Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What is "piston slap", and what can silence it?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 13, 2009 | 11:46 PM
  #11  
BlackFLHR's Avatar
BlackFLHR
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 880
Likes: 81
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by krwould
Really don't even think about an open flame in a cylinder, if an intake valve is open you may be in serious trouble if you know what I mean... so I hope you were joking!?

OF COURSE I was joking! I ride my bike every day to/from work. Could you really picture a guy outside every morning, holding a torch to his bike before starting it?
 
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2009 | 11:51 PM
  #12  
hornhonker's Avatar
hornhonker
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 1
From: Victoria BC Canada
Default

Why would a low milage 09 have piston slap ? Thats usually a very high milage problem.
 
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2009 | 11:54 PM
  #13  
BlackFLHR's Avatar
BlackFLHR
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 880
Likes: 81
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by hornhonker
Why would a low milage 09 have piston slap ? Thats usually a very high milage problem.

I don't know... guess it's like the GM motors (i.e. 4.3L). Those things slap as they're being driven out of the factory. "Normal" according to GM (and HD).
 
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2009 | 11:54 PM
  #14  
krwould's Avatar
krwould
Club Member
Veteran: Air Force
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 112,202
Likes: 1,316
From: On a hill among the hills, PA
Default

Originally Posted by bamorris2
OF COURSE I was joking! I ride my bike every day to/from work. Could you really picture a guy outside every morning, holding a torch to his bike before starting it?
I figured as much but one never knows for sure with some of the questions I read about! Have a good one and a safe one... get that big bore kit ordered!!!
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 12:13 AM
  #15  
jasilva's Avatar
jasilva
Cruiser
15 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 126
Likes: 8
From: CA
Default

You should not have piston slap with a stock low mileage engine. Piston slap is common in worn out engines and forged piston engines. Forged pistons grow more when hot so they have to start with more clearance. I'd call HD customer service and start bitching, if you have slap with cast pistons then that engine is out of tolerance on the pistons/cylinders.
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 02:12 AM
  #16  
Jrsess's Avatar
Jrsess
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,907
Likes: 69
From: Wesley Chapel Fl.
Default

I'd find another dealer also!!!!!!!!
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 04:22 AM
  #17  
jpooch00's Avatar
jpooch00
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
Unhappy

Originally Posted by hornhonker
Why would a low milage 09 have piston slap ? Thats usually a very high milage problem.
The MOCO's half-assed QC in action. Whaddaya expect fer only $18,000? A high quality machine that's worth what ya paid for it? Yer dreamin'.
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 05:07 AM
  #18  
smokindave's Avatar
smokindave
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
Default

The HD answer for everything............" that's normal".
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 05:47 AM
  #19  
stafford's Avatar
stafford
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 2
Default

There's a rule of thumb in piston to bore clearances, I'm not sure but I think it's like half a thousandth per inch of bore, maybe a little less. when it's correctly done , there is no pisto slap. Surely shouldn't be any on a new engine
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 06:12 AM
  #20  
geezrglider's Avatar
geezrglider
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
Default

Piston slap is not normal unless high mileage is involved. If truly piston slap I's try another dealer, I would believe it is the dealer who makes the call. If nothing else works write Harley a letter and ask them for assistance.

Keep us posted please!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:26 AM.

story-0
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-8
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE