98 RKC

I changed the oil in all 3 holes last night. After everything was buttoned up I started it and double checked for leaks, etc. All fine. This morning I take off for work on it and when I pull in the clutch I get this funny chirping sound that I think is coming from the primary. Once up and running down the road I don't hear it, just when I work the clutch. I only have two theories so far and both may be far fetched. When I was adding oil to the primary (1 full quart), I thought I saw a moth or something fly in there (it was getting dark and I had a light shining on it). I looked for him but didn't see anything. I thought maybe his body might be rubbing against something. The other theory is that the primary drain plug is screwed in too far and rubbing against something. Clutch pack maybe? Other than those two things, everything else I did was business as usual. I noticed that the primary drain plug was loose so I tapped on that rivet head that holds the magnet to the plug. It appeared to be in one firm piece before I put it back in but I felt like it sure did screw in a long way.

Carl

 

Maybe your RKC takes more oil in the chain case, but my 99 Softail Custom manual says 26 ounces. Don't know about your chirp though. You might want to check your chain tension.

 

How many miles are on the bike? My throw out bearing went. It made a strange high pitch chirp or a howling like noise.

 

Bikes got 28,000 miles on it. I took a look inside last night around the clutch but didn't see anything unusual. I checked the final drive belt too. I also tried to locate the chirping while in my driveway. It's not as bad as it was yesterday. The only time I get chirping is when the bike is moving as the clutch is being let out. I held the front brake and let out the clutch and got no chirping. I'm wondering now if maybe I spilled oil on something like the front motor mount and that is where this noise is coming from? It's hard as hell to try and locate the noise while on the bike. I'll have to get the wife to stick her head down there while I run it. Funny thing is that it runs great, clutch seems to work as good as usual. Thankfully I'm not hearing any kind of metal grinding noises.

 

I have the same chirping noise, but it comes & goes. All I could find wrong was a broken spring on my M-6 tensioner, a bad rear wheel bearing, & the primary chain seemed to have excessive side to side play. Put the stock tensioner back in, replaced the chain, replaced the wheel bearing. Noise was still there. I only hear it as I'm letting the clutch out. It seems to have went away after a couple days though. I wonder if something is thrusting sideways just enough to let the drive belt or trans pulley rub, although I can't see any rub marks anywhere. My bike is older with more mileage & a 4-speed, but if you find anything let me know. Like you said, it's hard to pinpoint it while you're riding.

 

Mine chirped after an engine rebuild from an HD dealer in 2008 (and a previous clutch pack replacement I did the year before). It was actually slipping. Dropped the SYN3 in the Primary and went back to stock HD primary... Seem good now. 56+K at rebuild (that failed) and a reman last year at 58+K

 

Installed an Energy One clutch kit and have had a clutch churp intermittantly at times, used ATF and B&M trickshift in the primary. The noise scared me when I first heard it and pulled the clutch back in but have lived with it for 3 years so believe it the clutch discs engaging. I use a whole quart also that puts the level at the clutch cover when on the kickstand, maybe the level needs to be lower and I might try that with this winters fluid change.

 

I'm also running the same E-One clutch with the B&M Trick Shift as you are with no chirping. The bike needs to be level when checking, changing or adding fluids. My 93 FXR also takes 42-44 ounces per the FSM as does the same year FLT. I fill mine until the ATF is just at the bottom of the clutch basket and it's more that a quart. Maybe yours is a little low? Just a thought to pass along.

 

Thanks Buddy, that may be my problem, discs get a little tacky and start grabbing at times. More of the Blue stuff I will get.

 

wow u all have moths in your primaries