G,day...rode home today and as i pulled up to open the roller door, i heard a grinding type of noise from primary side, the noise is constant and did not change when engine reved or clutch pulled in...did a bit of a search here and think this could be my primary drive adjuster, how do i adjust it? i thought itd be a hydraulic peice that adjusts itsself...........Iam capable of pulling lid from primary and doing what needs doing, but dont know what it is i have to do

Thanks for your time.

Sorry bout that, 85 Wideglide, belt final drive, 4 speed

 Cromag,

I'll upload a copy of a manual to a site you can download it from tomorrow and I'll post it on this thread.

is Don......is Good...........(remember seeing some ad that sounded like that)

Cheers Mate, thats gonna help me out heaps. Next time your in the Gong, shout out, 1st ones on me.

Do ya think iam on the right track re this strange grindy noise?

 Hi Cromag,

Downloaded to these links

1  Evo 84-99 manual is 

http://www.4shared.com/document/v4ehjWi-/8499evo.html

2 Wiring diagrams for Evo 84-99 is 

Cheers Mate, downloading in progress now. Noise was there again today, but only as pulling up. iam short on time at present so ill try a closed primary adjustment, if trouble persists ill rip into it next week. Thanks again

hhhmmm, pulled inspection cover, chain seems to be adjusted correctly and the oil is clean, to the correct level and nothing seems out of place.......
Any more ideas of what i should do, before pulling the cover?

oh yeah, forgot to add that i replaced a clutch cable last week, before this noise started......thats gotta have swomething to do with it!!!!!! as noise was not there previous to this.......i put a standard cable in, still youd think that working the clutch would have changed this sound......

G'day Cromag,
OK, grinding noise coming from the Primary? Problem with diagnosing something from afar is that
noise travels, and what may sound like coming from the left, may be coming from the other side.
Have you noticed any difference in the feel of the clutch at the lever? The reason I'm asking is as
you mentioned replacing the clutch cable, the scope of the search has widened a bit. Now, in the 4
speed box from about 75-76 Harley changed the Throw-out bearing from a bullet proof design to a
piss weak wafer and roller set up. All held together by a small circlip. They have a tendency to fall
apart. (by the way, you can still get the old style bearing aftermarket, I replaced mine on my old 81
FXEF and it worked like a beauty.) The thing that throws me is your description of the noise not changing
when revving up. I'll bet Kiwidave might have a few ideas too, seeing as he owns an 85 4 speed.
Cheers ,
Cris.

You know its hard to tell if the pressure at the lever has increased, because the previous cable was either so far stretched or oversize as it was at the end of its adjustment...plus when it broke i was trying not to be killed on General Holms Drive near the airport.....so i honestly dont know...but my initial thoughts were that the clutch feels harder to pull in....so maybe if i muck about with the adjuster a bit things will sought out......as you say the constant sound is weird and doesnt help diagnosis.....but i think the clutch cable issue is helping narrow it down, ill report back. Thanks again....

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM, if it's a bit harder to pull it mate, we could be looking at a busted throw out bearing.
To check, remove the derby cover and remove the pushrod adjusting screw. if you can then remove the pushrod,
(pull it out the clutch side), then your wafer bearing has definitely fallen apart. Then you are looking to open up
the kicker cover to replace the bearing.

Good advice there Cromag, everything by the book and then move on to the next possibility.

OK so i adjusted the clutch on my way to work no change.....then i realised its the bloody starter motor.......then this arvo when leaving work i flipped the ignition on and the starter motor starts to fire intermitantly, I lay of the starter and kick it to life.....what now......well ill consult the manual.
Another symptom i noticed this am at some traffic lights was when i leaned the bike to the right...the noise stopped..lean to the left, it (the noise) starts again.....
forecast is for rain, bike needs fixin......i feel a sickie coming on

How do you feel about kick only bikes Cromag? One of the first things I did with my 81 Shovel was to get rid of the electric start
and all the excess crap that went with it.
Cheers,
Cris.

LOL...yeah reason i bought this one was because i wanted a kicker.....have had a lot of bikes and always more comfortable when i can kick it into life.
this ones a bit hard to kick in the morning, cold.....
my theory on the starter motor starts at my fuel tap (remember iam not slack ive just bought it and these faults are emerging as i get out n about on it) , its leaking, i figure this is causing my cylinders to load up with fuel (no real evidence) as it takes a bit of cranking of a morning and i cannot idle for too long or it needs reving to clear it out....this is a part carby issue too (S&S super E) which i beleive is running rich.....all these little things are compounding and meaning more time on the starter.(in the morning)..so hence it is playing up.

All of this means ive got a few jobs to do on it. Especially if its to be kick only (its a possibility) i see some time coming up in my chain of employment so i hope its cheap to fix....but at least ill have time.

The Manual and the help and advice in this thread has been invaluable, Thanks heaps.

Hi Guys I ride a 95 Evo and it has a few primary noises that come and go. same story, clutch in or out, at revs or at idle. never really tracked the noises down. I think in my case the magnet housing over the stator gets a harmonic vibration thing going. seems to be worse when its cold. real hard to diagnose. Checked all the usual suspects, Its a wurring noise more than a grumble tho. Bit like straight cut timing gears sound like, Never checked the clutch basket bearing but will be doing that soon when rebuild occurs. The compensator sprocket might also be a candidate.
Hope im not to far off subject here.