Dry squeal noise coming from primary

[Big Mike]

Thought I would share a little experience I had with my 04 pitbull.

I bought the bike used in February with 4,300 miles on it. I've put 500 miles on it since. About 100 miles ago, I started hearing what sounded like a dry squeal noise coming from the primary. Every time I would take off from a stop, or get on it a little, I would hear it. Never heard it any other time.

I removed the outer primary cover and inspected inside without removing anything else, and everything looked good. I put it back together and while I was at it switched to Amsoil synthetic. That quieted things down, but the squeal was still there.

I took it into the shop last week and told them I thought it was my inner primary bearing going out. They pulled it apart and found the compensator nut had come loose. Since it was apart, I had all the seals and bearings replaced. It runs perfect now.

I was talking to another local Big Dog owner who has a 04 Chopper and he told me he had the same thing happen.

Anyway, happy ending catching it before it something really went sideways.

Anybody else have this happen?

 

[alhall88]

Yep had that compensator nut come loose twice and totally wipe out 2 charging systems. Went to a belt drive and never looked back.

 

[BadBrad]

Mike, I've had a similar sound since I had a new head, jug and piston replaced due to a failed exhaust valve. Never heard that noise before then. I have not narrowed it down to an exact location but it sounds like a metallic squeal kinda like you hear when drilling metal. Like you, it only happens when I get on it a little......or a lot. No other time. How hard is this to check? How 'bout it dog pound? I've vowed to do my damndest not to take my bike back to a shop if I can help it. There's way too much experience here and besides, Gas man's quote "why pay to have someone else fuck up your bike" or something like that is one of the reasons I"m here. Thanks for the post Mike. Maybe you've figured out my mystery squeal.

 

[f-okie]

maybe it just needs to be ridden more---500 miles in 6 months????????

 

[BadBrad]

maybe it just needs to be ridden more---500 miles in 6 months????????

That's a whole other thread, but I have to agree with you there. Of course, living in south LA has it's advantages with 9 or 10 riding months out of the year. Personally, I average about 1000 miles/month if I don't take a road trip.

 

[Big Mike]

Mike, I've had a similar sound since I had a new head, jug and piston replaced due to a failed exhaust valve. Never heard that noise before then. I have not narrowed it down to an exact location but it sounds like a metallic squeal kinda like you hear when drilling metal. Like you, it only happens when I get on it a little......or a lot. No other time. How hard is this to check? How 'bout it dog pound? I've vowed to do my damndest not to take my bike back to a shop if I can help it. There's way too much experience here and besides, Gas man's quote "why pay to have someone else fuck up your bike" or something like that is one of the reasons I"m here. Thanks for the post Mike. Maybe you've figured out my mystery squeal.

The compensator nut (they call it a sprocket in the service manual) is on the end of the splined crankshaft. If you have the right tools it should'nt be too hard to pull and check. Once mine was pulled, I could see circular scape marks near the center where the crankshaft spline goes through it.

Hope that helps. :up:

 

[Big Mike]

maybe it just needs to be ridden more---500 miles in 6 months????????

Yeah, I know. Unfortunately I'm in the rain belt. Rains about 9 months out of the year. I'm try'in to make up for it now though. Goin for a putt tomorrow

 

[lee]

Brad - very easy to check. Drain primary fluid and remove outer cover. Its that big ass nut you see toward the front of the primary. You will need to stick a rag or something between the sprocket and the chain to keep the sprocket still whilst getting on the nut. If need be remove it, clean up the threads, red loctite and torque to spec.

 

[BadBrad]

Brad - very easy to check. Drain primary fluid and remove outer cover. Its that big ass nut you see toward the front of the primary. You will need to stick a rag or something between the sprocket and the chain to keep the sprocket still whilst getting on the nut. If need be remove it, clean up the threads, red loctite and torque to spec.

Thanks Lee!:up: If I didn't know you were from England, I would swear you were from the south. You speak in a way that's easy to understand.

 

[stlmikie]

If I remember right it is inch and quarter or inch and a half. Needs to be torqued to 125 or 150 ft lbs or so. Maybe more I haven't have my morning elixir yet.

 

[BadBrad]

If I remember right it is inch and quarter or inch and a half. Needs to be torqued to 125 or 150 ft lbs or so. Maybe more I haven't have my morning elixir yet.

Will that help with hearing loss? My wife says I don't listen, or something like that.

 

[Five Five]

i've been trouble shooting that sound for a month now.....can't wait to tear it down this weekend and check it....

thanks doggies

03 Pit Bull

 

[BadBrad]

Bill, Keep us posted. I drained my primary and the comp nut was tight. Good luck!

 

[Raywood]

Bill, Keep us posted. I drained my primary and the comp nut was tight. Good luck!

You don't have a compensator on your model (05 - 08 no have). Just the sprocket and the nut. But it was good you checked it. Clutch hub nut is the one to be worried about.

:2thumbs:

 

[BadBrad]

You don't have a compensator on your model (05 - 08 no have). Just the sprocket and the nut. But it was good you checked it. Clutch hub nut is the one to be worried about.

:2thumbs:

Is the clutch hub nut the big one towards the front? I had also read threads about the clutch housing (something like that) breaking on '05 models so I wanted to take a look and make sure there were no metal shavings or UFO's flying around. I went back with Dextron/Mercon ATF. Read another thread that had a link to Baker and that's what they recomend for "better performance" on the clutch. It's tough keeping up with you guys. After a couple of failures on mine and my wife's Dogs, I'm trying to be proactive and catch things before they happen. Hell, you could spend thousands of dollars just getting the "upgrades" that are recomended to prevent upsets. Wire Plus, clutch housing, ignition switch, S&S rocker boxes, triple springs, and the list keeps on going. Right now, I'm just doing what I can and riding that Dog!!!!!!!!!! I've put 10K miles on it since I got it in February and really haven't taken any major trips on it. But damn, I sure do love it.

 

[woodbutcher]

clutch nut is the one in the back at the transmission.

 

[Raywood]

Is the clutch hub nut the big one towards the front? I had also read threads about the clutch housing (something like that) breaking on '05 models so I wanted to take a look and make sure there were no metal shavings or UFO's flying around. I went back with Dextron/Mercon ATF. Read another thread that had a link to Baker and that's what they recomend for "better performance" on the clutch. It's tough keeping up with you guys. After a couple of failures on mine and my wife's Dogs, I'm trying to be proactive and catch things before they happen. Hell, you could spend thousands of dollars just getting the "upgrades" that are recomended to prevent upsets. Wire Plus, clutch housing, ignition switch, S&S rocker boxes, triple springs, and the list keeps on going. Right now, I'm just doing what I can and riding that Dog!!!!!!!!!! I've put 10K miles on it since I got it in February and really haven't taken any major trips on it. But damn, I sure do love it.

Funny almost. My only mods on my 05 are exhaust and intake filter. 65,000 miles and maintained very well so if you take good care of it it will take good care of you.
Get a manual especially if you think the clutch nut is the big one towards the front. I uploaded the clutch/primary pages of the service manual in the How To section the other day.

Enjoy your bike and put some miles on it!

 

[BadBrad]

Funny almost. My only mods on my 05 are exhaust and intake filter. 65,000 miles and maintained very well so if you take good care of it it will take good care of you.
Get a manual especially if you think the clutch nut is the big one towards the front. I uploaded the clutch/primary pages of the service manual in the How To section the other day.

Enjoy your bike and put some miles on it!

That's just it!!!!! I have the manual but spend most my time on this forum instead of reading "just the facts". The manual doesn't tell you "what to fix", and the "how to's" don't come close to BDB forum. I'm also working on my '05 and my wife's '03, so I'm doing good just the get the basics for both and learn the differences as I go. I appreaciate all the help and certainly take the time to laugh at myself as learn both setups. :roll::roll:
If I had a comp nut, it would have been the big one towards the front, right? Just trying to justify my ignorace. I knew that comment about telling someone, "be wary of Ray, he'll have you pulling your heads to get to your gas tank" would come back to bite me! :lol:

 

[Raywood]

That's just it!!!!! I have the manual but spend most my time on this forum instead of reading "just the facts". The manual doesn't tell you "what to fix", and the "how to's" don't come close to BDB forum. I'm also working on my '05 and my wife's '03, so I'm doing good just the get the basics for both and learn the differences as I go. I appreaciate all the help and certainly take the time to laugh at myself as learn both setups. :roll::roll:
If I had a comp nut, it would have been the big one towards the front, right? Just trying to justify my ignorace. I knew that comment about telling someone, "be wary of Ray, he'll have you pulling your heads to get to your gas tank" would come back to bite me! :lol:

Ha ha, well guess that's what this site is all about. But I will add that it kill's me when poeple ask where the cam sensor is!!!
Anyway, all questions are welcome and we are here for all.
As for your Compensator nut.... Big Dog eliminated them with the introduction of the 05's but for some reason have re-introduced them with the 09's or 10's for whatever reason.

Now if I could get my tank back on so I can get the motor back together then I would be back on the road!!!! :roll::roll:

 

[lee]

Brad - you should get a Haynes or Clymer manual for a HD - most of the stuff is very similar and they cover it much much much better than the BDM manual.