Can’t figure this out. Noise.

[Chippitt68]

2010 ultra. 103". Andrews48. Se flat tops. Se tapered adjustable pr's. Larry's (hylift johnson) lifters adjusted is to.140. Stock plate&slump. Axtell bypass. SE comp. decatted stock head pipe. Darkhorse crank. Vented to ground since 103

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=supruSTOFGw

I cannot find the source of this noise. I've checked heat shields, pr tubes, adjusted lifters etc. checked for exhaust leaks. Nothing seems obvious when I listen with the stethoscope. Only does it when it's warm. It sounds like an exhaust leak or maybe a compression release, but I've pulled up  releases when it's running and no change in noise. It's making me nuts. Tuned last month and made good numbers, 97/115. Tuner didn't notice noise until I went to pick it up, took it for a ride and had him listen to it. He didn't have much to say about it. This doesn't sound like a bad lifter to me, but what do I know? This one has been a pain in the ass since it became a 103". Any help or suggestions appreciated.

[harley_cruiser]

Only does it warm, you know what i'm going to say, sounds like rocker arm shafts hitting the bolt. In the rear it sounds like a burnt valve.

[Chippitt68]

I have inserts 👍. Not sure about the valve, but head porter has heard this noise in person, as well as inspected the heads last time it was apart. Like I said, this one has been a pain, Metal in oil, bad rod, scored pump etc. thanks for reply.
I forgot to mention that last time I adjusted lifters, I had to do the rear intake twice. I got zero lash and adjusted and could turn rod immediately. This was the second time that happened, first was on front intake. Same thing. Collapsed pushrods, readjusted, and took ten minutes to bleed down. Pretty sure the rod was centered in lifter cup both times, but I could've messed that up.

[koko3052]

"I forgot to mention that last time I adjusted lifters, I had to do the rear intake twice. I got zero lash and adjusted and could turn rod immediately. This was the second time that happened, first was on front intake."


And you don't know what's ticking?

[lilchief]

I had a noise similar to that on my 02 FLHT at one time. It ended up being a wallowed out valve guide which stemmed from a lean condition. Mine wasn't as rythmic as that though. Mine sounded like something was bouncing around in the valve cover. Technically, I guess the valve was doing the bouncing  around.

Lil Chief

[FLDavetrain]

"I forgot to mention that last time I adjusted lifters, I had to do the rear intake twice. I got zero lash and adjusted and could turn rod immediately. This was the second time that happened, first was on front intake."


And you don't know what's ticking?

Right.....

[rbabos]

Last time I heard that , it was the front exhaust rocker shaft notch smacking the bolt. Quiet cold and noise came on when the head got up to temp. Loudest, right at the exhaust port. Once you hear this sound at the rocker area you never forget it.
Ron

[N-gin]

Id be pulling the cam cover off and inspecting lifters if the pushrods are not loose and adjusted properly

[04 SE Deuce]

Have seen lifters with a high bleed rate make noise when oil is thin/hot.  You mention debris/metal in previous build which sometimes is impossible to clean completely (why engine oil coolers are replaced not cleaned) and could be causing an issue with a lifter,  to no fault of the lifter/brand.

[Chippitt68]

Cases were split and a new oil pan was installed. After I got it back, I changed oil and cut filter open and found crap in the media. Little bits of what looked like Teflon tape and the white lock patch that harley puts on their bolts. I changed the lifters tonite. Ones I took out looked brand new. Only 1500 miles on them. The thing that was weird is I adjusted two of them that required no wait to bleed down. One of them went almost a complete turn before I felt any resistance. I was careful to make Sure they were at zero lash.
Anyhow. The noise is gone. I let it get warm well past the point that noise started and no 'clack'

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SmPxkbtQvMA&feature=youtu.be
Thanks everyone who helped. I hope it's gone for good.

[04 SE Deuce]

What brand/model lifters did you install?


What model Hylifts did you remove...a friend had issues with the regular/not slow bleed 2313.

[Chippitt68]

I took out hylift johnson b 2313. Put in comp cams 875-1. They were recommended by the shop that tuned my bike. 2 turns on se tapered adjustables. These are supposed to be fast bleed down and a total travel of .150. They are in there because I had them and highly recommended by Roeder's racing. There are varying opinions on them, was frustrated with the noise and needed to do something. If it stays quite, they'll stay in.

[kd]

Disassemble the first set of lifters on a fine white paper towel and see if any of that fine debris you found in your filter found its way in there. That'll cause the problem you describe and it won't get better. If the debris has not yet been cleared, the new lifters may start to act up too. 

[Chippitt68]

I will do that tomorrow. I took apart the s& s lifters after I found the metal the first time. There was nothing in them, but replaced them anyway. I still have the 'b' lifters with 19k on them soaking in oil in a sealed container. Almost put those in. Chickened out. Can't bring myself to toss em.

[koko3052]

That's right... hang onto them!

[N-gin]

I took out hylift johnson b 2313. Put in comp cams 875-1. They were recommended by the shop that tuned my bike. 2 turns on se tapered adjustables. These are supposed to be fast bleed down and a total travel of .150. They are in there because I had them and highly recommended by Roeder's racing. There are varying opinions on them, was frustrated with the noise and needed to do something. If it stays quite, they'll stay in.

Roeders huh, are you in Ohio?

I would defiantly take apart and look at those lifters.

[les]

I took out hylift johnson b 2313. Put in comp cams 875-1. They were recommended by the shop that tuned my bike. 2 turns on se tapered adjustables. These are supposed to be fast bleed down and a total travel of .150. They are in there because I had them and highly recommended by Roeder's racing. There are varying opinions on them, was frustrated with the noise and needed to do something. If it stays quite, they'll stay in.

Roeders huh, are you in Ohio?

I would defiantly take apart and look at those lifters.

I am.  Roaders went out of business.

[Ohio HD]

I took out hylift johnson b 2313. Put in comp cams 875-1. They were recommended by the shop that tuned my bike. 2 turns on se tapered adjustables. These are supposed to be fast bleed down and a total travel of .150. They are in there because I had them and highly recommended by Roeder's racing. There are varying opinions on them, was frustrated with the noise and needed to do something. If it stays quite, they'll stay in.

Roeders huh, are you in Ohio?

I would defiantly take apart and look at those lifters.

I am.  Roaders went out of business.

When did they go out of business?     


http://www.roederracing.com/index.html


https://www.facebook.com/Roeder-Racing-Page-1123744250983143/

[les]

Roaders Harley-Davidson dealership in Monroeville is not there anymore.  It happened a few years ago.  It appears that the racing team is still cranking along, but the H-D dealership no longer exists.

[Ohio HD]

He was referring to George Roeder's shop. His dad I believe was the HD dealer.

[04 SE Deuce]

And as I'm sure you know Brian,  his father also was named George and rode dirt track for factory Harley Davidson.  Raced 60's through early 70's IIRC...excellent racer.

[Ohio HD]

Yes sir, I did know that.     

[shovelinabox]

Any chance you have 96" head gaskets in there? Piston could be contacting the fire ring.

[Chippitt68]

Disassemble the first set of lifters on a fine white paper towel and see if any of that fine debris you found in your filter found its way in there. That'll cause the problem you describe and it won't get better. If the debris has not yet been cleared, the new lifters may start to act up too.

I disassembled the lifters tonite. The rear intake did not want to come apart. Clip was jammed and couldn't compress it to free it up. Locked up.  I had to yank it out with pliers. I took each one apart and drained oil on its own paper towel. No crap in the oil. When I swabbed them out with a q-tip, i got a fine gray slurry, mostly oil. Looked like what you would find on primary drain plug.     
I took several measurements and they were all virtually the same,except the length of the spring  in the rear intake (3/100 longer). All had vertical lines on bodies, one I could barely feel with my fingernail. The rear intake is the one that bled down immediately and was readjusted, then took awhile To bleed down.

[Chippitt68]

I took out hylift johnson b 2313. Put in comp cams 875-1. They were recommended by the shop that tuned my bike. 2 turns on se tapered adjustables. These are supposed to be fast bleed down and a total travel of .150. They are in there because I had them and highly recommended by Roeder's racing. There are varying opinions on them, was frustrated with the noise and needed to do something. If it stays quite, they'll stay in.

Roeders huh, are you in Ohio?
I would defiantly take apart and look at those lifters.

Southwestern Pa. 3 hr ride to Roeder's.