Rapping noise and Stalling

Yeah me too...if the rods were mixed the problem would be constant from start up...it's like something came loose....because it sometimes starts fine and sounds OK,then after running for a few minutes all hell breaks loose...Someone suggested to me that the rocker stands came loose which is plausible because they could be sitting down where they're supposed to be on start up and after running/vibrating for a little while they start jumping around,throwing off valve timing and I would imagine make a ton of noise like I'm hearing(like a bucket of loose bolts)
I just really hope nothing got broken....

LOl obviously something...he's been doing Harley engines now for close to 20yrs...and this is the first call back I can remember...just my luck,it would have to be my bike...:witsend:

well if the rods are mix up the pre load might be too much on the lifters on some of the rockers thats why it will come and go if its a delphi system the knock sensor is picking up the extra noise and backing off the timing as well . and also if the cams are high lift and the rocker boxes were not ground for the rockers i dont know if they are stock or rollers they will have contact as well . rocker stands also crack real easy some times apon replacement when the lifters are full do to the pressure when you bolt them down . i go a little at a time when replaceing them with stock rods its not easy building a motor if it was every one would do it . snit happens!

Stethoscope will be in use...Pretty sure it's not the comp sprocket it really does sound like valve train issues and the most noise seems to be coming from rocker box area,but sound does travel...


I was thinking/hoping lifter because the first odd noise we heard sounded like a lifter being lazy and if a long rod is in the intake like BP said too much preload on it and took it out...I have a set of S&S lifters ordered("B" lifters are now obsolete) just in case that's it

Yep,chit does happen...and I'll chalk it up as a learning experience...It's not a high lift cam...TW21 is .498 on spec sheet and everything in the motor is stock except the cam and SE pistons(newer version of stock heads and crank breather)...
Going up tonight to try to find what the problem is tonight...all I did last night was kill a bottle of Crystal Head Vodka and put a chit kickin' in a 24 case of beer...with loud head bangin' music playing...you know, quality time wit da missus:roflmao:

BP I'm pickin up a lot of info from you on how these Delphi ,sensorized motor's work,Thanks.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is a case of "sounds worse than it really is"
I'll let youse know what we find...

yes sir great minds think alike and it might be bent just enough to pump up and discharge the lifter again at idle . that why i like adjustable ones cause even if ya mix them up your setting them at zero plus pre load the andrews you cant even tell the diffrence there are so close to the same length they just give ya enough to slide the lifter blocks in and out .

Pushrods weren't mixed up...but top end was pretty dry.... Explains the noise....

Front



Rear



Here's my oil filter...





Problem was oil flow related!! Anyone wanna guess what this chit is??

Looks like sludge to me, and I can see you weren't getting much oil circulating. Dang! Hope your motor is okay . . . .

looks NASTY, is there metal in the sludge?

Nope no metal in it...the sludge used to be a rag that fell in the bottom end...I think I got lucky joshbob because some oil was getting through(not much,but some) and it wasn't run very long when the rocker box got noisy so I don't think it got severely overheated ... not hot enough to burn the oil film that was in the rocker boxes...if I had taken off and headed across the island like I planned instead of going home like I did, I'd be looking at a new engine,but my gut was telling me something wasn't quite right...The oil in the pan and in the filter is as clean as a whistle...except for the rag sludge...
Got some oil passage cleaning to do though...gonna clean and flush a few times to make sure clean oil is flowing to the top rockers and pumping through the system and make sure all of the rag got caught in the oil filter...

I told him "That's what happens when you start a job then leave it sit for a few months before finishing it"

Are ya still buddies? :fight:

:roflmao:Yeah man..my engine didn't blow up,so I won't either

I think you are a little more forgiving than what I would have been. Glad to hear that everything should be OK?

Stuff happens, true friends are hard to come by.

Sheit happens JB....And it ain't pretty when I lose it... I've learned over the years nobody wins...I go to jail and they go to the hospital...not worth it...Just hope we can check and verify all passages and piston oilers are clear without needing to pull the top end off....

So true... and we've been pretty tight for over 30yrs a little brain fart isn't worth loosing friends over...

I hear ya and respect ya feelings on that one bro. :cheers: