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Very loud clank when shifting or getting on throttle or letting off throttle

19K views 30 replies 23 participants last post by  ToMang07 
#1 ·
Help needed. 2013 RG with 7900 Miles. Warranty just ended two months ago, no extended warranty. I know I should of purchased. Purchased on last bike and never needed it. Lesson learned. Started hearing noise in Primary. Opened up primary and disassembled compensator. I see no wear or problems with compensator but main bolt was loose. Re assembled everything and torqued to spec. Noise in Primary no longer there. When riding, shifting it is super loud. Funny thing, it shifts better now than the day I bought the bike. There is a clank when I shift or when I really get on the throttle or let off the throttle. I feel as though there is to much slack or gear lash. Is this the compensator resonating through the drivetrain or is there damage to other parts in the drivetrain due to the compensator being loose for who knows how long? I have not heard another Harley shift this loud ever. I also know that this is not right or normal, due to the fact that it has never been this loud up until now. Any help would be appreciated. I have been networking with friends to find good mechanic outside of the dealer. Figured I throw this out there to get as many opinions as I can. Thanks for your time and help.
 
#2 ·
Good thing you found the loose main bolt and hopefully cleaned and applied red thread locker. Your story sounds familiar.

Up to 45k on my 2011 and have installed a Hayden M6 chain tensioner, BDL compensator and Redline tranny fluid. Still have a good amount of shift klunk and a hollow sound at 2000-2500 rpm. I just decided to turn the radio up and ride it like I stole it.

The last thing I would do is take it to the dealer.
 
#3 ·
It sounds like you have a compensator issue. When you unbolted the already loose bolt did you disassemble the compensator? The wear will be on the ramp side of it. Also changing the tensioner to, say the Hayden tensioner will snug up the chain to keep it from possibly slapping around in there
 
#4 ·
i have the same issue with my 13, on and off throttle i have that metal twang sound, also sometimes at startup i have a loud compensator metal bang sound, all probly related to compensator...I have 7yr extended so driven it till it breaks. So far i have new ignition,new voltage regulator replaced under warranty. Not much help to you, just giving what info i have.
 
#6 ·
Following this thread as I was just about to start my own with basically the same situation.
I have about 6 weeks left on my warranty and I want to get it documented at the dealership before that date .... As much as I loathe the idea of my bike being worked on there.
 
#7 ·
I too have Road Glide Special 2015 7,000 miles that has way too much driveline slop, when hot and driving around urban areas with lots of downshifting up shifting etc if not really gentle with throttle it will clank speeding up and slowing down. Sounds like a transmission shaft is jumping up and down in bike . I have less than 2 months left on warranty.
My 2003 softail duece with 32,000 on it does not do this
 
#8 ·
My 16 did that. It was the tensioner. I'd take it in now. Get everything looked at.

My 11 did what the OP is saying. I put in a Baker attitude adjuster. Noise all gone.
 
#10 ·
My 2015 RGS has almost 43,000 miles & I have had to have the same issue worked on three times.
It was the compensater but the last fix they used shims like they use to. Once they added shims my issues went away.
Talk to your dealer and tell them to make it right.
Swomack
 
#11 ·
Thanks for the info, do you any advice on exactly what to say to them ? Only other issue I had was the speed tuning feature that didn't work on the Boom GT stereo UNTIL A YEAR PLUS OF SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS. They kept telling me I was only one having problem. I am concerned in advance, about run around on thus clanking drivetrain issue , this is my 5th Harley and only one to do this.
Thanks , congrats on putting all those miles on your RG
 
#18 ·
After 2 days Old Glory HD in Laurel Md says noise is normal.
I told them this is unacceptable bike clunks when rolling on and off throttle excessively nasty sounding clunks , hard to drive it smoothly in traffic , they called me back, shop Forman is going to drive it. Issue is we are in a several days of rain situation currently. What should I do if they continue to say the clunking is normal ( you can hear it and feel it)
Thanks


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#20 ·
My 2012 ultra has the on and off slack your talking about. It's a clank with you let off the gas and back on like you've got slack in a driveline on a car. It has done it since I bought it new and of course they told me that they didn't hear it when they rode it. So I figure I'll find the answer when it breaks. If you figure it out let us know
 
#23 ·
Spoke to dealer again today, they say it's normal for bike to clunk on and off throttle , called Harley they gave me a reference number but will not do anything else , they also cannot explain to my why the driveline would have so much slop in it , even compared to virtually none at all in my 2003 softail deuce with 32k on it. Not sure what to do next as warranty has just expired.
Would a potential buyer notice this ? Dealer told me they road a demo to confirm that clunking in driveline seems normal.




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#24 ·
WTF!! Your dealer had to ride a demo bike to verify that the clunking is normal?? You need to find a new dealer ASAP.. So if the demo bike leaks oil it's ok for your bike to leak oil? Obviously they have no Idea what the hell there doing..
 
#26 · (Edited)
Ok, got my 2015 roadglide special back home, with the sloppy compensator clunk when rolling on and off the throttle quickly.
Dealer continues to say it's normal and different then all the other Harley's I have owned. I called Harley Davidson customer concerns 414-343-4056 and they will authorize nothing if my dealer says it's ok. Reference number 2880752, I encourage anyone with sloppy Rushmore compensator call Harley and complain! Don't let them say no one has complained about it.
Harley's only suggestion was to take it to another dealer. So Old Glory HD in laurel Maryand thinks clunking in drive train is ok.
This is as of 10-18-2016 , I am of course not happy, bike is now out of warranty.


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#27 ·
Wish I could say I was surprised...but that's the nature of dealers. Maybe it's time to take it to a well regarded indy. At least if something IS wrong you could then go back and try to get some satisfaction.
 
#29 ·
I've never had excessive compensator noise in my '13 w/ 30,000 miles. However, recently installed a 32 tooth comp sprocket (Rivera Primo Game Changer) and added an extra shim at the time. No noise and nothing but great things to say about the ration change. Important to properly adjust tensioner. The process takes about an hour. I use Redline Synthetic Primary Lube.
 
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