds great, just a slight "sewing machine through a bedroom wall" sound that I can certainly live with.
But yesterday it hit 94* and I rode to Greensboro HD for their summer bash on backroads (nice ride, 75 degrees) then over to Burlington HD for their girl contest (hammer down across I-40 with temps around 90.)
When I pulled into Dealer #2 I thought my damn compensator had come loose again, it was making so much racket! I rode it home carefully, and then went out this morning (70 degrees) for 40 miles and the bike sounds good again. I give up.....
So I suspect that if you go with heavier additives, the additional wear on the motor won't be worth it when that motor is going to make a racket when it gets hot anyway.
Me? I'm just gonna' ride the damn thing.
Last edited by Stiggy; Jul 21, 2013 at 05:38 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
As some guys know, I spoke with Cameron at Red Line when we all started talking about heavier oils on this thread last month. I pointed out to him that their website posts the popularity of the heavier 20W-60 among Twin Cam users but RedLine still doesn't recommend it. They say it's only for the looser toleranced Shovels / Pans etc. The bottom line was that he claims reports of premature wear in Twinkies because it takes too long for the heavy oil to flow properly. ( That's when the motor sounds so good apparently.)
So he talked me out of it and I just did another 5,000 service running Mobil V-Twin in the summer (15W-50 in the winter - it flows way faster in the cold,) which I've run for the last 80,000 miles.
I've got the quieter 95" '00 short stroke motor ( that doesn't run as hot as newer bikes,) relatively mild Andrews 26 cams, and recently shimmed rocker arms.
When it's 80 degrees or so, the motor sounds great, just a slight "sewing machine through a bedroom wall" sound that I can certainly live with.
But yesterday it hit 94* and I rode to Greensboro HD for their summer bash on backroads (nice ride, 75 degrees) then over to Burlington HD for their girl contest (hammer down across I-40 with temps around 90.)
When I pulled into Dealer #2 I thought my damn compensator had come loose again, it was making so much racket! I rode it home carefully, and then went out this morning (70 degrees) for 40 miles and the bike sounds good again. I give up.....
So I suspect that if you go with heavier additives, the additional wear on the motor won't be worth it when that motor is going to make a racket when it gets hot anyway.
Me? I'm just gonna' ride the damn thing.
So he talked me out of it and I just did another 5,000 service running Mobil V-Twin in the summer (15W-50 in the winter - it flows way faster in the cold,) which I've run for the last 80,000 miles.
I've got the quieter 95" '00 short stroke motor ( that doesn't run as hot as newer bikes,) relatively mild Andrews 26 cams, and recently shimmed rocker arms.
When it's 80 degrees or so, the motor sounds great, just a slight "sewing machine through a bedroom wall" sound that I can certainly live with.
But yesterday it hit 94* and I rode to Greensboro HD for their summer bash on backroads (nice ride, 75 degrees) then over to Burlington HD for their girl contest (hammer down across I-40 with temps around 90.)
When I pulled into Dealer #2 I thought my damn compensator had come loose again, it was making so much racket! I rode it home carefully, and then went out this morning (70 degrees) for 40 miles and the bike sounds good again. I give up.....
So I suspect that if you go with heavier additives, the additional wear on the motor won't be worth it when that motor is going to make a racket when it gets hot anyway.
Me? I'm just gonna' ride the damn thing.
Your right on the noise, my motor sounds the same now as it did on the 20/50 Mobil 1.
If I was running straight 60W I could possible see a problem down the road but the 20/60 starts off the same and may or not build to a full 60W. I'll dump it anyway in the fall after I readjust my pushrods.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
My top end noise must have something to do with why my bike won't rev past 2600 rpm in 6th gear at 70mph.....Maybe the pushrods are that loose and the valves aren't opening enough? Roll on is good in every gear but 6th.....Fuel milage was in the toilet at 35mph running at 70-75 mph.
Just got back from Maggie Valley area and something is very wrong. Stopped at Colonial HD in Virginia (1st Class Operation). Their master tech said he never heard a twin cam make that much top end noise. He said possible cam chain tensioners (Zippers Duel Pistons) or pushrod adjustment (SE Tapered Adjustables), VThunder 850's lifers at 3 full turns.
Thing is, when cold the thrashing sound is not there. Get it hot and it's crazy noisy.
The Redline 20/60 oil did nothing for the sound.
Pulling the pushrods tomorrow to examine and will reinstall and adjust. Hoping I don't have to go back into the cam chest but who knows.
Anyone have any other suggestions on what to pull apart and check? With the noise the top end is making, I'm ready to douse the bike with fuel and light a match.....Yeah, it's that bad when hot......
Just got back from Maggie Valley area and something is very wrong. Stopped at Colonial HD in Virginia (1st Class Operation). Their master tech said he never heard a twin cam make that much top end noise. He said possible cam chain tensioners (Zippers Duel Pistons) or pushrod adjustment (SE Tapered Adjustables), VThunder 850's lifers at 3 full turns.
Thing is, when cold the thrashing sound is not there. Get it hot and it's crazy noisy.
The Redline 20/60 oil did nothing for the sound.
Pulling the pushrods tomorrow to examine and will reinstall and adjust. Hoping I don't have to go back into the cam chest but who knows.
Anyone have any other suggestions on what to pull apart and check? With the noise the top end is making, I'm ready to douse the bike with fuel and light a match.....Yeah, it's that bad when hot......
