Hey guys, I’ve got a 2008 ultra classic that has the 96 ci engine. I’ve put a Arlen ness big sucker 2 air cleaner on it and a bone breaker 2 into 1 exhaust on it and recently decided to add a star racing 577 cam. Love the set up so far but I’ve got a noise at 2400-2600 rpm that I can’t shake. Clears up before and after that range and happens in any gear. Sounds to me like maybe metal hitting metal. I’ve adjusted the pushrods three times and my tuner says it was nothing to worry about, just looking for any advice on what to check or what it might possibly be

 

Speed of the metal hitting metal sound.
Fast Slow ?? Rock stuck in a big tire or little tire speed?
Will it make the noise in neutral or do you have to be going down the road.

More info. With paragraphs too LOL

WP

 

It’s pretty fast noise. So far I have not been able to replicate the noise in neutral. But it’s there in every gear at the same rpm other than in neutral. It wasn’t there before the cam install.

 

That points to pushrod adjustment, lifter(s) leaking down or possibly rocker shafts moving in the support. How many miles? What preload on the pushrods? What lifters? A set of Rocker Lockers would solve the rocker shaft movement. Google Rocker Lockers and check them out; they have solved that sort of problem. The info on the site will show you what to look for to determine if the shafts are moving in the support; cheap and easy fix.

 

If it was pushrod adjustment tho wouldn’t it make the noise at other rpm’s as well? I’d imagine if the preload was off it would cause the noise at a specific valve timing event not just at a specific rpm. Thanks for the advice on the lockers. I’ll check into them. Bikes has 23000 miles, about 50 miles on the cam and engine parts. S&S pushrods and fueling lifters.

 

Not necessarily, one could say the same thing about the Rocker Lockers but noise presenting at that specific rpm range has been eliminated by others with a set of Rocker Lockers. If the shaft is moving, there should be witness marks as shown on the Rocker Locker website. I think checking preload a worthwhile exercise and if not at least .125" I would readjust; most these days are setting preload at .135"-.140". I have never been a fan of Fueling lifters but many run them with no issues. Not saying the source of the noise could not be something else, just saying that if the noise did not present before the cam install, pushrod preload, lifters and rocker shaft movement are usually the offenders; elmininate the obvious first, or not.

 

I’ll probably readjust the pushrods tomorrow and go from there. Thanks for the help.

 

Not familiar with that specific cam .
Have seen a number of posts about noises caused by a cam change
You sound confident of the adjustments so the rocker lockers can certainly be a consideration.

A few guys here local run Fueling lifters and like them.
I forget what's in mine damn it

Good luck WP

 

Heres a noise after BB kit and breather upgrade.

 

My S&S 570 easy starts make a very similar noise in that same RPM range that you’re talking about as far as the warble. I got it to quiet down quite a bit when I set the preload to .145 with S&S adjustables. It also might be even though you don’t see it, the butterfly on your throttlebody. These guys will take care of you on this thread, I’m just throwing my two cents out there.