I have a 2003 softail standard, it only has 1400 miles on it. I started it up, after about a week of sitting, the weather was pretty cold all week. While it is worming up it seem to have a little raddle in the motor, drove it around for a little while about 5 miles and it continued to raddle, anyone know what that might be?

 

The top end of Harley's are just noisy. My 88TC was really loud at 25K and louder when it was cold.

 

how many times has that oil been changed in the last 6+years? if you have a trusted indy or dealer close i would let them listen cuz nobody is gonna be able to diagnose a noise that they havent heard.

 

 

try other oil brand like mobil 1 or amsoil

 

the syn oils are not better to help quiet a motor down... might try a reg dyno oil in the 20-50 weight and see if it helps any..

 

i only speak from personal experience that the 2 brands of 20-50 syn oil make a big difference over the Harley brand when it can to noise

 

I wouldn't run HD brand oil in my neighbors lawn mower.

But that's just me.

 

I had a little rattle in mine and it ended up being the shift linkage. When it is running try putting your foot against the shifter or linkage. Not sure if that is it, but I thought my rattle was the motor and that was all it was.

 

Check the heatshields (if you got'em) sometimes they have a spring that retains the shield to the pipe and it gives a rattle noise and it expands (gets worst) as it gets the pipes get warmer (we found this out yesterday on Deuce). As Nhbiker said...it could also be the shift linkage or misc parts on the engine that either need some lube or some tightening up.