| Author | Message | ||
     Dwardo |
I got my new 2002 Road King back from the dealer last night and was able to ride it about 20 miles (after forgetting to install the tag lol). Good things are: it handles well, engine pulls smoothly and well, clutch and gearbox are satisfactory except the clutch pull is too hard, brakes are decent. I'm not so happy with other things and I'd like some input on whether they are normal or need tinkering: It falls off to the left when I take my hands off the bars - normal?, it has a LOT of valve noise. I think it's just one valve - normal? It doesn't ride as smoothly as I thought it would, especially in the rear. I doubt there is any air in the shocks, so I can play with that a little. Lots of little rattles. I know one of the saddlebag lids is rattling. There is sort of high-pitched tinkling somewhere in the front. I almost think a muffler baffle is loose. What things are known to rattle? Also, the throttle cable has too much slack, which I know is a problem, and it doesn't seem to want to come back to idle quickly. I also think the idle is set too high but have no way to tell just now. BTW, it's injected. Any thoughts? Thanks. | ||
| Dwardo |
<bump> | ||
| Ponytail |
OK. I'll try to help, one item at a time. 1st off, it's a Harley. It's going to make top end noise. If you listen close enough, your Buell does to. It's the nature of the beast. Nothing to worry about, usually. It's also going to rattle stuff loose. Anything bolted on, and not thread locked WILL fall off. The pinging noise you hear up front MIGHT actually be detonation. Do you know if that bike had any iginition/programmimg mods done to it? This COULD also explain the high idle, if it is that high. Ask the dealer about it. Otherwise, it may be the heat guard rattling, or something else. The baffles are down under your feet, in the muffler portion of the exhaust. Harleys are set to idle a little higher than normal. A lugging Harley engine, although sounding cool, is REALLY bad for it. You can adjust that at the throttle body, but if you are unsure, ask the dealer. If you take the airbox off, you should be able to see the throttle control assembly, where BOTH cables attach to it. With the bike not running, slowly roll the throttle back and forth, and see if you can see any slack in the cables at the throttle body. There shouldn't be. If there is, the cables first need to be lubed, then adjusted to BARELY get that slack out. Adjustment is easily done at the other end, at the adjustment coupling, usually hidden under a rubber boot about 4 inches long somewhere along the cable length. You'll have to do both. If one is tighter than the other, THIS may cause the high idle too, depending on which one is tighter. Also, do you have a Thumb lock on the throttle itself? Make sure that is not dragging. That will make the throttle stick (per design), but if it's off, it needs to be all the way turned off. You don't want it dragging. (I took mine off completely). ALL of what you described except for the throttle cable issue, COULD be normal. But it's definitely worth asking about. As for the rear shocks, read you manual. They are adjustable for both spring rate and return. If they are too stiff, more than likely, you are much lighter than the guy that owned it before you. The clutch pull on the Harleys is normally really light. If yours is hard, it may have a high performance clutch in it which is common...though I haven't figured out why. I have the original clutch in my 10 year old Harley and it has Hi-perf heads, cam and exhaust on it...making quite a bit more horse power than stock. And so far, so good. But it is something else you may want to ask about. Compare yours (clutch pull) to some others that they have on the sales floor. Road Kings are NICE smooth riding bikes. Since this one was owned by someone else, it may take you a bit to get it to fit you, and since it's your first bagger, it may take you awhile to get used to it constantly "talking" to you. If the noise bothers you, then your exhaust isn't loud enough.  | ||
| Dwardo |
Thanks. I think part of the valve noise issue is that I never rode a bike with a windshield before. I can hear the engine really well. That said, I thought my M2 was the noisiest engine I ever heard but this one is noisier. I don't hear excessive noise with it idling but when riding it is quite loud, especially at about 30-40 in third gear. The tinkling is definitely not spark knock, but I can't locate it. I did find the the windshield fits rather loosely and that is probably some of the noise. I'm going to adjust the throttle tomorow. It sounds just like the same job on the M2. I m also going to remove the windshield and bags and see how much rattling goes away. | ||
| Dwardo |
Thanks. I think part of the valve noise issue is that I never rode a bike with a windshield before. I can hear the engine really well. That said, I thought my M2 was the noisiest engine I ever heard but this one is noisier. I don't hear excessive noise with it idling but when riding it is quite loud, especially at about 30-40 in third gear. The tinkling is definitely not spark knock, but I can't locate it. I did find the the windshield fits rather loosely and that is probably some of the noise. I'm going to adjust the throttle tomorow. It sounds just like the same job on the M2. I m also going to remove the windshield and bags and see how much rattling goes away. | ||
| Ponytail |
Ride a Harley with an Evo, and you'll appreciate your TC88 MUCH more.  | ||
| Pammy |
The "high pitched tinkling in the front", coupled with your idle issues could be indicative of a head gasket leak. Easy to check. It sometimes sounds like a chirping. You might check your exhaust gaskets as well. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I cured the 'fall off to the left' on my 94 RoadKing by adjusting the motor coupling tie bar things. I asked my dealership about it shortly after I got the bike and they said it "was normal" for the bike and had to do with the frame design and the weight of the clutch. Really. My immediate thought was "these MFers are effing morons" and my bike has not seen the inside of an official dealership since. So I adjusted the tie bars myself per the manual and it tracks straight as an arrow. (One of Dave's, of course!) The best way to handle the top end noise is the installation of louder pipes and take off the windshield. Just make sure it's the 'normal' (there's that word again) noise - maybe get some other opinions on it or listen to other bikes of the same type and compare. I weigh near 200# and I run no air in the back shocks unless I'm hauling extra stuff. Rides great. More air = stiffer ride and harsh ride quality, but req'd for 2-up and extra loads. That high pitched tinkling is likely the wire framus's that are part of the windshield detachable system. One on each side and invariably bent too far up and away from the rubber grommet they are supposed to rest somewhat tightly against. Vibrate harmonically at certain rpm's and will drive you batty 'til you realize what it is and bend 'em back tight. Do that enough and they'll snap off and cease the rattling. They only need to be lifted slightly to remove shield. Adjust cables like suggested above, and check for any bindage that might prevent quick throttle return. Lube the clutch cable and also check it for smooth routing, as any tight radius bends increased the drag on it and makes it harder to pull. Good luck with it and enjoy the ride! AL | ||
| Mark61 |
Clutch and throttle slow return could just need cables lubed. Check exhaust pipe covers. just a little loose and they make rattling noises. Also look for stuff bumping or making contact when the motor does it's shimmy from rubber mounts. The wind shield surely does magnify engine sounds! mark61 | ||
| Dwardo |
Well, this is getting interesting. I adjusted the throttle cables and that fixed the slop plus it now returns to idle properly. I put it on my lift last weekend and went over it. Everything seems to be in good condition. The drive belt appears to be adjusted withing factory spec but I have to say the factory spec seems tight. If anything the primary is a little on the tight side. I'm starting to wonder if the cam has been changed, which might account for the valve noise. It really rolls on the highway. 85mph is effortless. The kicker is, when I finally got a chance to compare it to a friend's 'glide, it is obvious that the front had been lowered as well as the rear. It's probably 2 inches lower. Since I removed the lowering blocks in the rear, that's not good. It turns in really quickly but the stability is a little marginal. A panic stop might be "interesting". I'm going to have to put the stock parts back in. Maybe there is an upgrade that is available and worth doing? Anyhow, that's where it is. |
