Print

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

[grc]

If it really was as simple as lengthening the pushrod by .030", or even .050", then why do you suppose Harley hasn't just changed to .030" or .050" oversize pushrods in production?  It would be a no additional cost change to them, and they and their dealers wouldn't have to listen to all those complaints anymore. 

The entire issue of noisy Harley valvetrains isn't that simple, and there is no single magic "fix". 

Jerry

[GMR-PERFORMANCE]

If it really was as simple as lengthening the pushrod by .030", or even .050", then why do you suppose Harley hasn't just changed to .030" or .050" oversize pushrods in production?  It would be a no additional cost change to them, and they and their dealers wouldn't have to listen to all those complaints anymore. 

The entire issue of noisy Harley valvetrains isn't that simple, and there is no single magic "fix". 

Jerry

  I agree Jerry

[TorqueInc]

  And yet still does not answer the question

[grc]

For those who think their Harley is way too noisy, I'd like to suggest a simple test they can perform at home that requires no mechanical skill and no expense.  Walk out to the car parked in your garage, fire up the engine, pull the hood release, walk to the front of the car, and open the hood.  Stand there for a few moments and listen to all the clacking and clattering and ticking you will find with most modern automotive engines these days.  Then close the hood, walk to the drivers door, get in and shut the door, then listen for a few moments again.  It's like magic, all that ticking and chattering is gone!  The valvetrain noise, the clicking injectors, the whoosh of the belts, and all that other stuff doesn't intrude on the cabin, thanks to sound deadening and the simple fact that you aren't sharing space with the engine like you are on your Harley.  Nonbelievers only have to mount a seat on top of that car engine and cruise down the road sitting on top of it to get a true apples to apples comparison.  And they would also find that engine and exhaust heat isn't just a Harley thing either.

If you want a truly quiet Harley engine, turn it off.

Jerry

[r0de_runr]

What you say is true.

But the compensator bang, loud tapping upon cold start, and sewing machine noise at 2300 rpm is not evident in every bike, and usually indicates a problem.

Our fairings also bounce a lot of that noise up at us.

I know for a fact my top end is nosier on syn oil, and on older oil (3000 miles or so).

In any event, I ride with earplugs due to hearing damage while in the Army, so I hear little of any, and if I can when wearing the plugs then something is REALLY wrong, lol.

New S&S lifters and adj pushrod kit on the way, Eastern PC.

[redmtrckl]

I always thought if a Harley engine wasn't making a few strange noises then there was something wrong with it.

[INDEPENDENT_1]

I have about 8K miles on my 13 Ultra TC 103' and it sounds like a wild sewing machine when it's running. What can I do to eliminate that rattling or at least quiet it down? I've heard roller rockers are the way to go. Any one confirm?

Must be recess time again!

Sometimes the way you want to handle these two things is simple! Eat a large quantity of your favorite Mexican dish or corned beef and cabbage, remove belt or suspenders, drop your drawers, cup both hands behind your ass, squeeze a sh!t into both hands and proceed with smearing it into your own hair. Satisfied?

[Jswerve]

For those who think their Harley is way too noisy, I'd like to suggest a simple test they can perform at home that requires no mechanical skill and no expense.  Walk out to the car parked in your garage, fire up the engine, pull the hood release, walk to the front of the car, and open the hood.  Stand there for a few moments and listen to all the clacking and clattering and ticking you will find with most modern automotive engines these days.  Then close the hood, walk to the drivers door, get in and shut the door, then listen for a few moments again.  It's like magic, all that ticking and chattering is gone!  The valvetrain noise, the clicking injectors, the whoosh of the belts, and all that other stuff doesn't intrude on the cabin, thanks to sound deadening and the simple fact that you aren't sharing space with the engine like you are on your Harley.  Nonbelievers only have to mount a seat on top of that car engine and cruise down the road sitting on top of it to get a true apples to apples comparison.  And they would also find that engine and exhaust heat isn't just a Harley thing either.

If you want a truly quiet Harley engine, turn it off.

Jerry

Exactly!

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

[HogRydr]

  And yet still does not answer the question

It may not have a definitive answer, but it sure did attract some rather stupid remarks. Well, I guess even the dull and ignorant need to add in their .02 cents every now and then. 

[TorqueInc]

Ok  The floor is open lets here factual information on how increasing pre-load will reduce lifter noise. ( starting from a base pre load of .100)

  This was and is the question.....nothing complicated to it....all you have to do is defend the position you are taking with an answer.

   

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

I will not entertain the likes of someone like you with a response as to how we have performed our daily work here for years, only for you to come up with some idiotic sarcasm in an attempt to make yourself look like something your not.........
Guess you'll have to try to create the turmoil all by yourself.............have fun doing so..........no time for your ridiculous demeaning remarks....

[HOGMIKE]

I have about 8K miles on my 13 Ultra TC 103' and it sounds like a wild sewing machine when it's running. What can I do to eliminate that rattling or at least quiet it down? I've heard roller rockers are the way to go. Any one confirm?

Gee I missed all the drama!
Had to go back to see the op question!

My suggestion would be to ride a couple bikes like yours just to see if they all sound the same. Rent, borrow, steal.
Gives you a baseline to start with before you start tearing into it
You are under warranty,  what does your dealer say?
Roller rockers won't make it quieter ime
Btw sewing machines are usually pretty quiet, no?
Your new bike just may be fine!
For example my 2014 is noisier than my evo, totally different!
JMHO of course!
 

[CVO2FIXUP]

 During my build, we changed to gear driven cams ( 585's ) , Fueling lifters, roller rockers, beefed up  S/E  rocker support bracket, Fueling cam plate and oil pump.  This eliminated all the valve train noise. It sounds like a 96 now.  I love it. And there is absolutely no gear whine to be heard. 

[Jswerve]

During my build, we changed to gear driven cams ( 585's ) , Fueling lifters, roller rockers, beefed up  S/E  rocker support bracket, Fueling cam plate and oil pump.  This eliminated all the valve train noise. It sounds like a 96 now.  I love it. And there is absolutely no gear whine to be heard.

That's an awful lot of cheddar to quiet down a stock motor lol. Did you have to do any work to the bottom end due to runout for those gear driven cams?

[JONNIEROCK]

What you say is true.

But the compensator bang, loud tapping upon cold start, and sewing machine noise at 2300 rpm is not evident in every bike, and usually indicates a problem.

Our fairings also bounce a lot of that noise up at us.

I know for a fact my top end is nosier on syn oil, and on older oil (3000 miles or so).

In any event, I ride with earplugs due to hearing damage while in the Army, so I hear little of any, and if I can when wearing the plugs then something is REALLY wrong, lol.

New S&S lifters and adj pushrod kit on the way, Eastern PC.

        I had to go out and look in the garage ! I thought maybe you or the op stole my bike. I've got a 2012 Ultra Limited, does everything you guys describe, including top end noise at 2500 rpm. And does run quieter with conventional oil as compared to synthetic. Been doing it since about 10 K.  Two different HD techs Said: normal ride it and I have. Ear plug and radio. Other than the ticking it runs great.
                 Jonnierock