I'm gonna scream !!!!

Chaps,

I have replaced the Cam cover on my 98 Road King twice now in as many months. And for those of you who know that this involves stripping the top end, and push rods etc, you will know this is a royal pain in the butt. Anyway, all went back together peachy until the first start last night:

The oil warning light stays on after starting, but VERY dimly, in fact almost imperceptibly also...
There is a very very quiet and low frequency noise coming from the RHS of the engine, again, almost nothing, but there nevertheless.

Could this be the affect of the new bushes bedding in, or, is there something more sinister at play here? Please, no more top end strips, I could do it in my sleep now

Just in case it makes a difference,I also fitted an M6 auto primary adjuster at the same time...

Any thoughts, am i just Mr Paranoid?

Love

Worried of Wycombe, who now thinks that the little bit of rust on the cover was not all that bad

[SHOEI]

I,m no expert, but you say you are getting noise both times you fitted a new cam cover, I would assume by that description that you had neither cover in-line reemed to set the cam to bush alignment correct. As said I'm no expert, I'm sure the more techy guys will help you out on this, as for me I went for a quality cover JIMMS polished, no more rusting problems & the internal machining is excellent, the cost is significantly more at first but how much has it cost you for TWO covers in as many months plus the possible cost of an in-line reem. Hope you get sorted soon.

SHOEI

[Steppenwulf]

What did you change in the cam chest or did you only replace the rusty cover?

....only the first time with the squeek, I had a Jims cover (to replace the rusted original) fitted that fine, then decided to go for an engraved one, removed the Jims, sold it and then took delivery of the engraved one which just looked arse! So, went for a stock genuine Harley item which I was told would take no reaming...and it is that one that squeaks

Nothing changed internally, reatined all the original stuff. The only thing is, as I was hand cranking the crankshaft round to find tdc (via the primary drive side), the camshaft skewed in and became disengaged from the bevel gear of the crankshaft. Not by much, but could that have damaged the needle roller bearing in the crank case? If so, then that would need to be one majorly crap quality bearing...and I did inspect it afterwards...

Hmmmm

Neil

[Phil]

Main problem: Oil pressure. Get a gauge, screw it into the oil light fitting & see what the real reading is.
You can remove & replace the cover if you are careful. Our techs do it all the time. Remove it & mic the cam & bushing. Make sure that the bushing is aligned correctly to match up the oil holes.
Last of all...Make sure that it is the CORRECT year!

[Gypsy]

I also have a squeak on right hand side ,does this mean a prob with the cams or gaskets then 89 electra ,,,sounds bit like fan belt slippin sort of noise ,,,cheers for any info

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by Neil Ivanovich

Chaps,

I have replaced the Cam cover on my 98 Road King twice now in as many months. And for those of you who know that this involves stripping the top end, and push rods etc, you will know this is a royal pain in the butt. Anyway, all went back together peachy until the first start last night:

strip the top end ?????

fit adjustable push rods it makes life a lot easier

and the easy method of getting out the old push rods with out stripping the top is is bolt cutters

Originally Posted by Kiwi

strip the top end ?????

fit adjustable push rods it makes life a lot easier

and the easy method of getting out the old push rods with out stripping the top is is bolt cutters

I see you also subscribe to the cold chisel method of maintenance, I like your style Mr Kiwi, Sir

Yeah, I have heard about adjustable pushrods, but since my bike is very low mileage (and because I am as tight as a Gnat's chuff) I didn't see the point of changing)

Gypsy - That is a very good description, for me, its like a low frequency belt slip, I might get my video out tonight and record it for the forum!

....post script

1 hour blatt down the road this morning and found I have a leaky rocker cover (looks like the bottomn one)

Bore-larks

Could the oil pressure sensor be that sensitive?

hmmm....
Neil

update...I mjust admit can confess to my own stupidity.

The pressure switch on my FLHR is an FLHT type with two terminals, one gives an analogue output (for the guage) and one an on/off for the warning light. Guess what I had done???

Yep...I'd connected it up all chinese - Wong Way Wound

WHATTA PLONKER!!!

Changed all the rocker gaskets again (now she seems cool).....lets see!