[CT_Duke]

I started this thread and have been actively persueing this for the past month. A rep at the MoCo in Milwaukee called me to discuss this problem. They admit the problem exists and I'm NOT talking about the whine in the Tranny. That whine is because 1st and 5th gears are cut gears and interface differently producing the whine. That I can live with. The clatter I can not. They said it is NOT the tranny but they don't know exactly what it is yet. They can produce the noise on any FL model. I asked how and got a laugh, won't tell me because then everyone will do it. The tranny on all 07's are the same including the Softails that don't seem to have the problem. As I understand it they can swap tranny's and the noise stays with the bike not the tranny. At this point I can't disprove their findings so I will believe them until there is some facts to prove them wrong. Hopefully they speak the truth.

I asked what it could be, what is different about the FL's than the others. The oil pan is larger, the exhaust is all new with new routings such as the cross member over the starter, the Softails have the 96B engine with a balanced flywheel (because the engine is not mounted on rubber) and something else I can't remember. None of which seem like they would be the cause, at least not to me. The MoCo has taken everyone off development and placed them on the problem so they consider this critical enough to invest that many resources. I asked for an estimate on when they would have a fix and was told if they knew that then they would know the cause. They said to keep in touch with your dealer because they will be notified as soon as they have a fix.

Keep in mind they are NOT fixing the whine which is inherent to the cut of the gears. They are trying to figure out the clatter. If I hear more I will update this.
Duke