Primary torn down Help

[ric27]

I have the primary completely removed.
   
I have had a noise in the primary of my bike for a while. I isolated the best I could as coming form the back of the primary. The noise is only apparent when the bike is warned up. Cold it sound great. The sound is the same with the clutch in or out, moving or standing still.

I see that there are 2 bearings in the back of the primary. the main shaft and the clutch bearing. I'm thinking of those two only the clutch bearing spins when the the clutch is engaged or not. the race on the main shaft look fine and the comp looks good as well.

so has anyone had problems with the clutch bearing? 

[Admiral Akbar]

The sound is the same with the clutch in or out, moving or standing still.

In gear or out??

Max

[Rusty Steel]

You don’t say what the ‘noise’ is? What does it sound like? Remember that noise can really travel.
Is the bike doing anything/acting differently?

[ric27]

The sound is the same with the clutch in or out, moving or standing still.

In gear or out??

Max

The same either way the same.

[Smarty]

What kind of sound was it making?

[ric27]

You don’t say what the ‘noise’ is? What does it sound like? Remember that noise can really travel.
Is the bike doing anything/acting differently?

Started out as a knocking sound. I thought it was a rod although I have no idea what a rod knocking sounds like in a HD TC. I don't think it is a rod. I have had a scope all over the motor and drive train. The noise is from the back of the primary. It has evolved into a more raspy scraping sound. But trying to describe a sound is difficult. Suffice to say it sounds like a spinning part that is warn. very annoying. I rode it all last spring, summer and fall about 5K as it very slowly got worse. I doesn't sound like it is about to stop or break, it's just not right. The bike runs, shifts and rides just fine.

My bike by the way is a 06 RK, stock. 

[ongrade]

Most likely the compensator is loose.

[Bakon]

Tension shoe ok?  Seen them crack at rivets, sounds like a moving part from chain.

[ric27]

Most likely the compensator is loose.

Nope, The comp was so tight it took a 5 foot cheater bar to get loose. the comp looks fine. the whole primary is off.

[ric27]

Tension shoe ok?  Seen them crack at rivets, sounds like a moving part from chain.

I will check that.

[Smarty]

Does sound like a tension shoe. Could have been out of adjustment and the chain slapping around. By the time you tore it down, sounds like the shoe is toast.

[akjeff]

ric27,

My main shaft bearing crapped out after just a few months(2009 FLTR). Under warranty thank goodness. As cheap as bearings are, and as big a PITA pulling the inner primary is, I'd put in new bearings, even if they look fine. They may even be el cheap foreign made, that can be replaced with a higher quality part?

Jeff

[ric27]

Does sound like a tension shoe. Could have been out of adjustment and the chain slapping around. By the time you tore it down, sounds like the shoe is toast.

I looked at the tension shoe, there are no rivets and it has only .060 wear. I had checked and adjusted the tension to spec this summer thinking it could be that. I think we can take that part off the list.

Thanks
R

[ric27]

ric27,

My main shaft bearing crapped out after just a few months(2009 FLTR). Under warranty thank goodness. As cheap as bearings are, and as big a PITA pulling the inner primary is, I'd put in new bearings, even if they look fine. They may even be el cheap foreign made, that can be replaced with a higher quality part?

Jeff

Jeff
what was you bike sounding like when yours crapped out?

I am going to replace both bearings wile I am in here. Any one have a opinion as to what brand/type of bearings I should replace them with.
Thanks
Ric

[Dan89flstc]

I'm thinking of those two only the clutch bearing spins when the the clutch is engaged or not.

The clutch bearing only spins when there is relative movement between the outer shell and the hub.

When the clutch is engaged, the hub and outer shell are locked together, the clutch bearing outer and inner races have no relative motion.

There are other bearings in the transmission that could be causing the noise, the two needle bearings that ride inside the main drive gear, and the big ball bearing on the outside of the main drive gear.

If you have the pulley off, you can remove the oil seal and see the big ball bearing.

[smittyon66]

 
When you have the clutch lever released, the clutch bearing isn't turning in itself. The inner and outer races are moving at the same speed.

When you have the motor running, the clutch lever pulled in and the bike stopped but in gear, The inner primary bearing isn't moving. The whole transmission is stopped at that point.

If you still have the noise under both those conditions, look somewhere else for the cause.

[ric27]

So if the noise is the same moving or stopped, clutch in or out it must be from the clutch sprocket forward? That is perplexing. With all the noise emanating from the rear of the primary case.

[ric27]

I'm thinking of those two only the clutch bearing spins when the the clutch is engaged or not.

The clutch bearing only spins when there is relative movement between the outer shell and the hub.

When the clutch is engaged, the hub and outer shell are locked together, the clutch bearing outer and inner races have no relative motion.

There are other bearings in the transmission that could be causing the noise, the two needle bearings that ride inside the main drive gear, and the big ball bearing on the outside of the main drive gear.

If you have the pulley off, you can remove the oil seal and see the big ball bearing.

Dan,
But if the transmission is not moving when stopped and the clutch disengaged how could it be transmission noise?

[fleetmechanic]

Don't know what year your bike is but there was a warning from HD to the dealers about tranny mainshaft bearings failing on the recent touring models, 2009- 11 if memory serves.  You might check with them if it's a newer model.

[ric27]

Don't know what year your bike is but there was a warning from HD to the dealers about tranny mainshaft bearings failing on the recent touring models, 2009- 11 if memory serves.  You might check with them if it's a newer model.

it is a 06 RK

[akjeff]

ric27,

My main shaft bearing crapped out after just a few months(2009 FLTR). Under warranty thank goodness. As cheap as bearings are, and as big a PITA pulling the inner primary is, I'd put in new bearings, even if they look fine. They may even be el cheap foreign made, that can be replaced with a higher quality part?

Jeff

Jeff
what was you bike sounding like when yours crapped out?

I am going to replace both bearings wile I am in here. Any one have a opinion as to what brand/type of bearings I should replace them with.
Thanks
Ric

Ric,

I'm damned near deaf and didn't even hear it! Just got lucky. It was my last ride of that year(09), and I was dropping my bike off at the dealer for winter storage. Just turned out that the head wrench was burning one by the drop off area, and when I pulled in front of him, he tensed up, cocked his ear to the side & listened a bit. Immediately put my bike on the rack, and fixed it the next day, before it got put up for the winter.

Jeff

[wurk_truk]

I had my clutch bearing go bad before. (09 FLHX).  When it did start, there was vibration with it also.

May be time to look up front.  What does the stator and rotor look like?  See any rubbing or wear inside there?

[ric27]

I had my clutch bearing go bad before. (09 FLHX).  When it did start, there was vibration with it also.

May be time to look up front.  What does the stator and rotor look like?  See any rubbing or wear inside there?

Well that is the only thing I don't have off inside the primary. I will pull that this morning.
R

[ric27]

I took off the rotor, it and the stator looks pristine just like every thing else inside the primary. I sure was hoping to find some obvious screwed up part I could change out and button it back up. As it is this problem is just as big a mystery with the primary open as it was closed.
Ric
   

[Azgunner]

Ric, make sure you look at the mating faces of you compensator components to see if you have any scarfing or galling. Ref. comp nut, rotor, sprocket, etc. I've had some wierdness going on with my comp assy, not quite like yours, but something to look for that you may not notice otherwise.