Engine whine

[49txpan]

I have a 49 Pan with a 12v generator. I have had the bike a couple of months and do notice a whining noise that sounds like it is coming from the left side near the primary and front cylinder area. My twin cam friends comment about the noise. My local Panhead shop said they all do that. Would anybody have any ideas where to start debugging? I am wonder if it could be the primary or the generator. Any help is appreciated.

Russ

[Mike C]

My mechanic says two different generator drive gears exist and that one's noisier than the other. It's
possible you have the noisy gear.

[03Roadking]

The way to check it is unbolt your generator pull it back so you disengage the gears and fire it up. it's going to get messy because of the oil slinging out the hole so don't let it run to long if the noise goes away then you know its the generator I have always enjoyed that Gen. whine I don't know why but when you rev it and the sound of the pipes fall away and you hear the generator whine come down
Guess it's just me

[49txpan]

Thanks a bunch, I will give it a try.

[58flh]

YES there are 2-gears that will fit & work!1 is a 13-tooth, the other is a 14 tooth. I run the 14,I also had a whine in it but it wasnt the gear!-(as I put a 13 in & no change!. The answer is the gasket thickness matierial!--NOW your prety much limited here on that --(always keep the old gaskets that people dont want)With tightening-up overtime they get smaller in thickness!. Sometimes a new gasket will work just fine -no-whine., sometimes I had to add a used 1 to a new 1 & all was good!. Sometimes you have to put an old one thats been around for awhile!-YES it works. The Whine is due to how the teeth fitment is into another gear thats ALL!.---JUST my 2---oh-yea, make sure the genny mating surfaces are clean & square.AND make sure that it is a HD genny,not one of those jap ones!(custom WHO?).---GOOD-LUCK GUYS---wheels-up in 4th & wide-open!