ever since i bought my bike (03fxdx) in jan its had a slight ticking noise when it warms up, the bike runs fine and pulls hard, the engine has been modified, just wondering if i should be worried or its normal

 

if it ticks at idle Id be worried, if it only does it when cruising down the road welcome to the home of the air cooled push rod engine. some days mine runs quieter than others

 

Mine did the same thing dealer said its normal. Recentaly changed my motor oil (20w50) and transmission to Amsoil what a differance! The motor lost its ticking and has almost 700 miles since oil change. Just changing the oil has made a big differance.

 

I had ticking when my oil line blew off.
Good thing for me I had Amsoil and there was no damage whatsoever.
I refilled with Amsoil, drove it home and changed the oil again.
Absolutely no metal on the magnetic plug!
Amsoil is great stuff.
Ended up modifing the oil cooler to fit AN6 flare fittings and stainless braided hoses.

 

geeze. im glad to hear this because i just bought a fat bob. new to the big air cooled twins. same thing. bike is mint 2008. 9k on it. no modifications. all records say oils changed at 1k 5k and 9k. pulls hard and sounds great except when it gets warmed up good and hot. hear a slight ticking noise when cruising. guess im just used to jap racing 4 stokes

 

Sort of like a sewing machine ? then Ynots nailed it for you in the post #2

I've been running Amsoil in all three for at least 3 years and I still hear it while cruising, albeit quieter, the loudest I hear it is @ cruising around 2700 to 3000 rpm

 

Does it seem to get louder as you roll on the throttle and quieter when you idle along or just maintain speed?

I'm discovering the "normal" tick can be quieted with additives or different oil ... But NOT synthetic which seem to allow more sound to be heard.

I just added a LUCAS oil additive and was quickly pleased to not hear the high pitch lifter ticking noise. It's actually the design of the motor with the angle the pushrods strike the rocker, and it being open air cooled motor allows this sound to be heard outside of the motor.

 

Mine doesn't tick all the time..just when it's running!


Built almost the same motor for my brother and it sounds great...both 2006s.

I hate it, but after tearing into it and replacing things that didn't need replacing several times, I said the hell with it...I ride it like I stole it and if it blows up I will build it again.

 

Amsoil and M1 Syn oil both have a reputation of being noisey. Both oils are "thin" This does not mean they are bad oils. I have experianced this as well. I switched to Dino 20w50 oil and much quieter. I have since settled on running the Quicksilver 20w50 Vtwin Syn oil which is "thick" like Dino, but full synthetic. I have run this for the past year and it is quiet, feels right on my fingers and is synthetic.

 

What ever you do don't put a windshield on...your head will explode.