Hey, New here! This may be for 2018 - newer, but I have a question for my 2012 HeritageClassic. When I start it for only two minutes and shut it off is it normal to hear a crackling, almost 'popcorn'-like sound coming from the engine?

 

It's difficult to say without hearing it in person, describing a sound to someone else using words can be far from accurate, example; to me crackling and popcorn like are two sounds that I wouldn't associate with each other, but that's me. It's normal for them to make a "tinking" sound when you shut them down as the hot exhaust cools and contracts. Is that possibly what you're hearing?

 

Why are you starting it for two minutes and shutting it off? That's probably the #1 worst possible way to treat a motor, not warming it completely and shutting it off full of trapped condensation.

John

 

I'm on board with the tinking sound as well. To me, crackling is bacon frying and popcorn is just popcorn.

 

Check the heat shields on the exhaust. Mine crackle and pop especially when I came home in the winter.

Could try keeping one end tight and the other snug. But don't let the screw get too loose. Tighten one end and loosen the other and pull on shield and tighten it. Or the opposite by pushing.

I guessing once you know what it is and both screws are tight, it's not a big deal.

 

I'm thinking its just the sound of metal expanding and contracting as in the heat shields and exhaust as that gets hot 1st and I think may show itself after a run time of only 2 min. Hard to say for sure without hearing it.

I agree with the post above about short runs of a engine and moisture build up. If I ever start my engine from cold for any reason, I am then committed to get it on the highway a good 20+ min to burn any moisture off.

I had a neighbor that would start his bike in the garage and let it sit running 10 min then park it once a month during the winter thinking thats the thing to do....
Some folks have never seen milky oil I assume?

 

And that sound is music to my ears.

 

I just moved it from the driveway to the backyard shed, that's why.

 

Be it "tinking" or like a "crackling"(fire), I am hearing it from the engine/heads, not the exhaust.