[Gundam-Meister]

OK a touch of what has led to this. I had a lot of tapping noise from the top of both heads. I put in "Rocker Lockers" and that took care of 90% of the noise. I put everything back to torque specs and took my time and everything.
but now while riding it sounds like I have a valve tap but only while in the throttle and at speed. When at idle it is quiet no noise when you rev it up you can get a bit of the tap but not much. If it was a valve tap it would be constant not only when at speed.

I was wondering, when I took it apart the front rocker arm was a bit lose and had a tiny bit of play between the top of the valve and the top pf its reach. But all the Youtub videios say that the rocker should have a touch of movement. Could it be that that one has too much play and is slapping the top of the valve rod?
I'm going to open her back up tonight and recheck the torque on all of the bolts and see just how much play there is. I laso now have an actual full manual and will double check with that.
The tapping is both worrisome and annoying

 

[Gaddy]

Might need adjust valves again sounds like they bouncing

 

[Gundam-Meister]

Might need adjust valves again sounds like they bouncing

That would be a job for the shop. I know my limits.. LOL It won't hurt to keep riding for another few weeks would it? That would be a winter project.

 

[Gaddy]

Well it could hurt valves or seats what gas octane you run

 

[Gaddy]

That would be a job for the shop. I know my limits.. LOL It won't hurt to keep riding for another few weeks would it? That would be a winter project.

What octane gas you run

 

[SCHMIDTY]

This being a 1999 Harley Ultra with unstated miles my first thought is ... this OP is ANUS ! Maybe OCD !!!
First of all the '99s were all MoCo recalled due to grenaded cam bearings. The engines were basically dealer rebuilt sans the crankcase. The OP's engine has been apart and back together more times that only the MoCo knows !

Maybe the OP has some more pertinent info to add to his thread to aid the Gurus that try to solve online mechanical problems. This means tell us everything right away, all you know. Please.

 

[Gundam-Meister]

This being a 1999 Harley Ultra with unstated miles my first thought is ... this OP is ANUS ! Maybe OCD !!!
First of all the '99s were all MoCo recalled due to grenaded cam bearings. The engines were basically dealer rebuilt sans the crankcase. The OP's engine has been apart and back together more times that only the MoCo knows !

Maybe the OP has some more pertinent info to add to his thread to aid the Gurus that try to solve online mechanical problems. This means tell us everything right away, all you know. Please.

Well.... I did not know that they did a recall. The original owner did not say anything about that. In fact in all the paperwork he did have there was nothing that mentioned taking the engine apart multiple times. But what do I know I'm just an Ass right? And seeing as you know so much about how many times this engine has been taken apart how about you tell me? I mean from your tone you know all that there is to know right?. As for the miles it has 81K on it and this is the first issue I have had with it, but why tell you that you already knew that right. My God, didn't realize that asking about a tap made me an Ass, but what ever.

as for the Octane I use it is the mid grade.

 

[Gundam-Meister]

Well it could hurt valves or seats what gas octane you run

True, I don't want to do more damage that could have been prevented.
I put in the mid grade fuel. Not the highest but not the low grade crap I use for the lawnmower.

 

[Gundam-Meister]

Well it could hurt valves or seats what gas octane you run

I just find it strange that it is only on 1 of the valves, or at least it sounds like it is only 1. The tap is only from the front top left corner. The other head sounds fine as dose the rear of the front head.

 

[SCHMIDTY]

Hey OP I didn't intend to hurt your feelings.

I stated that only the MoCo knows how many times your '99 TC engine has been apart because recalls and warranty repairs and upgrades aren't publicly reported. Based on experience I suspect your engine has been apart to some degree at least twice.

As for the "tap" you're hearing and based on the 81K miles you state are on the drivetrain I suspect the engine might require lifter replacement. The lifters would have been replaced when the cam plate repairs were done. Most early TC engine cam plate bearing problems occurred before 10K miles.

 

[prodrag1320]

there are a whole lot of causes for any top end noise,rocker lockers will only correct rocker shafts contacting the bolts (i use a set screw thru the rocker support to correct this & been doing so since the EVO`s came out) i wouldnt wait till winter to at least adjust the valves (witch anyone should be able to do) with the p/rods in & adjusted there shouldnt be any "movement" of rocker arms.with the crap inner bearings & lifters,any noise should never be put off till you have time or whatever,look into it now (BTW,octane level of your fuel will have nothing to do with any valve train "ticking",it can cuase detionation,and i would really hope you can tell the difference between detionation & valve train noise)

 

[Gundam-Meister]

Yes the sound of detionation and a valve tap are two very different sounds you are correct on that one. LOL

 

[Gaddy]

there are a whole lot of causes for any top end noise,rocker lockers will only correct rocker shafts contacting the bolts (i use a set screw thru the rocker support to correct this & been doing so since the EVO`s came out) i wouldnt wait till winter to at least adjust the valves (witch anyone should be able to do) with the p/rods in & adjusted there shouldnt be any "movement" of rocker arms.with the crap inner bearings & lifters,any noise should never be put off till you have time or whatever,look into it now (BTW,octane level of your fuel will have nothing to do with any valve train "ticking",it can cuase detionation,and i would really hope you can tell the difference between detionation & valve train noise)

Hey don't always assume that someone knows the difference,and midgrade gas not much better than low grade.harleys don't like that cheap gas.if you read his first post he stated valve noise at high rpms.

 

[Gundam-Meister]

Hey OP I didn't intend to hurt your feelings.

I stated that only the MoCo knows how many times your '99 TC engine has been apart because recalls and warranty repairs and upgrades aren't publicly reported. Based on experience I suspect your engine has been apart to some degree at least twice.

As for the "tap" you're hearing and based on the 81K miles you state are on the drive train I suspect the engine might require lifter replacement. The lifters would have been replaced when the cam plate repairs were done. Most early TC engine cam plate bearing problems occurred before 10K miles.

My feelings were not hurt in anyway. You just sounded like a lot of "old school" drivers when they see a rookie driver. They tend to talk trash as if they were never a rookie themselves. Don't worry I did not take it personal, but I did have to play with it. You're all good brother.

I honestly did not know about the recall and there is nothing in all of the service records that he had that would say anything about it being recalled.
I took the top off this weekend and I did find the problem. The bike is now rather quiet. All be it the normal noises made by a HD.
2 of the bolts that hold the rocker shaft bracket in place had backed out ever so slightly.They were about 8 or 9 Lbs below the torque needed I could turn them very easily and they should not move that easily, they should be tight. This aloud the rockers to move too much. I pulled them cleaned them off and re insalled them with lock tight and double checked the proper torque settings. I don't think I will take it to the shop that put in the rocker lockers. Now that I have the service manual I can do 90% of the work myself.

 

[Gundam-Meister]

Hey don't always assume that someone knows the difference,and midgrade gas not much better than low grade.harleys don't like that cheap gas.if you read his first post he stated valve noise at high rpms.

I now only put in the high grade gas. It is still way cheaper to put in 5 gallons of primium in the HD and get to work all week on the bike than over 20 gallons in my truck. The HD only uses about 3 gallons per week to get to and from work. I have been keeping records of every time I fill up with mileage and amount of fuel added. I average about 36 MPG. I drove to Richmond and back a few weeks ago and I was getting closer to 45 MPG on the highway.

 

[Jp7430]

Hey OP I didn't intend to hurt your feelings.

I stated that only the MoCo knows how many times your '99 TC engine has been apart because recalls and warranty repairs and upgrades aren't publicly reported. Based on experience I suspect your engine has been apart to some degree at least twice.

As for the "tap" you're hearing and based on the 81K miles you state are on the drivetrain I suspect the engine might require lifter replacement. The lifters would have been replaced when the cam plate repairs were done. Most early TC engine cam plate bearing problems occurred before 10K miles.

I also was going to suggest possible lifter replacement…possible,not certain. Wasnt loud enough for me to hear it. Glad to see he found the issue…

 

[prodrag1320]

i would hope the rider would know the difference,if detionation was ever loud enough to be mistaken for any kind of valve train noise,it would distroy the pistons in 100 miles or less.detionation would also be more evident at lower RPM`s under a load than at higher RPM`s too