ive got an 01' 883 sportster with the 1200 kit installed with buell heads and n-6 cams. the ticking sound gets louder when you accelerate and it sounds like its coming from the left side up around the cylinders. i suppose it could be piston slap. ive asked everyone and they said it is normal. well, it just doesnt sound normal to me....it sounds like a stretched timing chain on a four stroke, that kind of ticking, ive got an old 1200 sportster service manual for 91'-92'. are these engines basically the same? this sound is aggravating the s@#t out of me. any help or thoughts on this matter would be much appreciated. thnx in advance.....

 

Well, I had a 2007 883R for awhile and it did make that noise right out of thedealership. Even later, after fully broken in with 2500 miles, itstill did that sound while accelerating. Funny thing is, though, the 20071200R I have right now I had at the same time, and it has never made that sound. The 883s really do just make, what I like to call, the"tea pot/tea kettle" sound. Then again, mine started burning oil in about 2 months then. I don't think the 883s are real solid...at least mine wasn't.

 

Could be a few different things causing a ticking noise... If it seems like its getting worse, i would drain the oil and check your oil filter for abnormal amounts of metal debris [ cut oil filter open ].....If it looks normal, i suggest you try adding about 8oz of lucas oil treatment to your oil when you change it....Personally i have seen this stuff quiet up noisy lifters etc in car engines, bike engines etc....good luck

 

Sorry you had trouble with yers, 33k on my 05 and not one mechanical issue.

 

I have a 1994 conversion bike that sounds like it going to fly apart. I was told it was just the way sportsters are. I beginning to believe that. You get used to it after awhile but I still get visuals of the push rods slamming the rocker arms to the point of destruction. Loud pipes help :-)

 

My has always ticked, new oil/old oil doesn't matter.

 

I have an 07 xl 1200c and it has done that same noise since i got it. It scared me for awhile but i was also told that its just a sportster noise. Ive had people comment on how loose it made the top of the engine sound. but still runs very good. And im getting used to it. Its my first Harley so still learnin the sounds and all that

 

My wife just had her 06 883 converted to a 1200 using HD parts, put together by HD, it too makes a ticking sound, dealer says its ok, but im like you it makes me nervoius. I have a 06 1200C, and it no where near makes the ticking, lifter slap or sewing maching noise people describe. I bought the extended warranty when we bought it last year, the dealer ship says its still good since they did the conversion, so I guess we wait and see if it flyies apart all the noise. Till then we ride

 

Like I said earlier, it seems weird that this is considered a "normal" sound seeing as my 1200R doesn't make it. My 883R did, though.

 

Pardon me, but could it possibly be an exhaust leak? You did say the left side is where the noise was, but it's "quieter" on that side. Just my .02.