Engine tick

LDO

The Cleaner
Troop Supporter
I install about 10oz. of Lucas oil additive with every oil/filter change. Helps keep the oil on the cylinder walls and other parts if it sits a few days. Helps it run cooler as well due to less friction. Works for me-
Big Dog Bro,
check your pm's....
 

TEXASDOG

TexasDog
My 94 Harley Evo engine had some valve noise so I put 60W synthetic Amsoil in it and it really helped. I don't have to worry about cold weather in Texas like you do up north where it could effect cold engine starting.
 

lee

Well-Known Member
my motor is noticeably noisier with Mobil 1 than it is with either amsoil or spectro. Just thought I'd throw that out there and no I'm not trying to start another oil thread!
 

BorgerBigDog

BORN TEXAN
I have the TP tick also but planning on motor work someday when i get all the needed parts. I have a question i bought my bike new in 06 and have only got one re-call in the mail sounds like to me there is more out there..:confused:
 

Tomtang aka Reptilejim

Well-Known Member
Ticking Sound

I have an 06 Ridgeback that runs great but it ticks. When I first purchased it I asked the first owner about it and he stated that he had it checked with a big dog dealer in Pensicola Florida and the dealer said it was OK. In Shreveport Louisiana there is only one registered BD mechanic and dealer. I checked with him about this noise and he said that big engines 117 make noise and that I had nothing to worry about. After riding quiet jap bikes all of my life until now I guess I spoiled. I have the TP rocker boxes. I may end up purchasing some S&S's because the chrome is beginning to come off of the TP's. The mechanic that I mentioned above is a guy that has been repairing HD's for the past 30 years. I'm thinking about a cam swap to the 600. Is it definitely a better cam as far as performance is concerned?
 

XTREEME

Active Member
Well, I'll just echo what the other experienced ones have said about changing from TP to S&S boxes, new rockers, valves, etc. It will quiet the tick down a bit, but it won't go away at all. Its just a 'characteristic' of the 117's.

I've got about 500 miles now on the new parts, and the tick seems to get a little louder each time out. Gotta open it up and check the valve wear again soon.
 

phatchopper300

I just wanta ride
I have an 06 Ridgeback that runs great but it ticks. When I first purchased it I asked the first owner about it and he stated that he had it checked with a big dog dealer in Pensicola Florida and the dealer said it was OK. In Shreveport Louisiana there is only one registered BD mechanic and dealer. I checked with him about this noise and he said that big engines 117 make noise and that I had nothing to worry about. After riding quiet jap bikes all of my life until now I guess I spoiled. I have the TP rocker boxes. I may end up purchasing some S&S's because the chrome is beginning to come off of the TP's. The mechanic that I mentioned above is a guy that has been repairing HD's for the past 30 years. I'm thinking about a cam swap to the 600. Is it definitely a better cam as far as performance is concerned?
Did a search and found this post. I was noticing a ticking noise in my 06 ridgeback also. I hust purchased the bike and will be doing all the liquid changes myself. Not much of a wrench but will start learning and get to know my bike.:)
 

fatty

Member
if you have a 06....you might have the TP rocker boxes on it......I had the TP's on my 06 K-9 and mine made more top end noise than usual.....last year the dealer replaced my heads...rockers and valve train to S&S.....now its alot quieter:up: they found one of my guides were out of tolerance...so everything was replaced under warranty:whoop:
are all these replaced under warranty? or would i be better off just doing it myself rather than trying to get it warrantied?
 

fatty

Member
im going to have to try that my bike makes so much noise it drives me bonkers people look at me and i think its cuz my bike is making so much damn noise haha.
 

Chopper Dave

SIICK!!!
im going to have to try that my bike makes so much noise it drives me bonkers people look at me and i think its cuz my bike is making so much damn noise haha.
I hope they take care of you.....mine was done the first year that I had my bike....over the winter...
 
The ticking is all in the adjustment. Don't believe all the hype. I had a 117. I worked on the pushrod adjustment for a year and a half before I got it to where it wasn't ticking. Of course thats when the motor blew on the Dyno but I digress, and no it wasn't because of my adjustment it was because a shop put a solid lifter cam in the bike but left the stock roller hydraulic lifters. Anyway I now have a full on 2010 S&S 124 and while it is brand new and being broke in it ticks like a bastard. So after break in I will begin the long process of finding its sweet spot, and I will, and when I do there will be no ticking.
Juz sayin
 

cain

Member
Ticks are common in the 117. Excessive ticks could be colapsed lifters. Might be worth checking out.
 

07bigdog

07BIGDOG
I've got an 07 K9 with a 124" and 8500 miles on it. It ticks a lot. Never noticed it as much before,but the law came down on our exhaust systems, so i installed the stock exhaust. Now you can hear every little noise and it ticks lots. I'm also running straight 50W Lucas oil.
 
Congrats on new engine kapn124:cheers::cheers:
Thanks Wyatt, now just trying to work through the weak links. Starter went out got that fixed, clutch problems crept in, takin care of that this morning with a Bandit Bruiser system. Hopefully be ridin hard by tonight so I can get her broke in before Sturgis.
 
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