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[glv1@comcast.net]

I have a 1992 Heritage Softail I bought last year and this is my first bike. I have recently notice a chirping noise coming from below it sounds like it is coming from the primary area. When the engine is in gear and driving at a steady speed of 20, 30, 40 mph etc. you can hear the chirping. When you pull in the clutch and just coast without touching the throttle the chirping goes away. Also, If you are stopped and in neutral you don't hear the sound but if you rev up the engine a little you can hear chirping from what seems to be the front of the primary. Beginning of the year I had bike went through and had the puck replaced and then the chain adjusted also the belt seems to be alighted correctly.

[ltank]

I would disconnect the battery ground, drain the primary oil and remove the outer primary cover. I would inspect the chain cold adjustment. Of chain is ok, then you can remove the clutch pressure plates and inspect all the fiber and metal plates to eliminate any questions as to if it was anything to do with the primary. Pretty easy to do.

[glv1@comcast.net]

I would disconnect the battery ground, drain the primary oil and remove the outer primary cover. I would inspect the chain cold adjustment. Of chain is ok, then you can remove the clutch pressure plates and inspect all the fiber and metal plates to eliminate any questions as to if it was anything to do with the primary. Pretty easy to do.

Thanks, I will try that. One more question. In the primary where the crank comes in, should I check that area also?

[iski]

Something else that can cause this noise is the belt.  Can be belt alignment issues.  Have also corrected the chirp by dressing the inside of the belt with a thin coat of HD poly oil.  On my Road King this chirp was very annoying.  A tech in Asheville NC at the HD shop put poly oil on the belt & the chirp stopped immediately.  Had to do this every year or 2 when it reoccurred.

[ltank]

My FXR4 has over 65k miles on a S&S rear belt, it has never chirped or needed anything sprayed on it. Belt still looks great!

[Puzzled]

I chased a belt chirp for close to two years. As already posted some belt dressing temporarily solved the problem. In my case the rear aftermarket pulley was the culprit. I changed the pulley back to the stock one and never heard the chirp again. I'm sure the thread with me chasing the noise is still here somewhere.

https://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=6420.0

[coloradotom]

Pretty sure getting the chirp while being stopped and in neutral precludes the belt from being the culprit.

[glv1@comcast.net]

Something else that can cause this noise is the belt.  Can be belt alignment issues.  Have also corrected the chirp by dressing the inside of the belt with a thin coat of HD poly oil.  On my Road King this chirp was very annoying.  A tech in Asheville NC at the HD shop put poly oil on the belt & the chirp stopped immediately.  Had to do this every year or 2 when it reoccurred.

It could not be the belt because "If you are stopped and in neutral you don't hear the sound but if you rev up the engine a little you can hear chirping from what seems to be the front of the primary." belt is not moving.

[Puzzled]

Pretty sure getting the chirp while being stopped and in neutral precludes the belt from being the culprit.

Yes that is true.

The thread may give direction as to what I checked.

[glv1@comcast.net]

I chased a belt chirp for close to two years. As already posted some belt dressing temporarily solved the problem. In my case the rear aftermarket pulley was the culprit. I changed the pulley back to the stock one and never heard the chirp again. I'm sure the thread with me chasing the noise is still here somewhere.

https://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=6420.0

It could not be the belt because "If you are stopped and in neutral you don't hear the sound but if you rev up the engine a little you can hear chirping from what seems to be the front of the primary." pully is not moving.

[glv1@comcast.net]

I would disconnect the battery ground, drain the primary oil and remove the outer primary cover. I would inspect the chain cold adjustment. Of chain is ok, then you can remove the clutch pressure plates and inspect all the fiber and metal plates to eliminate any questions as to if it was anything to do with the primary. Pretty easy to do.

Would the chain or plates move while in neutral?

[ltank]

Some older clutch baskets have a screwed up plate that breaks. Off hand I can not think of the part's technical name. If you open your primary and remove your clutch plates the problem should be obvious.  When that part fails it leaves debris that rattles inside your clutch hub assembly.

[ltank]

In these clutches, they have a Spring plate that looks like two steel plates together with brass bearings in between the two plates. These are what fail and makes the noise. If they go out completely it falls apart and locks up the clutch and chews up the clutch basket too. This Spring plate is in the middle of the clutch plates. The cheap fix is to remove it and replace it with a thick steel plate.

[ltank]

You may be able to squeeze a steel plate and another friction plate.
Just be sure to stagger steel -fiber - steel plates etc. Good luck.
Hope this fixes it.

[ltank]

I hope this helps

http://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com/harley-davidson-spring-plate/