Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[harleyguynv]

I've written about this in another thread but thought I would give an update here. I had the gaskets changed at 5500 miles due to leaking. Bike has 6700 miles on it now and gaskets are leaking again. I have my 07 SEUC in for the head recall. I have been complaining about the knocking/tapping sound between 2500-3000 rpms when hot to the dealer for some time. The service manager rode the bike and agreed it was not your normal tapping sound. He called Harley and discussed it with them and they have determined it is normal and caused by the pistons. He said the pistons are very short (basically have no skirts) and this is causing the noise. He said it will run 100,000 miles with no problems. While the bike is apart the dealer measured the cylinders to see if the liners had moved. The factory said as long as they are under .006 they are within spec and they will not replace the cylinders or pistons under any circumstance. My rear one was .0045. The dealer felt the cylinders should be replaced and called Harley about it and they said no to replacing them and don't fudge the numbers because they will be checking all parts that are sent back and if they are not at least .006, they will backcharge the dealer. I guess the dealers have to send back all parts including gaskets that are warrantied on the 110's. Anyway I called customer service to discuss this noise and leaking issue. They assured me that the new gaskets will take care of all leaking problems. As far as the noise goes he said the company has taken a stand now that it is normal. I let him know I have a friend with an 07 SERK that does not make the noise. I let him know the noise I am hearing is extremely loud and not normal, period. After discussing it at great length, he talked to the people at Harley and they decided to replace the pistons and cylinders. However, they told me it will probably make the same noise and it is normal and they are only doing this for customer satisfaction. I had to agree that if it is still making the noise it is normal. So I agreed... I have to say Harley is trying to do the right thing here. 

[Twolanerider]

I've written about this in another thread but thought I would give an update here. I had the gaskets changed at 5500 miles due to leaking. Bike has 6700 miles on it now and gaskets are leaking again. I have my 07 SEUC in for the head recall. I have been complaining about the knocking/tapping sound between 2500-3000 rpms when hot to the dealer for some time. The service manager rode the bike and agreed it was not your normal tapping sound. He called Harley and discussed it with them and they have determined it is normal and caused by the pistons. He said the pistons are very short (basically have no skirts) and this is causing the noise. He said it will run 100,000 miles with no problems. While the bike is apart the dealer measured the cylinders to see if the liners had moved. The factory said as long as they are under .006 they are within spec and they will not replace the cylinders or pistons under any circumstance. My rear one was .0045. The dealer felt the cylinders should be replaced and called Harley about it and they said no to replacing them and don't fudge the numbers because they will be checking all parts that are sent back and if they are not at least .006, they will backcharge the dealer. I guess the dealers have to send back all parts including gaskets that are warrantied on the 110's. Anyway I called customer service to discuss this noise and leaking issue. They assured me that the new gaskets will take care of all leaking problems. As far as the noise goes he said the company has taken a stand now that it is normal. I let him know I have a friend with an 07 SERK that does not make the noise. I let him know the noise I am hearing is extremely loud and not normal, period. After discussing it at great length, he talked to the people at Harley and they decided to replace the pistons and cylinders. However, they told me it will probably make the same noise and it is normal and they are only doing this for customer satisfaction. I had to agree that if it is still making the noise it is normal. So I agreed... I have to say Harley is trying to do the right thing here. 

Many had a joyful noise because of rocker arms hitting rocker boxes.  That was very common for a lot of the production run.  Have them eyeball for all clearance up there very very closely.

[harleyguynv]

Yes, they checked the rocker boxes the first time I had it in for the gasket repair at 5500 miles. They say they are ok. I am having them look at it again just to be sure. Again, the dealer talked to the head of drivetrains at Harley and they say the noise is caused by the short pistons. They say is is not a problem, just another noise that is normal with these larger engines. We will see if putting the new pistons and cylinders helps quiet it down at all. If not I will have to live with it I guess. I feel Harley is stepping up on this one.

[Muddywaters]

Muddywaters,
No need to start a new thread when one is already existing about the subject. Having one thread w/all the information together is much easier to follow. Thanks.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Fired00d: Thanks for the move! No wonder I could not find my post last night. I found the thread 8 pages into the General section. Kool!!

Harleyguynv: very interesting, what to do?
TwoLaneRider: Yep, will have them look at the boxes when we do the 906 issue. Seems like it was a good idea to take out the extra 5 year warr.! Have to say though..sure like this bike...loooks good and runs like a bat out of he$$, mind the noise and brake squeal. Muddy

[harleyguynv]

I meant to add that if the rockers were hitting common sense would tell me I would hear it all the time. This knocking/tapping sound is rpm sensitive between 2500-3300 rpms, only when the engine gets warmed up. The hotter the bike gets the louder the sound. I know common sense doesn't always work in these cases.

[Muddywaters]

I meant to add that if the rockers were hitting common sense would tell me I would hear it all the time. This knocking/tapping sound is rpm sensitive between 2500-3300 rpms, only when the engine gets warmed up. The hotter the bike gets the louder the sound. I know common sense doesn't always work in these cases.

Thanks harleyguynv! Yes this does make common sense...but none the less, very strange. On the same token, if it is the shorter pistons, why does in not make the noise all the time? Is your engine being worked on as we speak? Needless to say, sure hope to hear your report! Thanks Muddy

[harleyguynv]

Yes, I am supposed to get it back no later than Friday. I am riding to Big Bear Ca. Saturday for the weekend. I would like to get it back a day or two early so I can but some miles on it before I leave.

[Hoist!]

The lower RPM noise could very well be piston slap and/or lifter noise. The rocker box interference would usually be heard at higher RPM's or whacking the throttle quickly. Rocker box noise is more like a "plinking" resembling "pinging", not "Rat-at Tat"!

Hoist!

[harleyguynv]

The best way I can explain the noise is it sounds like the rods knocking in my old 68 442 when I spun a rod bearing. Remember those days? It is a metal to metal sound only in the specific rpm range when warmed up. It is not the normal lifter noise you get on every Harley I have owned. I talked to the service Mgr today and they will be putting my bike together tomorrow. I asked him to check the flywheel endplay just to be sure it is within spec. I have been told that flywheel endplay can cause a knocking sound. Harley says it is the pistons but I just want to have every base covered that I can.

[harleyguynv]

I got my bike back late yesterday and rode it about 80 miles. It is to soon to draw conclusions but so far I can say the knocking sound I was getting between 2500-3300 is gone. I will say I have allot more valve train noise, IE lifter noise with the new heads. I would rather have the lifter noise than the other noise I was experiencing. At least I know it is considered somewhat normal. I have my fingers crossed that the new cylinders and pistons/rings fixed the knocking sound. I did have them check the flywheel end play and they said it was ok. I'm taking it out today to put a few more miles on it before I head out for the weekend to Big Bear, Ca. I hope everyone has a safe weekend. Ride sale!!

[harleyguynv]

For anyone who cares I now have about 800 miles on her since I had the work done. I have a just little more valve train noise than before. (not bad though) The knocking noise between 2500-3300 rpms is gone. I changed the oil today and checked the plugs and looked inside the air cleaner. The plugs are burning a nice dark/tan color and I have no oil carryover. I followed Harley's brake-in proceedure for the first 500 miles. I am very happy with the results so far. I will take it back to Dyno-Jet in another 700 miles or so to see how much difference the tune is from before. (I have a power commander it) Harley says there should not be any difference but I am sure it varies a little. We shall see....

[seultra07]

Great site and thread.  Just found it a couple of weeks ago.  If I knew half of what you guys do about engines.  Here is my story.

1st bike is a 2003 Vrod, just picked up a 2007 SE Ultra in April so the wife can ride more comfortably...  Like the juice and chrome so went with the SE 110.  Now I wonder.  Bike was the dealerships owners own ride (although SoCal and I live in NorCal).  Had 3500 miles on it.  I put about 1200 miles on it and one day the oil pressure went to zero and engine light came on.  Dealer picked it up, after a week said the crankshaft was out of whack and HD was replacing the engine with a new one (same time the recall came out in August).  Old bike was fairly quiet except for of course the thunderheader slip-ons (sweet sound).  Just got the bike back, have about 200 miles on the new engine and I have the sound everyone else is talking about on this one.  Dealer said the new engine came off the line a few weeks ago with all the right updates.  I hear it around 2000-3000 rpm but more when it is warming up.  When the engine heats up is goes away a bit (e.g. after 15 minutes on the highway).  Only is quiet when I shift early and am easy on the throttle or hit it fairly hard (although I still hear it a bit then).  Going to swing it back by the dealer shortly, was hoping to make it to 500 miles for a oil change.  Hate to have them open a brand new engine up, not sure if this is going to go away...  Other than that I really like the bike.

Also, the thing gets ridiculously hot.  I saw a HD fan you can mount on the engine to help cool it off (especially on 90+ degree days and sitting at long CA lights!).  Anyone have experience with this or is it just a waste of money?