Loud top end noise

azglocker

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Dec 14, 2015
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Delete.. Some people have more money that brain cells and I think I just earned admission to that club.
 
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Ha okay. We'll I thought my heads had developed a disturbingly loud rattle at mid rpms, sounded like extreme valve lash or dry heads. Turned out to be one of the spring clip nuts that holds the horn assembly on had broken and it was rattling. I literally cut short my Saturday "ride without a chosen destination" because I was afraid of what it could be.



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Ha okay. We'll I thought my heads had developed a disturbingly loud rattle at mid rpms, sounded like extreme valve lash or dry heads. Turned out to be one of the spring clip nuts that holds the horn assembly on had broken and it was rattling. I literally cut short my Saturday "ride without a chosen destination" because I was afraid of what it could be.



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How did you finally realize it was the horn clips? I know any unknown rattle would have driven me crazy!
 
Ha okay. We'll I thought my heads had developed a disturbingly loud rattle at mid rpms, sounded like extreme valve lash or dry heads. Turned out to be one of the spring clip nuts that holds the horn assembly on had broken and it was rattling. I literally cut short my Saturday "ride without a chosen destination" because I was afraid of what it could be.

That's a normal reaction if you ask me, I've done and seen things way more stupid than that!
 
One time About 4 years ago, I pulled off the road on my street bob, I kept hearing noise. Wouldn't stop, drove a couple more miles, and went back home.

Trying to think of what it might be, I remembered I'm riding without the windshield, maybe somethings loose.

Turned out I was just hearing the bell!
 
Lol... thanks for sharing! Heard a few tails like that

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How did you finally realize it was the horn clips? I know any unknown rattle would have driven me crazy!
Well I cross posted on harley-davidsonforums.com with a video. The only replier made a comment "you took that video from the opposite side of the valve train." I went out to check a few more fasteners and then revved it to 2500 while on the right side of the bike and noticed it was much quieter! So I went back to the left, now convinced that it was something on the left side, and decided to just grab anything I could. Grabbing the cowbell and wards fans didn't do anything but for some reason I reached in and touched the horn too. I'm still amazed that just grabbing the cowbell, considering this fastener holds the cowbell and horn, didn't squelch the noise.

I only noticed the broken fastener because I was taking it apart so I could verify the bolt size since that one went missing. That's when I finally noticed half that clip nut was broken off. I replaced it with a new bolt and nut, with loctite.

I too have had that moment of "what is that high pitched clank when I go over bumps?" only to realize it was my cowbell. That stopped when it fell off. Now I'm sans bell so the gremlins are gaining a foothold on my bike.

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