So I am getting a noise, rather rhythmic. And I was hoping you guys could help me diagnose it.

It's a click clack, click clack .... (real specific, right?)

Happens when cruising in any gear between 1300 rpm and 2200 rpm, roughly. And only at very small throttle openings, just enough to maintain speed.
If I accelerate or decelerate the sound goes away.

Really seems to be coming from the primary case, but I am not sure.

It is definitely a sharp metal to metal sound.

I was picturing in my head a weak stock compensator making the noise, and then just bottoming out under acceleration so that I didn't hear it anymore.

It does also make a big clack on startup, but I thought that was normal for all harleys.

I'm thinking probably compensator, but most of the threads I have read talk about noise during deceleration and not steady-state cruising.

The noise definitely seems to be getting louder. And is totally noticeable at all speeds, highway or in town.

Thanks.

 

Mine made noise when cruising and barely keeping the speed, or slightly decelerating. Techs at shop could not recreate the sound, so we tried to make it home from NC. The sound continually got worse and started to knock when stopped at lights. Broke the drive belt 8 miles from the house. I found compensating nut had backed out and was hitting the primary case.

 

When you figure out what it was let us know, I'm very curious.

 

Between 1300 and 2000 rpm, you are lugging the engine and might be hearing pre-ignition ping (detonation). On flat or downhill surfaces, try staying in a gear that keeps the rpm's above 2000. Going up hill, try keeping the rpm's above 2200.

 

+1 I never ride below 2200 rpm. Lugging is not good for the engine. Keep it a 2500-3000 and you will be fine.

 

I don't think that's the problem. Pinging / detonation occurs under heavy load, not light load. This sound disappears under heavy load.

And I don't think I am lugging the engine. Aside from that noise it feels perfectly happy there. Remember I do not have stock cams / heads / pistons, etc.

2200+ sounds really fast for just light cruising. If we've got the oil pressure and the power to do it then I do not see the problem with running at low RPMs.

Although to be sure I could hook up the laptop with my TTS Software and record what is happening there. I'm pretty sure it would record pinging / detonation.