Hitchcocks Forum

Hi everyone
I have a 5 year old electra efi with just over 6000 miles on the clock and seeking some advice! 9 times out of 10 when first starting up I get a slight tappet noise until the oil has time to reach the top of the head, I can understand this but I also occasionally get a loud high pitched "cracking" type of noise, this it does maybe 5 or 6 times then everything settles down as the oil circulates, any ideas anyone? I've never come across this type of noise before its almost like a high voltage arcing cracking sound?

Hi there, I'm not an authority on UCE machines but if you uploaded a video to YouTube of your problem and linked it in the comments, I'm sure it would be very helpful in diagnosing the issue

Auto decompressor clacking? possibly sticking..

Google or you tube..

Auto decompressor this video may help:-

Thanks for your comments, I'll have a look at the auto decompresser on utube to see if the problem lies there, funny enough on startup this morning it was quiet as a mouse!

Maybe talking rubbish as i don't own a unit model but i wonder if leaving the bike on the side stand will drain the oil from the hydraulic tappets and timing gear..

Perhaps if left on the centre stand overnight maybe quicker lubrication on start up...

I would level the bike and check the sight glass for oil level anyway, though even thats not straight forward i read...

Unlikely to be hydraulic tappet leakdown. I've never known my C5 do that however long it has been on the sidestand. In fact the w/shop manual advises keeping them upright when removed from the engine to prevent the need to refill. More likely the auto decompressor sticking.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I'm tending to think the problem lies within the decompression department, I never use the side stand so I know it's not that though I thought it an interesting suggestion
Malcolm