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Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: frankieG on April 17, 2008, 07:42:06 PM

Title: harley question
Post by: frankieG on April 17, 2008, 07:42:06 PM
i was at a local bike hang out today and over time a dozen or so harley showed up.  what i noticed is that many of their engines ticked like crazy after they came in and parked them.  can anybody explain this?  i asked the guys but they had no idea.  i have never heard another type of bike make that sound
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: bucks1605 on April 17, 2008, 07:43:52 PM
I know exactly what you're talking about, every time I come back from a ride with my step dad his Harley always does that. It's weird.
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: bettingpython on April 17, 2008, 08:14:36 PM
different alloys cooling at different rates thus shrinking at different rates. Thermal expansion and contarction is the cause of those ticking noises, The GS makes them too, it's more noticeable on air colled motors than on liquid cooled engines. Ought to hear the old honda cb engines after they were run hard.
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on April 17, 2008, 08:24:51 PM
the engines expand at 3 different rates the head, the cylinders and teh crank case, which is why for longevity, engines should be warmed up properly before riding :thumb:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: spc on April 17, 2008, 09:15:36 PM
Duc's do the same thing, and it's always suggested to let them warm up for a few minutes.
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: ohgood on April 17, 2008, 09:19:22 PM
don't those harleys use a double wall exhaust pipe or something ? something to do with the actual exhaust pipe, and the chromed exterior ? figured that would make some ticking noises.

the few times I've ridden with HD guys, they opened the garage and put a small fan on their engine. i was like - wtf man !

said something about it's better to cool the motor off as quickly as possible without water.

i looked at my gs baking in the sun, 12 hours a day and thought, those HD's must be some real pansies.

the mazda pickup i drove forever would always ta-WOOOOOMP-ink after a long drive. it was consistantly about 12 minutes after parking it. i could hear it if the house windows were open from the couch. just exhaust cooling there.
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: jserio on April 17, 2008, 09:52:26 PM
i think harley's are sexy. am i on the wrong forum?  :laugh:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: bubba zanetti on April 17, 2008, 10:45:35 PM
Quote from: jserio on April 17, 2008, 09:52:26 PM
i think harley's are sexy. am i on the wrong forum?  :laugh:

Try the Tractors and boat anchors forum.  :laugh:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: Teek on April 17, 2008, 10:56:06 PM
Yeah, the double walled pipe on Harleys makes them look badder and keeps the chrome from toning. I don't remember Harleys ticking, probably because there always seem to be other Harleys around, just a few of them idling and I can't hear much else!  :cookoo:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: jserio on April 17, 2008, 11:51:33 PM
 :icon_twisted: :bowdown:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on April 18, 2008, 12:51:37 AM
Quote from: spcterry on April 17, 2008, 09:15:36 PM
Duc's do the same thing, and it's always suggested to let them warm up for a few minutes.
all bikes do, and its suggested to use the redneck temp check lol , start engine via normal procedure, and move out when engine gets almost too hot to touch, yes low tech, but many have done this, my uncle included who got almost 190k out of the top end of an hd engine, bottom end is still goin strong :thumb:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: ohgood on April 18, 2008, 05:16:34 AM
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 18, 2008, 12:51:37 AM
Quote from: spcterry on April 17, 2008, 09:15:36 PM
Duc's do the same thing, and it's always suggested to let them warm up for a few minutes.
all bikes do, and its suggested to use the redneck temp check lol , start engine via normal procedure, and move out when engine gets almost too hot to touch, yes low tech, but many have done this, my uncle included who got almost 190k out of the top end of an hd engine, bottom end is still goin strong :thumb:

good advice
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: ajaxgs on April 18, 2008, 05:40:58 AM
Quote from: bubba zanetti on April 17, 2008, 10:45:35 PM
Quote from: jserio on April 17, 2008, 09:52:26 PM
i think harley's are sexy. am i on the wrong forum?  :laugh:

Try the Tractors and boat anchors forum.  :laugh:


:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

running along going     potato potato potatopotato potato potatopotato potato potato

:thumb:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: spc on April 18, 2008, 06:29:40 AM
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 18, 2008, 12:51:37 AM
Quote from: spcterry on April 17, 2008, 09:15:36 PM
Duc's do the same thing, and it's always suggested to let them warm up for a few minutes.
all bikes do, and its suggested to use the redneck temp check lol , start engine via normal procedure, and move out when engine gets almost too hot to touch, yes low tech, but many have done this, my uncle included who got almost 190k out of the top end of an hd engine, bottom end is still goin strong :thumb:

OR,  and god knows this is a shot in the dark............I could just go by the oil temp gauge
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: jserio on April 18, 2008, 06:59:27 AM
 :laugh:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: frankieG on April 18, 2008, 10:41:13 AM
braaaaaa hhahahaha bubba good one!!!
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: Teek on April 18, 2008, 11:20:53 PM
OR,  and god knows this is a shot in the dark............I could just go by the oil temp gauge


OMGZ ROTFLMAO!!!!
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on April 18, 2008, 11:50:39 PM
Quote from: spcterry on April 18, 2008, 06:29:40 AM
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 18, 2008, 12:51:37 AM
Quote from: spcterry on April 17, 2008, 09:15:36 PM
Duc's do the same thing, and it's always suggested to let them warm up for a few minutes.
all bikes do, and its suggested to use the redneck temp check lol , start engine via normal procedure, and move out when engine gets almost too hot to touch, yes low tech, but many have done this, my uncle included who got almost 190k out of the top end of an hd engine, bottom end is still goin strong :thumb:

OR,  and god knows this is a shot in the dark............I could just go by the oil temp gauge
that as well, but to each his own but, teh oil reservoir is remote from the crank case so oil will cool slightly
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: spc on April 19, 2008, 07:38:21 AM
Primary thermistor is on the horizontal cylinder head with the second in the sump.     

Italians- Nowhere near as geeky as the Japs, but they can still get it done.  And like Jeremy of Top Gear says, NOBODY put's more soul into their vehicles than the Italians.
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: Teek on April 19, 2008, 12:08:26 PM
True, true.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/is-this-the-worlds-sexiest-car/2006/07/26/1153816233705.html (http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/is-this-the-worlds-sexiest-car/2006/07/26/1153816233705.html)
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: GSnoober on April 19, 2008, 04:35:12 PM
Quote from: frankieG on April 17, 2008, 07:42:06 PM
i was at a local bike hang out today and over time a dozen or so harley showed up.  what i noticed is that many of their engines ticked like crazy after they came in and parked them.  can anybody explain this?  i asked the guys but they had no idea.  i have never heard another type of bike make that sound
OK, so maybe I'm a bastid, but I LOVE this...  :laugh: the HARLEY "riders" don't know WHY their engines make noises while cooling. Just amazing...

Next time you run into some of those Harley biker-wannabes, ask them, "How many CUBIC CYLINDERS does it have?", and let us know what the answers are... Yuppie trash on Harleys... I wonder who changes their sparkplugs and oil; must be the butler, or maybe the maid...
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: bucks1605 on April 19, 2008, 04:44:39 PM
Quote from: GSnoober on April 19, 2008, 04:35:12 PM
Quote from: frankieG on April 17, 2008, 07:42:06 PM
i was at a local bike hang out today and over time a dozen or so harley showed up.  what i noticed is that many of their engines ticked like crazy after they came in and parked them.  can anybody explain this?  i asked the guys but they had no idea.  i have never heard another type of bike make that sound
OK, so maybe I'm a bastid, but I LOVE this...  :laugh: the HARLEY "riders" don't know WHY their engines make noises while cooling. Just amazing...

Next time you run into some of those Harley biker-wannabes, ask them, "How many CUBIC CYLINDERS does it have?", and let us know what the answers are... Yuppie trash on Harleys... I wonder who changes their sparkplugs and oil; must be the butler, or maybe the maid...

Or their step son, since he owns a gs and knows how to work on his own bike!  :laugh:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: spc on April 19, 2008, 05:00:31 PM
The Quattroporte got screwed, it should have been #2 right behind the Fiat..........POS Aston Martins..........
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on April 19, 2008, 08:02:16 PM
Quote from: spcterry on April 19, 2008, 05:00:31 PM
The Quattroporte got screwed, it should have been #2 right behind the Fiat..........POS Aston Martins..........
:cookoo: :dunno_white:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: GSnoober on April 19, 2008, 10:32:25 PM
^^^ I'm pretty sure that spcterry is referring to Reply #19, by Teek, the last post on the first page of this thread:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=40827.msg459234#msg459234

Hope that helps to clarify things...
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: Teek on April 20, 2008, 01:00:44 PM
Sorry to go off topic, but I couldn't resist teasing spcterry, and he's right.  8)

(And the Aston Martins, my Mom's bud has a minty racing bug eyed Sprite, and the thing is worth like half a mil???)

I had a circa '60s Fiat 500 (red of course) in the family, we had a Fiat and Ferrari dealership and they had it for fun and it had the store's name in gold leaf on the side, it was really cute, and also have had Harleys in the family. I'd take the 500 over almost any Harley almost any day. It was a great car. The one we had, someone did a road rage thing (i can't remember what the deal was) and a guy got out of his car at a light and kicked the crap out of the Fiat! Then I guess he realized it was assault or something, and paid for all the body work.   :cookoo:
Title: Re: harley question
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on April 21, 2008, 11:01:46 AM
 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: