On my '07 Ultra, I sometimes get a very loud tapping noise from the motor. It doesn't always do it. It's more prone to do it after it gets hot from riding and I park it for a while and then restart it. I swear it sounds like a lifter that isn't pumping up. I've messed with cars most of my life and it sounds like a lifter. This past weekend my brother and I both cold started our bikes, he has an '09 Fugly(Road Glide) and the difference in valve train noise on a cold start was almost embarrassing. I'm attributing some of that to me using full synthetic and him using dino but the hard tapping IS NOT normal. It sounds like a little guy in there with a hammer. It will do it for a couple minutes and gradually go away as I ride but as the RPMs increase it sounds like something is about to fly all to hell. I just turned over 10,000 miles this past weekend. Who else has had this issue?

 

exact same thing I had with My 08UC. I started having the niose around 9K. When I took it in under warranty the techs could not duplicate the noise. I kept telling them to ride it for 30mi or so, which they said were not allowed to. I had taken the bike in about 5 times for this problem. (lifters were replaced during the last visit) Noise was still there. Got lucky and met a MOCO rep At the dealer, told him about about the problem and he took my bike for a 45mi ride, let it set for about 1 hr, while He ate lunch, and He then heard the load tapping , When He started it. Told the dealer to install a new motor. Was told later after Moco checked the motor that the problem was a tight valve in the guide. Sorry I got carried away on this post But check Your Valves.

 

I have this exact same problem on my 06 Electra Glide (88inch). It happens more often now that I run the synthetic oil from Harley.

Tight valve guide isnt anything I wanted to hear......

I have 17K on mine and only put 3K of those on myself. No warranty either.

 

I had the same thing happen to my 08 at 10000 miles. It got so loud that I would start my bike last in a group and the other riders I was with could still hear it and would ask what was wrong with my bike. I was running Amsoil 20/50 and changed to Trco V series 50 weight and the tick went away.

 

i change the cam chain tensioners this past spring, mi 01 eg,it started making noise rite after.. i did put stock quiet muflers on at the same time thou..