On my way home from work my 09 FLHTCU started making an odd noise when my clutch is engaged. Sounds like my starter is trying to kick in. Any clues?

 

For clarification,

Clutch engaged = clutch lever is out
Clutch disengaged= clutch lever is pulled in

If you are saying that you pull in the clutch lever and you get a noise, I would say it is your clutch hub bearing.

 

On my way home from work my 09 FLHTCU started making an odd noise when my clutch is engaged. Sounds like my starter is trying to kick in. Any clues?

 

About to take the cover off and investigate. Hope it's minor.

 

I.P.B.(inner primary bearing)08's and 9's are prone to it. Well any bike with the auto tensioner.

 

So just riding around you hear this noise?

 

If you are going to pull the inner primary off would replace both bearings while you are there.

 

I think mine does the same thing! Mine is a 1997 Fatboy, The sound only happens when I take off from a dead stop and only if I let out on the clutch a little too fast. The clutch seems to lock up way too quick, but I think that is the heavy spring doing that. I have no idea why the previous owner installed the heavy spring. It is pretty much a stock 80" Evo motor. I do know the clutch has been off the bike because the inner primary is chrome.

Normally, the clutch does not squeal when I take off. But it is not too hard to get it to squeal. The bike seems to make no unusual sounds when changing gears or driving down the road. The clutch appears to have a Barnett heavy duty clutch spring and the clutch pull is pretty stiff. I bought this bike earlier in the year and has made this sound since the day I bought it. The drive belt seems to be like new and clean. I changed the trans & primary fluid. I put Belray in the trans and Mobil One synthetic ATF in the primary. I also adjusted the clutch. None of this made a difference! Below are two videos of the sound.

My bike


Another person's Sportster. In this video, the noise can be heard more clearly. It is a different bike, but same exact noise


This is the clutch fluid level with the bike on the jiffy stand. I think this is the primary fluid level it is supposed to be when the bike is level. I filled it to this level when the bike is level. The extra fluid and the ATF didn't change the sound

 

Well John, do we both have something in common or are we both just !@#$ed?