Print

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

[MadTrucker]

Hi Everyone,

I have a ’08 SE Ultra with 867 miles on it. Since the day I picked it up I’ve had a noise that appears to be coming from the top of the front cylinder. Sounds like a sewing machine to me (sorry, comes from years in the apparel business)

I’ve had everyone possible (right up to the regional service rep) look at this bike, all come back with the same response, “no abnormal noises for a high performance motor”. 

My question is, does anyone else have the same problem and have you been able to have it resolved at the dealer?

I’ve read a few post that refer to “Rocker box clearance issues” and mentioned this to the dealer / MoCo service rep, only to fall on deaf ears. 

[TJ]

I've heard some noise in my top end also to me just seems like normal valve noise. In my 03 I have a Andrews g60 and they sound similar except for the whine of the gear drive on the 03.

[Twolanerider]

Hi Everyone,

I have a ’08 SE Ultra with 867 miles on it. Since the day I picked it up I’ve had a noise that appears to be coming from the top of the front cylinder. Sounds like a sewing machine to me (sorry, comes from years in the apparel business)

I’ve had everyone possible (right up to the regional service rep) look at this bike, all come back with the same response, “no abnormal noises for a high performance motor”. 

My question is, does anyone else have the same problem and have you been able to have it resolved at the dealer?

I’ve read a few post that refer to “Rocker box clearance issues” and mentioned this to the dealer / MoCo service rep, only to fall on deaf ears. 

Many (many many many) of the 110s had clearance problems with the rocker boxes.  The issue seemed to have faded away with later production.  That in no way means, however, that whatever intern that is assigned to manually grind a little extra clearance on boxes for CVO purposes didn't miss one.

[Black Label Mark]

On my '08 Ultra it seemed to quite down after I put on some more miles or maybe I just got used to the noise.  Also, doesn't the fairing amplify some of the engine noise?

[d o g o l s]

Hi Everyone,

I have a ’08 SE Ultra with 867 miles on it. Since the day I picked it up I’ve had a noise that appears to be coming from the top of the front cylinder. Sounds like a sewing machine to me (sorry, comes from years in the apparel business)

I’ve had everyone possible (right up to the regional service rep) look at this bike, all come back with the same response, “no abnormal noises for a high performance motor”. 

My question is, does anyone else have the same problem and have you been able to have it resolved at the dealer?

I’ve read a few post that refer to “Rocker box clearance issues” and mentioned this to the dealer / MoCo service rep, only to fall on deaf ears. 

go to other dealer

[grc]

Hi Everyone,

I have a ’08 SE Ultra with 867 miles on it. Since the day I picked it up I’ve had a noise that appears to be coming from the top of the front cylinder. Sounds like a sewing machine to me (sorry, comes from years in the apparel business)

I’ve had everyone possible (right up to the regional service rep) look at this bike, all come back with the same response, “no abnormal noises for a high performance motor”. 

My question is, does anyone else have the same problem and have you been able to have it resolved at the dealer?

I’ve read a few post that refer to “Rocker box clearance issues” and mentioned this to the dealer / MoCo service rep, only to fall on deaf ears. 

Since when is 0.8 hp per cubic inch a "high performance motor"?     Those folks need to get out more often.

Suggestion:  get a mechanics stethoscope (auto parts stores, Sears, etc.) and see if you can isolate the noise to one cylinder, and then to one specific location.  If this is a "normal" amount of noise (and a certain amount is indeed normal), it shouldn't be significantly worse on one cylinder than the other.  As mentioned by others previously, there was a problem in early production with the valve spring rubbing the rocker box; if your noise can be isolated to only one valve in one head, I would definitely insist that the dealer pull that rocker cover and check for clearance.  Another approach I personally like is to have the dealer / service rep let you ride/listen to other bikes with the same equipment for comparison.  If the noise is indeed "normal", they should be happy to let you listen to other engines.  If they don't have another 110 Ultra you could ride, they could at least let you listen to whatever 110's they do have on hand.

BTW - the fairing and lowers on these bikes will in fact allow much more noise to reach your ears.  I can hear a difference on my bike just by opening and then closing the vents in the lowers, and that's with a full face helmet muffling some of the sound.  

Jerry

[sedyna]

yea my bike has been in 3 times for the front jug noise.. i have the 07 SE Dyna, sert,dyno, Vance and heins short shots, se big sucker..its a rapping sound, and sometime gets louder.. real loud. mine uses alot of oil too.. a qt every 1000 mi.. my dealer says its all normal! they even rode it for a week.. its using alot of oil. and lost power after i installed the SE big sucker. i had them dyno it again to compare to the first dyno run. lost 5hp.. but they are afraid to tare it down i think. they are looking for a complete failure. they called tech support and they said its cause of the short pipes so I'm giving up.. done with the Harley dealer-- your not alone. blow it up

[bamaserk]

Just had my 08 SERK in for the front and rear head gaskets replaced.  The dealer knew about the clearance issues with the rocker boxes and while they had the bike apart, they put some reliefs into the boxes to clear the valve train parts.  I never really had much noise, but now my top end is perfectly quiet. 

[UglyJohn]

Had same issues. Dealer found that the clearance was not enough and they did some grinding. Also, I had them put adjustable push rods in. Also, 25% of the noise went away once I dumped the SE oil out and put in my own synthetic favorite. That was the last motor. The current motor seems to be very quiet, you can't even hear the valve train noise. I have other issues that I'm dealing with, but the motor is smooth.
Ugly John

[popper]

Same issue here too. I had the bike in the garage and my Son wanted to here it so I fired it up. It sounded good. A friend came over, same ting. The neighbors came over and started it un again. It was just idling when the nise started. It sounded like it was comming from between the cylinders. The dealer knew right away what it was and ground some more clearance in the rocker boxes. Sounds great now.

[Chief]

Same issue here too. I had the bike in the garage and my Son wanted to here it so I fired it up. It sounded good. A friend came over, same ting. The neighbors came over and started it un again. It was just idling when the nise started. It sounded like it was comming from between the cylinders. The dealer knew right away what it was and ground some more clearance in the rocker boxes. Sounds great now.

The problem so many of us were plagued with was the spring retainer for the intake valves actually striking the side of the rocker box, not the cover, but the box. There are some really good pictures on the site somewhere. The retainer will cut a little smiley face in the side of he box until it clearances itself. This is why the noise seems to lessen with some miles. When mine was in for the first head gasket repair, the tech clearanced the side of the box and the difference was amazing. I'd say 80% of the ticking just disappeared. It was a major grin moment. 

[Dan_Lockwood]

The problem so many of us were plagued with was the spring retainer for the intake valves actually striking the side of the rocker box, not the cover, but the box. There are some really good pictures on the site somewhere. The retainer will cut a little smiley face in the side of he box until it clearances itself. This is why the noise seems to lessen with some miles. When mine was in for the first head gasket repair, the tech clearanced the side of the box and the difference was amazing. I'd say 80% of the ticking just disappeared. It was a major grin moment. 

I haven't said anything yet about my new '08 SERK as it is brand new, almost.  It now has 1,002 miles on it and from day one between 2,400 to 2,900 rpms it sounds like that sewing machine mentioned in the first post. 

If I go over 3,000 rpms the noise goes away and if I'm just idling along, not lugging, at under 2,400 rpms it's nice and quiet.

I'm going to wait just a bit longer to get my 1,000 service just because of the cold weather here in St. Louis and I might still have a day or two to ride before spring.  But at the service I'll let the dealer know about it.  Even with this little rattle, comparing it to my last ride, a '76 FLH shovelhead, this motor sounds oh so quiet.

It may be interference of the valve spring keeper rubbing on the rocker, but because of the very specific rpms range the noise comes in at, I'd be a bit leery of writing it off as a rocker box scrapping.

Time will tell what it is.

But now with my new exhaust installed last night, I may not even hear it..... Problem fixed!!!!!!

[Chief]

I haven't said anything yet about my new '08 SERK as it is brand new, almost.  It now has 1,002 miles on it and from day one between 2,400 to 2,900 rpms it sounds like that sewing machine mentioned in the first post. 

If I go over 3,000 rpms the noise goes away and if I'm just idling along, not lugging, at under 2,400 rpms it's nice and quiet.

I'm going to wait just a bit longer to get my 1,000 service just because of the cold weather here in St. Louis and I might still have a day or two to ride before spring.  But at the service I'll let the dealer know about it.  Even with this little rattle, comparing it to my last ride, a '76 FLH shovelhead, this motor sounds oh so quiet.

It may be interference of the valve spring keeper rubbing on the rocker, but because of the very specific rpms range the noise comes in at, I'd be a bit leery of writing it off as a rocker box scrapping.

Time will tell what it is.

But now with my new exhaust installed last night, I may not even hear it..... Problem fixed!!!!!!

Mine was also very RPM sensitive. IIRC, it was the worst right around 2,800. I sure thought they had gotten that taken care of, but maybe not. 

[Chief]

Here are the pics I was talking about. Thanks to Ghost Rider for these....





It doesn't take much to make a whole lot of noise. These are all from the intake valve on the inside of the rocker box, not the rocker box cover.

[Dan_Lockwood]

When you had yours "fixed", did it take care of the ticking?  It looks like from these pictures that about .080" of a grind out would take care of the issue.

I've not looked under a twin cam valve cover but from the area of the nick, it would appear that the interference is with the valve in its closed (full spring height).

I know it's wishful thinking that in this day and age of machining and engineering capabilities, that a motor of this type would be very quiet without rattles etc.

Thanks for the pictures.

I'll tell my dealer about it when I get the service.