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Piston slap is the piston skirt contacting the cylinder walls. This normally only happens on start-up and when the engine is cold.
Has nothing to do with the rings.
Over time, it will damage the cylinders in the areas of contact.
That said, I would be more inclined to suspect a bad lifter.
Maybe i'm cornfused here my man. But if the piston skirt is contacting the cylinder walls, isn't that flexing the rings? Also if the cylinder gets scored from the skirt, isn't there a possibility that the rings will be running up against said scored area, causing ring damage? Either way it ain't good for the cylinders or rings...
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Been a saddle tramp for 40 years....
Last edited by scootertramp; 10-15-2009 at 04:24 PM.
For what is worth, I have an 09 flhx that my wife and I travel about 300 to 500 miles on every weekend. I also have brought the bike in for what sounds like piston slap that went away after 5 minutes. It wasnt piston slap, its lifter noise. Until the lifter pumps back up, it makes some noise then goes away. I opted not to have the dealer try to replace anything, my choice. When it wears out I will replace the cam set, maybe add the gear drive, a SE backing plate, high flow pump, cooler, SE lifter and adj rods. All in the interest of making it run more efficient. Good luck with your engine too!
