[Gennadiybirman]

Hey guys,

Just got a 2017 road glide M8 with 8k miles completely stock, it runs GREAT but soon after purchase im hearing a really annoying squeak/chirp/whistle from what sounds like the motor but hard to pinpoint. I THINK it goes away with any throttle but very present at idle, it occurs only after the engine warms up never as soon as it starts. Unfortunately i cant upload the video i took.
I briefly read several ideas about what this could be from forums a couple years back, but im hoping as time has passed you guys might have some idea, one thing i read was that it could be the air filter for some reason, so im swapping out the stock for just a K&N. My mechanic skills are basic maintenance so anything passed that might have to use a shop, thanks in advance!

 

[Smokey]

If the air filter assembly turns out not to be the culprit after checking it, then next focus ears on your exhaust pipes. Most of the annoying squeaks and creeks coming from the bikes I‘ve owned over the years, usually have came from the exhaust pipe mounting brackets and or heatshields.

 

[BH#103]

Check the muffler mounts in the rear under the saddlebags. Remove the metal hanger from the rear muffler mounts on each side and lubricate them, reinstall and reassess. I have heard some of the worst squeaks coming from there. I say do this first then work your way towards the motor.

 

[Cory2g]

For me the suction into the throttle body sounds like a squeak. Noticed it after putting on Monster sucker intake.

 

[Caveman]

+1 on the muffler mounts. Also, check the left side heatshield and crossover mount and connector. I found on my '17 that the left pipe started to sag a bit and squeaked like a bitch. Only seemed to make noise after she warmed up.

 

[Uncle Fuzzy]

Probably those cheap damn Chinese made muffler bearings the MoCo is using these days.

 

[Boomer617]

For me the suction into the throttle body sounds like a squeak. Noticed it after putting on Monster sucker intake.

Is this normal? Same thing happened to my '20 RGL

 

[BH#103]

Is this normal? Same thing happened to my '20 RGL

This does happen but not too sure how common it is. I am currently dealing with this myself. On my bike it is without a doubt coming from the throttle blade inside the throttle body. I can change the sound by putting my finger in the throttle body and obstructing the airflow which is how I confirmed. I thought it may have been from the oil that gets into the intake from the breather system but that is not the case. I routed my breathers externally, cleaned the throttle body out and it went away for a bit. The noise came back so it's not related to the breather. Bought a throttle body gasket yesterday so I can pull the throttle body and do some diagnostics when I get time. The noise can really annoy the shit outta me.

 

[GmaninAZ]

Hey guys,

Just got a 2017 road glide M8 with 8k miles completely stock, it runs GREAT but soon after purchase im hearing a really annoying squeak/chirp/whistle from what sounds like the motor but hard to pinpoint. I THINK it goes away with any throttle but very present at idle, it occurs only after the engine warms up never as soon as it starts. Unfortunately i cant upload the video i took.
I briefly read several ideas about what this could be from forums a couple years back, but im hoping as time has passed you guys might have some idea, one thing i read was that it could be the air filter for some reason, so im swapping out the stock for just a K&N. My mechanic skills are basic maintenance so anything passed that might have to use a shop, thanks in advance!

The throttle plate as stated is interesting. You can also check the motor stabilizing link at the top of the front cyl head in the front. Try a few small drops of light oil to each heim joint bearing. Mine developed faint squeaks some times when shutting down on both Twin Cam and M8 bikes.

 

[partspicker]

This does happen but not too sure how common it is. I am currently dealing with this myself. On my bike it is without a doubt coming from the throttle blade inside the throttle body. I can change the sound by putting my finger in the throttle body and obstructing the airflow which is how I confirmed. I thought it may have been from the oil that gets into the intake from the breather system but that is not the case. I routed my breathers externally, cleaned the throttle body out and it went away for a bit. The noise came back so it's not related to the breather. Bought a throttle body gasket yesterday so I can pull the throttle body and do some diagnostics when I get time. The noise can really annoy the shit outta me.

Have you found a fix yet? Got the exact same thing on my 2017 Road Glide Special. Drives me nuts! Chirping noise at low throttle. Go slowly across a parking lot and you are chirping!

 

[BH#103]

Have you found a fix yet? Got the exact same thing on my 2017 Road Glide Special. Drives me nuts! Chirping noise at low throttle. Go slowly across a parking lot and you are chirping!

So I actually changed my throttle body and it was quiet for awhile. Then it came back. I replaced the cam and had it tuned. It went away for awhile and then came back. It just keeps coming back. No clue so to say but it without a doubt is coming from the throttle blade. We'll see what happens with the 64mm intake that will be installed.

 

[Stoic Joker]

It could just be the nature of how the air goes through the air cleaner, compounded by the current air density/humidity.

When I was running a heave breather AC, all the guys that ran next to me said the could hear it whistling like mad when we were side by side; I never heard it. My brother says he can hear his...I never have - But my right ear is kinda shit.

Now I have an S&S mini tear drop, and depending on the weather I can hear a light - sort of tung clicking - tock tock tock randomly from idle up to about 1,800RPMs coming from the intake. Freaked me out the first couple of time, but after realizing it was "normal ' I just turn up the radio and ignore it now.

Point being... Much as described above...it comes and goes in a seemingly random fashion, that rather closely correlates with the weather.

 

[partspicker]

I pulled the filter off the housing elbow and still had the chirping at light throttle. Believe its's made by the air flow when the butterfly is barely open.Only ;have the noise at light throttle.. Going to put this one to rest since others have said they have had the same issue and it seems to mostly if not all with high flow air filters.
Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated.

 

[BH#103]

One other thing to check is the intake MAP/temp sensor on the top of the intake manifold. I was just about to swap mine into the new 64mm intake I have and noticed that the sensor seal is providing little to no seal. This would not be the direct source of the noise in my scenario as it is definitely from the blade but this could very well be a contributing factor.

 

[kiwidave]

If you ever ever a loud kind of chirping noise, it's lifters starting to fail. STOP RIDING THE BIKE!! Typically caused by a camshaft upgrade without upgrading the poor-quality Mexican-made stock lifters that H-D has used since around 2010.

Ask me how I know!