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Scraping Sound

13317 Views 33 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  2stangs8689
Took my 09 Road King to work this morning. Turned out of the driveway started down my street, first gear normal RPMs heard a loud scraping sound. Sounded like it came from the engine. Only lasted a second or two. Rode to work no other issues. On way home after about 10 minutes riding stopped to get gas, leaving the station and it did it again. No other issues on the way home. Both times in first gear and only for a second or two. Sounds like I was dragging a piece of metal tied to the bike. Checked fluids and they were fine. Any ideas?
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When's the last time ya checked your primary chain? I'm halfway thinking compensator?
When's the last time ya checked your primary chain? I'm halfway thinking compensator?
Haven't yet, only had her a couple of months, put about 2k miles on her.
Haven't yet, only had her a couple of months, put about 2k miles on her.
Its an easy check. Get the gasket, you can reuse but it will seep. Open up the inspection cover you should only have 5/8 play, cold on the chain. While your there take a long screw driver and check the sprocket for play. Got the shop manual?
Its an easy check. Get the gasket, you can reuse but it will seep. Open up the inspection cover you should only have 5/8 play, cold on the chain. While your there take a long screw driver and check the sprocket for play. Got the shop manual?
Yes I have the manual, thanks will check that out. May have to ride the super glide into work tomorrow.
Both times did you leave your kickstand down Nut?
Had to ask.
This may be a long shot, but had this happen here to a friend's bike last year. First, does that noise sound something like your kickstand is dragging the ground? If it's something like this, Billy's bike had the same thing. Thought he had a tranny issue, and after that got proven nil, we found a bad starter button. Seems that out of nowhere, the starter would try turning over when the engine was running and made a helluva noise then it would just go quiet again.
Nope kickstand was up. I had the extended warranty transferred to me when I bought. Maybe I will give the local dealership a call and have them take a look.
Nope kickstand was up. I had the extended warranty transferred to me when I bought. Maybe I will give the local dealership a call and have them take a look.
:thumbsup
This may be a long shot, but had this happen here to a friend's bike last year. First, does that noise sound something like your kickstand is dragging the ground? If it's something like this, Billy's bike had the same thing. Thought he had a tranny issue, and after that got proven nil, we found a bad starter button. Seems that out of nowhere, the starter would try turning over when the engine was running and made a helluva noise then it would just go quiet again.
Buddy of mine had the same on his 05 soft ail deluxe, it's as if he was hitting the starter button while the bike was running. We had to cut the wire so he could finish riding that day.
Nope kickstand was up. I had the extended warranty transferred to me when I bought. Maybe I will give the local dealership a call and have them take a look.

Dude, definitely give that warrantee a crack at it first. You don't need to be tearing stuff apart if they will for the low, low price of on the house.

My 73 Yamaha did what you're describing and it was the starter motor shredding rollers which eventually damaged my stator. I'm sure that is NOT the issue with your modern era Harley, but kd's comment made me think of that experience.

Let us know what they say. And, I agree you should take the other bike until you get it sorted out.

Good luck.
compensator ...Thats what mine did too and it was that stupid compensator.
sounded just like the shocks were dragging the ground. drove me nuts
+1 on the don't mess with it, its under warranty. Only advice ya might want to consider is describe what is going on, but don't point them to a specific component. If you say its might be coming from the engine thats where they are gonna look. This way you have a fresh set of eyes looking at the problem and if they don't find anything its on record, that way if something fails later on down the road, you've got it on record. Good luck.
Good advice thanks, called and am dropping her off tonight after work.
Well they should be looking for the problem today. Hope they can replicate the issue, if not I am on the hook for any time they spend and don't find a problem.
Heard from dealer today, everything running within specs. Just another mystery in life.
You might have to ride it with someone riding next to you.
Heard from dealer today, everything running within specs. Just another mystery in life.

Hmmmmm. Let us know if you hear it again.
get a second on that . they may be full of shit.
That's called dragging floorboards. It happens when you show your badassery leaving parking lots. You'll get good and it'll last for 10-15 seconds on long curves.
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