Harley Davidson Forums

Loading


Hello

Guest

Welcome to the harley davidson forum. Join our discussion today for FREE!

CREATE ACCOUNT

Membership Benefits

Get your questions answered by harley davidson community gurus and industry experts. Exchange your experience with another members. Access full features forum. Get a members discounts for your harley parts & accessories.

Random "cracking" sound in '02 RK w/ Vance & Hines exhaust.

Touring Models

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Jun 16th, 2012, 01:09 AM     #1
Warming The Wheels
Ride: 2002 Road King Classic
 
colnajoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 17th, 2011
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 76
My Mood: My Mood
colnajoe is an unknown quantity at this point
Random "cracking" sound in '02 RK w/ Vance & Hines exhaust.

Maybe it's just me, but I have been hearing this random cracking sound coming from the rightside exhaust. When it's idling, in a random order, I hear a crack come out of the pipes. Not sure if it's the sound playing tricks or what. I just replaced the fiberglass in my classic pipes, tightened all nut and bolts to spec, greased some before cranking down. New exhaust clamps, copper exhaust sealant, checked everywhere for vibration, just can't find it. Do the classic slash cuts have that random "crack" during the exhaust cycle? Is it normal? Driving me nuts, I even took apart the saddlebag mounts, rear fender brackets, even the removable tour PAC mounting brackets, nothing. At times small amount of vibration from the rear somewhere. Replaced mounting brackets for saddlebags. I give up
colnajoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jun 16th, 2012, 09:42 AM     #2
Community Star
Ride: 2010 Ultra Limited
 
HDSickness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 21st, 2011
Location: Folsom,CA.
Posts: 352
My Mood: My Mood
HDSickness is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Random "cracking" sound in '02 RK w/ Vance & Hines exhaust.

Use some petroleum jelly on the rubber exhaust mounts under saddle bags. Grease um up good, inside and out, they get dry and squeek. I had same problem, cured it right up.
__________________
2010 FLHTK 103"
Jackpot Full exhaust
SE Ventilator Intake
HD Super Tuner
HDSickness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jun 17th, 2012, 01:10 PM     #3
Contributor$
Ride: FLHR 09
 
BUBBIE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 15th, 2008
Location: AZ, S.East corner/Western WA.
Posts: 4,015
My Mood: My Mood
BUBBIE will become famous soon enoughBUBBIE will become famous soon enough
Lightbulb Re: Random "cracking" sound in '02 RK w/ Vance & Hines exhaust.

Heat shields make a noise when they get Hot and when they Cool?

Could this be what you are hearing?

Metal that is Cold and has to expand when it gets hot, sometimes will make a Cracking sound when it Moves.

signed....BUBBIE
__________________
*************************
Quite Often I am Right so Forgive me when I'm WRONG!!!.......
BUBBIE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jun 17th, 2012, 09:18 PM     #4
Warming The Wheels
Ride: 2002 Road King Classic
 
colnajoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 17th, 2011
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 76
My Mood: My Mood
colnajoe is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Random "cracking" sound in '02 RK w/ Vance & Hines exhaust.

I don't think it's the heat shields because in my search, I had the shields off and still heard. It's better described as a reverberation, and it only happens at a specific rpm range. The cracking may be completely different than I described at first. I'm think the cracking sound I hear is coming from the engine through the exhaust. Just the way my exhaust sounds. I just repacked my V&H classic slashes with new fiberglass from V&H, the right side was 3/4 gone. The left was at about 80% still good. It did change my tone, random crack still there. Lubed every bolt, cleaned and greased all contact surfaces. I even put small pieces of bike inner tube between metal on metal contact points. Reverb still there, and so is the random crack. I thought that the crack was just Harley, but I've not heard it on other RK's. Search goes on
colnajoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The "danger" in cracking your pipes colnajoe General Harley Davidson Topic 34 Jun 10th, 2012 09:10 PM
Vance and hines twin slash 3" slip-on muffler (fxdc) dolce Dyna Models 11 Sep 25th, 2011 12:05 AM
Front disc "swoosh" sound MigAZ Wheels 12 Oct 20th, 2010 11:20 PM
Clutch "clanking" sound trvlr Transmission 28 May 19th, 2010 07:59 PM