| Author | Message | ||
     Ktmguy |
Curious about sound, seems like a ticking / knocking coming from the front..perhaps valve area. Its only really noticable in the 2600 to 3100 rpm range, and seems really most noticable when its cruising in that range when its barely working. if I accelerate and go through the gears I dont think I hear it. From waht I can tell I cant really hear it at a stand still, or if so its very much muted . Being paranoid about crank bearngs and having 24000 miles on it, I listened pretty closily and did not hear any knock at idle on the right side, and none on the primary side. If I heard anything it would be at rpm at on the primary side, and I mean barely. I know th emotors are noisy to begin with. Im going to check the horn today, and the primary chain again today and see if that c ould be it. I have also read about the adjusting shoe sometimes making similar noises, How do I check that? It runs great, the noise really disappears after 3200 or so and I dont hear it any more. I did change get gas froma different station than usual the other day, or perhaps changing to winter gas could do something? Im horrified it could be something extreme like bottom end bearings, but im not leaning that way, yet! Any advice appreciated as Im still getting my feet wet with this bike, and understand these are noisy bikes! | ||
| Hughlysses |
If it's limited to an RPM range like that, odds are good it's just the horn knocking against the inside of the flyscreen. The horn is mounted on a flexible steel bracket. On many as-delivered Ulys this bracket allows the horn to vibrate enough at certain RPM ranges that it will hit the inside of that plastic flyscreen and produce a loud tapping noise. Remove the flyscreen (eight 1/8" allen screws IIRC) and look on the back to see if the horn's been hitting against it- you'll see a mark if it has been. Usually you can just bend the bracket backwards enough so that it can't flex forward far enough to hit the flyscreen. Easy fix- no worries. | ||
| Ktmguy |
Pulled the cover and checked the horn. didnt really see any marks on the back of the fly screen, but it was kinda grungy and hard to tell, it did have hard plastic connector directly behind it that rattled when I tapped the horn, but I bent it back a tad anyway. Chain seems o.k.. Supposed to tighten or loosen after warm? Right now Im seeing it a tad above the site hole when I push up on it when cold after sitting overnight. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Never heard of primary chain causing notable noise but it will cause vibration. Chain gets tighter when hot. Cold adjustment is 1/2" movement IIRC. Push down on it, then push up on it. Total movement should be 1/2". Turn engine a few degrees and re-check, at least 3 or 4 times. Adjustment should be checked at tightest point(s). | ||
| Ktmguy |
Well, I took it for a 20 mile 30 minute ride on country roads, certainly enough to get the engine good and warm, and the noise seems barely noticable if at all now. I also stopped and put in gas from my normal gas station since my fuel light was on. Pre-detonation maybe? Seems plausible, I dont know. I also took off my rear bags (left the top case on) as I had put them on recently and dont normally run with them on. And as mentioned I did bend the horn back a tad, but didnt really see where it had been hitting. In short, Im stumped, but it seems better at least on this one ride? | ||
| Xbimmer |
My handguards rattle, my triple tail rattles, my mirrors rattle, my wiring under the flyscreen rattles, my steering lock rattles, my toolbag in the left case rattles, my windscreen rattles on the flyscreen, and I've got a rattly lifter I've been listening to for 30K. My horn would still be rattling but I removed it a couple weeks ago and mounted dual Fiamms outside, and they shake so bad at those RPM's you mentioned I'm sure the brackets won't last long. At 85K I've given up... | ||
| Ktmguy |
xbimmer, Thanks , you just lightened my mind over the whole thing! You know how it is, you hear something, and typically you begin thinking the worst, when 8 out of 10 times, it's either normal or easily explained. (Message edited by ktmguy on October 20, 2012) | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I almost always ride with etymotic earphones blasting music. Recently I went out without them and for the first ten miles I kept thinking "what the hell's THIS noise? what's THAT one?" | ||
| Tootal |
If you're worried about the crank, it will make the most noise at idle when your oil pressure is the lowest. | ||
| Ktmguy |
Well the noise is still there. I noticed it after alot of town riding where it got good and warm. I still dont think its crank related I dont really here it at idle, mostly at the RPMS mentioned, and primarily when its not loaded much. For instance if im in those rpm ranges and im at 1/2 throttle in third gear (or any other gear) accelerating, then I dont really hear it.. If im at those RPMS in 3rd gear and kinda cruising without much load, I hear it. I do not hear it in 5th gear, I believ primarily because theres more load on the motor in 5th at those rpms. Bike runs fantastic. Fresh oil, HD synthetic 20/50. Maybe its predetonating, but that would be worse under load I would think? | ||
| Ktmguy |
Researching has found that some culprits may be a Bent pushrod, possibly a loose primary sprocket, crank bearings (again Im hoping its not crank related, its quiet at idle) Or just plain ole noisy engine? Sprocket being loose wouldnt change as the bike got warmer I suspect.. and again, while under load its pretty quiet.. Hmmmm. | ||
| Bud |
little piston pin play ? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Loose primary nut will be noisy with no load and get quiet with load. You'd hear it at idle and you can check it by easing out on the clutch with the bike in gear which will cause the noise to go away. Your symptoms don't seem to match that. | ||
| Ktmguy |
O.k, so I have done some more research and listened to some videos on here and I truly believe it to be valvetrain noise.. But why only noticable at those RPMS, and why does it go away underload? I'm thinking Oil Pressure? Although I have never had a light come on? | ||
| Hughlysses |
IIRC, it only takes 10 PSI or so to make the oil light go out. These engines don't require much oil pressure because of the roller bearing bottom end. I'd suggest you change the oil and filter if you haven't already. Some Uly owners report greatly diminished valve train noise using dino oil instead of synthetic; that might be worth trying. | ||
| Ktmguy |
Yea, just changed the oil about 200 miles ago..Hmm Coincidence? Im using the Harley synthetic 20/50 that the PO was using. |
