Squeal

[KevSumac]

My Low Rider has started making this high pitch squeal with I decelerate? It seems to be coming from the left side of the engine. Bike is running great, but when I decelerate, not brake, I get this whinning noise. Only does it when I'm in gear. Any ideas?

[Dodsfall]

Have you checked the primary oil level and the chain tension?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

Is it a whine or a squeel?

[BH121869]

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

Have you checked the primary oil level and the chain tension?

Yep that is where I'd start also.

[KevSumac]

Whatta fun weekend. Instead of checking the primary oil level I just thought I'd go ahead and change it then I'd know it's at the right level and it would have nice new fluid. Checked my repair manual, browsed the instructions, no problem. Got the drain plug out and the old fluid drained. Cleaned the magnetic head of the drain plug to remove the filings and replaced the drain plug. To start the fun, Harley uses crappy torx head bolts to hold on the derby cover. Two came out, three stripped like butter. Had to drill the three down until the heads popped off, removed the cover, and had to use vice grips to clamp onto the remaining stubs and unscrew them. I'm taking a drill bit to the chromed out side of my bike thinking "what the f@ck am I doing". However all finally came out and new fluid was put in as well as new chrome Hex head bolts. Long story short, it didn't stop the squeling. Checking the primary chain tension is going to prove to be a challenge as well since two of the four torx heads are already stripped out

[Dodsfall]

Are you using a torx socket for these? It shouldn't strip if the right size socket is used.

My Sporty has an inspection plate for the primary chain. The derby cover can stay in place for the oil change and chain adjustment.

[KevSumac]

Yes, T27 to be exact. Whoever tightened them down last time over-tightened them and began stripping them. Then when I tried to remove them they only stripped more and wouldn't budge.

[Dodsfall]

You should be able to get some replacements at the dealer or replace them with Allan bolts.

[TxFLSTC]

Originally Posted by KevSumac

My Low Rider has started making this high pitch squeal with I decelerate? It seems to be coming from the left side of the engine. Bike is running great, but when I decelerate, not brake, I get this whinning noise. Only does it when I'm in gear. Any ideas?

What kind of Harley do you have? If no significant event has happened that may have caused the noise, does the starter sound ok? Or does it sound a little different that it used to? I have had one stick in the out position on a car before and it made a funky noise. If you are in a cold climate, have you changed your lubricant for the colder temps? I haven't had to deal with the real cold temps before, but it is possible. I don't know how far you are riding when you hear this noise, if it is not far the cold lubricant could be the cause.

I had an issue with stripped bolts when I purchased mine, forutnatly it was the dealers headache that time.

[KevSumac]

Tightened the belt by doing a half turn on each rear axle adjuster. Was way too loose before. Tightening it stopped the squeal. Was a nice day Saturday so I rode 30 miles with no squealing. Rode it Sunday to the store and the squeal re-appeared. Checked the belt and it was still tight. Must be the primary chain.

[Dodsfall]

Did you check the chain adjustment? Make sure the belt is within spec and not too tight.

[KevSumac]

Not yet, will probably mess with that next weekend since I already know I have to drill out two of the bolts on the primary inspection cover.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

Harley uses a Grade 8 good quality bolt, and they can be re-used many hundreds of times if the proper tools and techniques are applied, so what has happened is either:

Some idiot used an impact driver to install them last time,

They used a high speed air ratchet to remove them,

They used a T-27 bit that was worn down, or used a T-25 bit, (not knowing the difference,)

They wayyyy over-torqued them,

or they used a hex bit.

Any of the above smacks of poor mechanical ability. Anyway, before you drill them out you can try a Torx Plus T-27 if you have one. They're slightly beefier and what you'd use for wheel spokes. If they're completely rounded out a spline drive extractor will usually grab them enough without drilling. As for replacements, if you don't want to buy OEM the 1/4-20 chrome hex socket bolts from Fastenal are actually rated as STRONGER then a Grade 8 bolt. Off hand I don't recall the figures, but the local store manager looked them up for me from the manufacturer, and we use them exclusively now for replacements.

As for the squeel...as has been suggested by several people here you'll check the primary chain tension, of course. You might also want to take the chain off and check the clutch hub bearing.

And here's a long shot: Do you have Vance and Hines pipes?

[KevSumac]

Well I drilled out two of the bolts on the primary inspection cover last Sunday and got the cover off. The primary had too much play so I tightened it up a bit and placed the cover with new chrome allen bolts. Still making the same sound. Primary and belt all tightened up and all new fluids. Unless some one can give me another idea it's off to the shop. Negative on the V&H pipes, I've got Pythons.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

I've had 3 bikes in the last year come in with V&H pipes that were making a squeel sound from the left side of the bike, was why I asked that. After hours of looking and head scratching on the first one we found out that it was a broken internal weld on the pipes themselves (on the right side, of course,) that was causing the problem.

Other then that I'd say yes, you should take it to a shop. Can't diagnose noises very well on the Internet. Good luck, and let us know what they find.