I just brought home an '01 Road King. The bike was well cared for and I had some nice rides on it today.

I did notice a noise. Starting with the engine cold, after riding a few miles I start to hear a clattering noise that changes rpm with the motor, like a bunch of typewriters being used. It seems less pronounced in 3rd gear.

One possible clue is that the bike has to warm up before the sound can be heard.

I know this description is vague, but I welcome any thoughts.

 

Could be the cam chain tensioners. The first time I changed mine they were making that kind of noise.

 

How many miles on the bike? Early TC models were notorious for cam bearing,
chain tensioner and lifter issues. All easily corrected but worth looking at before serious damage occurs.

 

How many miles on it?

Is the noise more prominent on one side than the other?

 

2001, 26k. And yes, the noise seemed more prominent on the right, though when I bent down and tried to listen to either side while riding, it got hard to hear. It was clearest when I was sitting up.

I was wondering about the CC tensioners. Guess I should play it safe and pull it apart this week.

Maybe I should just plan on changing it all while I have it apart. I guess the right thing to do is to change to the hydraulic setup. Is the SE plate the way to go or is there something better?

 

Gear to gear cams are the very best you can get, no springs, no chains,
and no more worry or headaches. If the 07s had had the good cranks in
them I would be practicing what I am preaching.

 

From what I've read, drive shaft "run-out" has to be checked and be within a tolerance before I can install the gear set.

Can someone tell me how this is done? I'm confident I can do the swap but the run-out check sounds like it should be done by a shop.

 

01 twin cam engines have hot forger iron cranks, so you shouldn't have to worry about run out. When harley started stamping out motorcycles and throwing them together they started using cast cranks which is way cheaper in price and cheaper in quality as well. I had S&S gear to gear cams on my 2000 Wide Glide, but my 07 has to have the chain drive, on the case of run out. This is experience speaking. As far as checking the run out all you need is a dial indicator

 

We used to throw gear sets into '99 to '02 Twin Cams without even checking run out
(those hot forged cranks are that good.) Anything after that needs checked.

Check the tensioners first. And ride the bike with the windshield and without the windshield to compare. Windshields throw a lot of noise back at you.

 

Ihave a 2001 RKC, 95" big bore and a cam from the dealer when I bought it new. Almost 50,000 miles now. for many years it has had a clacking sound from the head area that I have never traced down. I have tried a stethoscope, etc. to isolate it but no luck. I have replaced the tensioners. the lifters, the pushrods to adjustables and have checked the rocker arms over the last 3-4 years or so. The bike runs strong but still has the noise, particularly when i fist start it after it has sat for a few days or been trailered. My son rides it now as I am riding my 2012 RGU and he does not complain, but then he is riding a Harley for free so what is t complain about