Vibrations...
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
Vibrations...
Hoping somebody can point me in the right direction here.
When I first got my '15 Road King, I also got FP3 tuner, AN Big Sucker A/C and V&H Twin Slash Round slip-ons, and was happy. The upgrade bug hit though, and I bought Drago H-Pipe headers and took it to Ed from Dyno Difference (highly recommended btw!). The bike runs awesome now, great, smooth power and perfect sound, BUT... since I put on the new headers, the bike has started having vibrations. It went from absolutely vibe-free unless in high RPMs to a slight vibration throughout the entire rev band. It feels like before it was fully isolated, now there is metal-to-metal contact. My hands get tingly after a while, and I can feel it in my boots.
I went over the entire length of the pipes and made sure nothing is touching, and that everything is torqued properly. Any ideas what else I can try? It's to a point now where I'm not riding as much, and am ready to go back to my old set up if I can't figure it out... Thanks for any suggestions!
When I first got my '15 Road King, I also got FP3 tuner, AN Big Sucker A/C and V&H Twin Slash Round slip-ons, and was happy. The upgrade bug hit though, and I bought Drago H-Pipe headers and took it to Ed from Dyno Difference (highly recommended btw!). The bike runs awesome now, great, smooth power and perfect sound, BUT... since I put on the new headers, the bike has started having vibrations. It went from absolutely vibe-free unless in high RPMs to a slight vibration throughout the entire rev band. It feels like before it was fully isolated, now there is metal-to-metal contact. My hands get tingly after a while, and I can feel it in my boots.
I went over the entire length of the pipes and made sure nothing is touching, and that everything is torqued properly. Any ideas what else I can try? It's to a point now where I'm not riding as much, and am ready to go back to my old set up if I can't figure it out... Thanks for any suggestions!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 673
From: Rolla
The upgrade bug hit though, and I bought Drago H-Pipe headers and took it to Ed from Dyno Difference (highly recommended btw!). The bike runs awesome now, great, smooth power and perfect sound, BUT... since I put on the new headers, the bike has started having vibrations. It went from absolutely vibe-free unless in high RPMs to a slight vibration throughout the entire rev band. It feels like before it was fully isolated,
now there is metal-to-metal contact. My hands get tingly after a while, and I can feel it in my boots.
I went over the entire length of the pipes and made sure nothing is touching, and that everything is torqued properly. Any ideas what else I can try? It's to a point now where I'm not riding as much, and am ready to go back to my old set up if I can't figure it out... Thanks for any suggestions!
now there is metal-to-metal contact. My hands get tingly after a while, and I can feel it in my boots.
I went over the entire length of the pipes and made sure nothing is touching, and that everything is torqued properly. Any ideas what else I can try? It's to a point now where I'm not riding as much, and am ready to go back to my old set up if I can't figure it out... Thanks for any suggestions!
Your header pipe is making contact somewhere, probably around your footboard mounting brackets.
I know V&H gives you a spacer for the Foot Board bracket to keep the pipes from making contact.
Not sure about your, but that is likely where your issue is.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,004
From: Charleston, SC
Going along with the exhaust system being the issue:
1. loosen all exhaust fasteners including the 4 exhaust to head nuts, the crossover to collector (if you have one), the oil pan mount (if you have one), and the two allens that attach the mid collector mount to the trans AND the big nut under the mid collector mount.
2. start the bike and let it run for a minute.
3. stop the bike, let it cool, and from the front of the bike, start tightening everything back up. Some start from the back, but it probably works either way. I've had good luck starting at the front for whatever reason.
If this works, you'll probably find that your exhaust was preloaded at the mid collector mount.
1. loosen all exhaust fasteners including the 4 exhaust to head nuts, the crossover to collector (if you have one), the oil pan mount (if you have one), and the two allens that attach the mid collector mount to the trans AND the big nut under the mid collector mount.
2. start the bike and let it run for a minute.
3. stop the bike, let it cool, and from the front of the bike, start tightening everything back up. Some start from the back, but it probably works either way. I've had good luck starting at the front for whatever reason.
If this works, you'll probably find that your exhaust was preloaded at the mid collector mount.
Last edited by lp; Jan 29, 2016 at 02:10 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
Going along with the exhaust system being the issue:
1. loosen all exhaust fasteners including the 4 exhaust to head nuts, the crossover to collector (if you have one), the oil pan mount (if you have one), and the two allens that attach the mid collector mount to the trans AND the big nut under the mid collector mount.
2. start the bike and let it run for a minute.
3. stop the bike, let it cool, and from the front of the bike, start tightening everything back up. Some start from the back, but it probably works either way. I've had good luck starting at the front for whatever reason.
If this works, you'll probably find that your exhaust was preloaded at the mid collector mount.
1. loosen all exhaust fasteners including the 4 exhaust to head nuts, the crossover to collector (if you have one), the oil pan mount (if you have one), and the two allens that attach the mid collector mount to the trans AND the big nut under the mid collector mount.
2. start the bike and let it run for a minute.
3. stop the bike, let it cool, and from the front of the bike, start tightening everything back up. Some start from the back, but it probably works either way. I've had good luck starting at the front for whatever reason.
If this works, you'll probably find that your exhaust was preloaded at the mid collector mount.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 264
Likes: 10
From: NC
I just went through the same thing. Put a set of v&h power duals on my 16 sgs and had a vibration throughout the rpm range. Did as previously stated loosened the whole exhaust and went from front to back. Found it was barely touching the floorboard. Fixed that and now it's as smooth as butter. Feels like it did from the factory. I decide to do all this as I was putting on a black timing cover I noticed a rub mark on the heatshields. That's really how I found the place it was touching. Good luck hope you fix your problem. Nothing more annoying than a vibration you know isn't supposed to be there.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
I FINALLY had a moment to work in the bike... Did the prescribed procedure, and it got a little worse actually. I then looked at it again, and noticed one thing of concern - my left slip-on bracket is sitting right against the edge of the mount, not in the middle like it was with stock exhaust. Not sure why I missed it before, but I have a feeling this is probably the cause, since it's basically loaded against the edge with very little rubber gasket. I'm going to try to force it a bit I guess...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
OK, happy ending to this story! I originally used new standard HD exhaust header gaskets. I re-did it using the flat SE gaskets, and either the new gaskets, or just reinstalling everything solved all my vibe issues! Happy camper now
