OK
2016 Road King, 15k miles.

This is a strange one. A couple of times in the past few days I have started the bike after it was hot, put it in gear and soon as I start to let the clutch out there is a high pitched whining/grinding that sounds almost like a starter motor when you try to start an already running engine.

It happens for a few seconds and then goes away. Try to repeat it and can't. So far it has only happened twice and it goes away so quick (only lasts a few seconds) it is hard to get a location on it.

I just did the 15k service, everything seems like it is running well otherwise, clutch does not seem to be slipping at all, even getting better gas mileage than I usually do.

Any ideas if I should start poking at it, or see if it keeps happening?

 

I have seen this a time or two on the hydraulic clutches. Both times the primary oil was lower than the specified amount.

 

Thanks! It's not hydraulic, but I might take the inspection cover off and check it again. I put the specified amount in, but maybe it is just an ounce shy or something like that.

 

I recently had a clunking noise when releasing the clutch and before that had some slop in the primary. When letting of the throttle then accelerating again it would feel like a car with a bad differential. The compensator sprocket was replaced and all seems to be well. I understand it to be a VERY common problem. I don't know if it extends to your year and model. I have a 2011 Deluxe with approx. 60k km. Good luck

 

Did you do the service? what all was done?

 

The compensator sprocket was replaced with Screaming Eagle kit. This includes a plastic piece that gets glued to top of the inside of the primary cover. The piece directs oil to the top of the sprocket. The bearing was also replaced. Parts $700 labour $350. I saw the process. Not complicated but a couple special tools involved.

 

I did. Just change all the fluids and a clutch adjustment. There wasn't any excess metal on the magnets, just the standard "fuzz" but not a crazy amount.

 

20k ipb started makeing same sort of noise, 50k failure(replaced when tranny dumped its oil in my driveway), 70k miles noise just started to come back.

here we go again

I will try the after market next time. Bought two of everything last time.

 

Just had my '14 SGS in for front wheel bearing replacement, 26K miles. Shop guy said the primary was making a whining noise during the test ride. The fix was to 'pop' it at a slow speed a few times then gun it up to speed. Something about resetting the teeth. He said it quit making noise, actually I never noticed anything. But, since this was a local shop with a good rep, and he didn't try to sell me anything more than the wheel bearings I figured there may be some truth to it. I'll keep an ear out for it now.