bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 255
From: From Long Island, now in So. Cal
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
Read post #4https://www.hdforums.com/m_565376/tm.htm
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 162
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
My wife and I just had the same problem with her 06 Lowrider. We went round and round with the dealer and a "tech" rode it and said it had a slight vibration. I rode it to the dealer that night and my fingers were numb to the point that I had to look to see if I was pushing the directional button or the horn button. The vibe was much more than slight! They adjusted the TOP motor mount and pronounced it good. No difference to my butt. The next day we brought it by a local indy shop where my son works and he thought the mount looked torn. I left there and went right back to the dealer and they changed it out while we waited.Turns out it wasn't torn but "swollen" from oil leaking from oil changes. I thought I'd cleaned it all up but I guess not. I looked at the old mount and there are vertical slots cut on both sides of the rubber and oil hides out in there. Cool, new mount and we're off! WRONG! I ride the bike home and it's vibrating just as violently. Thats where this forum and the collective genius of everyone here payed off. I had the Friday before Memorial Day off to go on a long ride by myself on my Road Kingbut I included a stop at the other H.D. (Home Depot). I bought some 1/4" flat stock and 2 grade 8 bolts and headed back home.When I loosened the mount the rubber pulled back into the mount where it belongs leaving a3/16" to 1/4" gap. Bingo! 1 1/2 hrs later the mount was shimmed up and no longer stretched. All I had to do was start the bike and I knew everything was good. I go ride for the day and meet my wife at home that night and we go out for a dinner ride and she can't believe the difference! $10 at Home Depot saved me $40,000!!!! She was ready to sell the bike and buy a new Street Glide and of course if she gets a new one well then .........
Thanks to everyone who helped.
Dan
Thanks to everyone who helped.
Dan
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
Stanger
I'm not questioning your findings, and in a logical way it makes sense. I know by squeezing the rubber you are probably changing the damping characteristics, but given how the mount is assembled with rivets I thought this spreading appeared normal?
I have one of theearly (hard) front Dyna mounts before they were changed to a softer rubber and there certainly is a difference in how they absorb vibration. My experience also comes from a Sportster project where I hung the motor from Dyna mounts.
I will certainly experiment with not squeezing the mount rubber so much in the future when fooling with these mounts. Guessing the shims would need to be tapered some too if you wanted to fill the gap properly.
When I aligned my 06 Bob the power-train was tilted slightly to left from vertical, but the softer front mount wasn't stretched at all, so I do consider myself lucky
I'm not questioning your findings, and in a logical way it makes sense. I know by squeezing the rubber you are probably changing the damping characteristics, but given how the mount is assembled with rivets I thought this spreading appeared normal?
I have one of theearly (hard) front Dyna mounts before they were changed to a softer rubber and there certainly is a difference in how they absorb vibration. My experience also comes from a Sportster project where I hung the motor from Dyna mounts.
I will certainly experiment with not squeezing the mount rubber so much in the future when fooling with these mounts. Guessing the shims would need to be tapered some too if you wanted to fill the gap properly.
When I aligned my 06 Bob the power-train was tilted slightly to left from vertical, but the softer front mount wasn't stretched at all, so I do consider myself lucky
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
ORIGINAL: Stanger
Glide05, what site is it?
Glide05, what site is it?
It's a competing forum site - that's why it was edited. If I type it again - it will be edited again.
If you go to my post and hit the "quote" button, it may show up.
Lot's of pictures and text.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: New Bern, NC
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
Appreciate the info on this motor mount issue. I've been round and round with my dealer about this vibration. Mine vibration was of the hard buzzing variety. Fingers went numb, mirrors were useless, and I was considering getting rid of this, felt unsafe it did.
The dealer changed out my front mount and I went on a trip. What a difference! I could actually see the traffic behind me and could even read the billboards behind me in the mirrors. Thought I had the problem finally fixed. Not so fast. About 600 miles later, I have that same "weed-eater" buzzing.
One thing I noticed, when the weather is cold the engine ran vibration free until the mount rubber began to warm. I'm assuming this is due to the mount being stiffer.
I've read several post about using a shim under the mount to fix the gap issue. Looks like I will go this route. I was hoping one of the aftermarket suppliers would come up with a fix for this aggravating problem.
Since I don't have a shop manual yet, could someone post the "how-to" on engine alignment. I'll make me a shim out of bronze and that should cure the problem.
The dealer changed out my front mount and I went on a trip. What a difference! I could actually see the traffic behind me and could even read the billboards behind me in the mirrors. Thought I had the problem finally fixed. Not so fast. About 600 miles later, I have that same "weed-eater" buzzing.
One thing I noticed, when the weather is cold the engine ran vibration free until the mount rubber began to warm. I'm assuming this is due to the mount being stiffer.
I've read several post about using a shim under the mount to fix the gap issue. Looks like I will go this route. I was hoping one of the aftermarket suppliers would come up with a fix for this aggravating problem.
Since I don't have a shop manual yet, could someone post the "how-to" on engine alignment. I'll make me a shim out of bronze and that should cure the problem.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: Queen Creek, Az
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
also is this just 06's and newer?? i have an 05 fxdci and theres sum vibes but im not so sure there the bad ones like you guys have experienced. when i let off rigth before it hit idle theres a pretty noticable change in the heavyness of the vibes but then gos as soon as its at idle. strange i think im going to take the front mount loose and see what happens........thanks guys
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
From: Land of Green Chile, NM
RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
My question would be what is considered excessive vibration? This is my first Harley so I would like to know, I figured that was why they call it the Milwaukee vibrator. Seriously can anyone give me an inkling? What exactly should I be aware of or on the look out for? My FXD vibrates but ...excessive? I need a clue, thanks for any feedback.
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2005
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RE: bike vibrations possibly figured out, interesting
I have seen this fix before, hereare the links for the procedure:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...oblem-DSC0.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...st-DSC0148.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...solution-D.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...upport-DSC.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...rts-DSC014.jpg
For the ones who have done this, did you re-use the stock bolts or go with longer ones to compensate for the shim being used? I don't know if it is worth the effort to get new (longer bolts) for this.
Also, is there anything special you need to do to get at the rear mount so you can loosen the bolts prior to doing the alignment procedure? Looks kinda tight under there!
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...oblem-DSC0.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...st-DSC0148.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...solution-D.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...upport-DSC.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3...rts-DSC014.jpg
For the ones who have done this, did you re-use the stock bolts or go with longer ones to compensate for the shim being used? I don't know if it is worth the effort to get new (longer bolts) for this.
Also, is there anything special you need to do to get at the rear mount so you can loosen the bolts prior to doing the alignment procedure? Looks kinda tight under there!