Primary Whining

wildspirit97 · 07-02-2008, 01:08 AM

Today on the way to work I heard a whistling sound when I got on the freeway. At first I thought it was my tire on the pavement because it got quieter when I went from white to black pavement. But when I arrived at work there was a very distinguished whining coming from the primary. I immediately shut it down pushed it in the shop got it straight up in the air and checked the primary oil level (that I changed 2 weeks ago) and the level looked good but the oil (Formula +) smelled burnt.
When the nearest HD shop opened I took the bike down and had them take a listen and the mechanic said I had a loose clutch or compensator bolt. From looking at the manual I think it looks like a pretty easy job to get in there and tighten up the bolt and the shop put an estimated 1 hour of shop time on the paper work, but I was wondering what kind a damage this might have caused and what caused the burnt smell. Was a loose bolt burning my clutch up cause the smell was similar to burning brake pads.

glider · 07-02-2008, 01:29 AM

A loose compensator bolt will give you a bad knocking noise like a bad rod sound, the burnt smell you have is usually a sign of a burnt stator. IF it was the compensator bolt loose, there is no following damage in itself from that, just has to be re torqued after the "fix" suggested here.
Doing the compensator bolt is an easy fix but you should ask them to install the washer that allows the proper torque load to be applied on the stack up on the compensator so it doesn't happen again while they have it apart (probably replacing the stator).

Compensator Nut Re Torque - Harley Davidson Community

wildspirit97 · 07-02-2008, 01:46 AM

Thanks for the insight on that Glider

I'll be sure to mention that to them and I hope if it is the stator it go's out soon before the warranty is up at least. Do you think 13,000 miles is a little soon for a stator to burn up? I replaced the one on my Honda Shadow after it turned 60,000

glider · 07-02-2008, 01:49 AM

No telling on the newer models how long they are going to make it. Lots of different problems popping up on them in low miles.

I'd bet on the stator thou with the burnt smell.

wildspirit97 · 07-02-2008, 01:56 AM

Now I wonder if that's what the sound was. I have never had any knocking or clunking but I have been hearing this faint whining sound the last few weeks. It's kinda like the 5th gear noise only not as loud, but today it was real loud after a 20 mile trip down the freeway to work. After it sat for a couple of hours it wasn't near as loud but it was the same sound and coming from the front of the primary. Hope the Mechanic knows his stuff, They've only been open a couple of months so I don't know anything about the people there yet.

By the way this is on a 2007 FXST. I forgot to mention that

glider · 07-02-2008, 02:03 AM

Generally speaking the burnt smell usually indicates the stator problem. It's rather unmistakable when you open the cover up.

Chances are one of the magnets came loose in the stator and that could be where the noises are coming from even thou they usually give a knocking noise too when they come loose.

Could also be a problem with the chain tensioner causing the noise but then that would leave the burnt smell undetermined as to the cause.

Vibratinharley · 07-02-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildspirit97

Now I wonder if that's what the sound was. I have never had any knocking or clunking but I have been hearing this faint whining sound the last few weeks. It's kinda like the 5th gear noise only not as loud, but today it was real loud after a 20 mile trip down the freeway to work. After it sat for a couple of hours it wasn't near as loud but it was the same sound and coming from the front of the primary. Hope the Mechanic knows his stuff, They've only been open a couple of months so I don't know anything about the people there yet.

By the way this is on a 2007 FXST. I forgot to mention that

I actually think the faint whining is normal as when I load up the electrical system with all my accessories on, it whines and I just thought it was like what my cage alternator sounds like when it is loaded and charging. Is this right?

wildspirit97 · 07-03-2008, 01:15 AM

Well there's another stealer on the list for me. When I took the bike in yesterday I specifically asked if the loose compensator bolt would be covered under warranty and was told "yes absolutely" by the service manager. When I picked up the bike today he handed me a $75 bill and told me a loose bolt is not covered and only broken parts could be covered and the bolt should have been torqued down on the 10,000 mile service. After a long heated discussion it ended up costing me $40 bucks and they'll never see another dime from me and probably not from anyone I know either. but that's their choice. Oh yea he also told me the burnt smell was normal for the clutch!!!

If anyone feels that my feelings are wrong or I'm out of line please tell me I don't want to talk bad about a dealership if I'm out of line. thanx

glider · 07-03-2008, 01:27 AM

I don't feel you are wrong at all. If the compensator bolt was installed correctly to begin with and the proper clamp load was applied using the washer or a cut down bolt, it shouldn't have come loose at all.

Burnt smell the clutch???

You must ride the heck out of it

Hobbit · 07-03-2008, 01:38 AM

what a joke did not do the job properly on the 10~K service and still have the audacity to charge

i would never go there again.
and a burnt smell from a clutch man you have to riding the life out of it with mega power launches and rolling burnouts either that or you ride really slowly on the bite point in hot weather

07-02-2008, 01:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
wildspirit97 Community Star Ride: 2007 softail fxst Join Date: 2007, Sep 12 Location: Washington Posts: 416 My Mood:	Primary Whining Today on the way to work I heard a whistling sound when I got on the freeway. At first I thought it was my tire on the pavement because it got quieter when I went from white to black pavement. But when I arrived at work there was a very distinguished whining coming from the primary. I immediately shut it down pushed it in the shop got it straight up in the air and checked the primary oil level (that I changed 2 weeks ago) and the level looked good but the oil (Formula +) smelled burnt. When the nearest HD shop opened I took the bike down and had them take a listen and the mechanic said I had a loose clutch or compensator bolt. From looking at the manual I think it looks like a pretty easy job to get in there and tighten up the bolt and the shop put an estimated 1 hour of shop time on the paper work, but I was wondering what kind a damage this might have caused and what caused the burnt smell. Was a loose bolt burning my clutch up cause the smell was similar to burning brake pads.

07-02-2008, 01:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: 2007, Jun 21 Posts: 9,051 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining A loose compensator bolt will give you a bad knocking noise like a bad rod sound, the burnt smell you have is usually a sign of a burnt stator. IF it was the compensator bolt loose, there is no following damage in itself from that, just has to be re torqued after the "fix" suggested here. Doing the compensator bolt is an easy fix but you should ask them to install the washer that allows the proper torque load to be applied on the stack up on the compensator so it doesn't happen again while they have it apart (probably replacing the stator). Compensator Nut Re Torque - Harley Davidson Community __________________ Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

07-02-2008, 01:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
wildspirit97 Community Star Ride: 2007 softail fxst Join Date: 2007, Sep 12 Location: Washington Posts: 416 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining Thanks for the insight on that Glider I'll be sure to mention that to them and I hope if it is the stator it go's out soon before the warranty is up at least. Do you think 13,000 miles is a little soon for a stator to burn up? I replaced the one on my Honda Shadow after it turned 60,000

07-02-2008, 01:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: 2007, Jun 21 Posts: 9,051 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining No telling on the newer models how long they are going to make it. Lots of different problems popping up on them in low miles. I'd bet on the stator thou with the burnt smell. __________________ Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

07-02-2008, 01:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
wildspirit97 Community Star Ride: 2007 softail fxst Join Date: 2007, Sep 12 Location: Washington Posts: 416 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining Now I wonder if that's what the sound was. I have never had any knocking or clunking but I have been hearing this faint whining sound the last few weeks. It's kinda like the 5th gear noise only not as loud, but today it was real loud after a 20 mile trip down the freeway to work. After it sat for a couple of hours it wasn't near as loud but it was the same sound and coming from the front of the primary. Hope the Mechanic knows his stuff, They've only been open a couple of months so I don't know anything about the people there yet. By the way this is on a 2007 FXST. I forgot to mention that

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07-02-2008, 02:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: 2007, Jun 21 Posts: 9,051 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining Generally speaking the burnt smell usually indicates the stator problem. It's rather unmistakable when you open the cover up. Chances are one of the magnets came loose in the stator and that could be where the noises are coming from even thou they usually give a knocking noise too when they come loose. Could also be a problem with the chain tensioner causing the noise but then that would leave the burnt smell undetermined as to the cause. __________________ Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

07-03-2008, 01:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
wildspirit97 Community Star Ride: 2007 softail fxst Join Date: 2007, Sep 12 Location: Washington Posts: 416 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining Well there's another stealer on the list for me. When I took the bike in yesterday I specifically asked if the loose compensator bolt would be covered under warranty and was told "yes absolutely" by the service manager. When I picked up the bike today he handed me a $75 bill and told me a loose bolt is not covered and only broken parts could be covered and the bolt should have been torqued down on the 10,000 mile service. After a long heated discussion it ended up costing me $40 bucks and they'll never see another dime from me and probably not from anyone I know either. but that's their choice. Oh yea he also told me the burnt smell was normal for the clutch!!! If anyone feels that my feelings are wrong or I'm out of line please tell me I don't want to talk bad about a dealership if I'm out of line. thanx

07-03-2008, 01:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: 2007, Jun 21 Posts: 9,051 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining I don't feel you are wrong at all. If the compensator bolt was installed correctly to begin with and the proper clamp load was applied using the washer or a cut down bolt, it shouldn't have come loose at all. Burnt smell the clutch??? You must ride the heck out of it __________________ Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

07-03-2008, 01:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Hobbit Moderators Ride: 2008 Heritage Softail FLSTC Join Date: 2007, May 18 Location: The Shires UK Posts: 3,476 My Mood:	Re: Primary Whining what a joke did not do the job properly on the 10~K service and still have the audacity to charge i would never go there again. and a burnt smell from a clutch man you have to riding the life out of it with mega power launches and rolling burnouts either that or you ride really slowly on the bite point in hot weather __________________ not riding fast just flying low peace thru superior horse power

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