HTC'sFLSTC
If you think the SE SYN helped in the areas you say in your post, try some Mobil1 75-90 or 75-140 or Redline shockproof heavy or even Bel Ray GEAR OIL and you'll really be amazed. The syn3 is 20/50 engine oil and not the best choice for the trans.
As far as the 07 trans problem stated by HD Dan, it's a real thing even though you have never experienced it for yourself. It is more noticeable in fairing bikes an not as noticeable if at all in the lighter models like yours. Try riding a bagger and you'll see for yourself about this "non problem".
Just because your bike doesn't exhibit the problem or perhaps you don't hear it as well as the heavier bikes doesn't mean it isn't a problem by any means. There are many contributing factors here with this noise. Belt tension also plays a role it as well as a good gear oil that will lessen it to a small extent but not eliminate it.
I have been riding all my life also and after buying the 07, I realized there was a problem in the drive line and was entertaining the possibility of selling it because of the noises which I find very annoying and not normal by any means.
Being a mechanic for most of my life as well as a rider, I can certainly distinguish between something that is "normal" and something that isn't "normal" regardless of what the dealers try to force on people telling them that "it is normal" and "they all do that" and do it with with some success. From the replies I have read it becomes apparent that some customers believe what they are told by the dealers.
That marketing just doesn't fly in my book and to come on a forum and state as you did "
Sorry for the rant, but i have heard enough expert advise about this non-problem" is not a great way to be accepted by it's members when you are obviously misinformed.
There has been an upgrade to the 08 bikes to eliminate this "non problem" that can be retrofitted to the 07 touring bikes. If it wasn't a problem in the 07 bikes, why does HD offer it as a standard piece on the 08 touring bikes .
It seems that their standard is to make various parts out of plastic verses metal in the past to make a fatter bottom line and also other parts removed that they deem unneeded but still market them as an add on like the fork air dam as only one example which by the way are still on some bagger models and also posted in the owners manual to remove them above 50* on these models.
Interesting concept here, isn't it?
It seems odd that they will install the IDS on the 08 bikes as a standard piece that bites into their profit and then include it in the price if there was no problems in the 07's.
Makes a person wonder!
HD 4 Life
HD is aware of this noise and swears that it is because of the straight spline of the #5 gear(s).
I find it interesting that in past years that all the HD gears were straight cut but none made the type of sound that the cruise drive transmissions make in 07. The 06 dyna's had the first cruise drive transmission and had bearing problems with that model too that had the owners of those bikes bringing the bike back for replacement of the bearings at 15K miles.
Could it possibly be the
plastic retainers (in the transmission trap door no less) on the bearings in the 07 models or perhaps the small bearings themselves not being up to the task, or even the thin trap door on the cruise drive flexing or maybe the flexing of it that makes the clutch lever walk on accel or decel? Hmmm, I wonder now why some think it is the rider rather than the product!
I also find it odd that Baker Transmissions has come out with the F6F kit that addresses all the problems in these cruise drive transmissions that just aren't there by some posters opinions. Why would they waste all that money and do all that research for a problem that just wasn't there?
http://www.bakerdrivetrain.com/f6f/index.htm.
By the way, I added the IDS to my bike at my expense and it eliminated this "non problem" very nicely.
You can read the write up about it if you care to learn about it.
http://www.hdtimeline.com/tech_tips/1303-new_ids_drive_system.html#post6053
