I have a 2006 Ultra that has a ticking like a valve or lifter possibly but not all the time. Sometimes it does it right away when started, and other times after riding an hour or so. Brought it to the dealer but it wasn't making the noise that day! Any idea's what it might be? Bike has 23K on it.

Thanks for any help!

 

Best bet for you to do is when it is making the noise, use a stethoscope to track it down. Could be a bunch of different things. It could be a lifter on its way out, could be something on the primary side. Do you know which side of the bike it's coming from? Hard sometimes telling without a stethoscope

 

Sounds like it's coming from the right side. Hear it in the front of the motor.

 

kinda sounds like mine was doing in the first stages of the comp,sprocket coming loose,seemed to stop after it warmed up at firstthen it started doing it all the time ,just a thought

 

Mine does this too. I blame a noisy lifter. Won't happen if I keep the rpms up slightly to increase oil pressure.
This is what leads me to think it is a lifter.

I'll be changing to synthetic in the spring, so, we'll see if that makes any difference.

I'll get more concerned if it continues after warm up or gets increasingly louder on cold start.
I have the extended warranty, so I have a bit of piece of mind on my side.

Curious to hear other responses though....

 

Mine has had that noise since new. I've lost track of the times I've taken it to different dealers to try to get it fixed. My oil pressure has been low since new,still no repair. warranty runs out in May. I'm replacing the pump, lifters and hardware to 07 style. In the mean time I switched to Mobil 1 20/50 V twin. It helps a little. Dan

 

I have been told by the dealer tech's as well as other HD Mechanics that these TC 88 have been nick named Ticker Motors and there is nothing wrong with them. Mine has been doing it sence new and still does. I have 35,000 on it and use to patrol on it. Now I just do escorts and a little personal ride. Still does it and mechanic I use now says there is nothing wrong, dont worry about it. I take it on long trips and it never goves out.

 

I have always used Mobil 1 or Amsoil since 1K service. Noise started around 20K or so.

 

My 06 did it as well from new. Got all the bs, thats normal, cant hear, even had a rep ride it and came back and said it sounded better than his own. Sounded like it was gonna throw a rod. Finally a tech @ american eagle hd took it home and rode it a couple of days.
Changed juggs and pistons, no noise. Found slop in piston and cylinder was just out of torrarance. I was finally happy with this bike.
Somewhere I was reading this tech Danny Peterson or something, Think it was V-Twin mag had found many 06 models with this slop. It is not normal and will cause severe damage to the walls of the cylinders.

 

It does sound like it's going to throw a rod. Just wondering why only at idle, and why not all the time. Sometimes when hot, and sometimes when cold.