Vibration Issue
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 2,076
From: Ohio
Hey hd4evr
I'm not sure of costs, I do remember the front mount was more expensive than the rear and more than the drag specialities mount that didn't solve the problem. I did the work myself and remember it took a bit of time as on my model 2015 FXDB there is some wiring and an electrical heat sink that I had to work around. I also have forward controls and aftermarket exhaust. So by the time I got the bike strapped down, a jack under the front of the motor, my shift linkage out of the way, the old one out, the new one in and everything back together I was an hour. it would be quicker now that Ive done it. That was my experience. may go quicker with your model, on a lift with a mechanic thats done lots of them
hope this helps
Jake
I'm not sure of costs, I do remember the front mount was more expensive than the rear and more than the drag specialities mount that didn't solve the problem. I did the work myself and remember it took a bit of time as on my model 2015 FXDB there is some wiring and an electrical heat sink that I had to work around. I also have forward controls and aftermarket exhaust. So by the time I got the bike strapped down, a jack under the front of the motor, my shift linkage out of the way, the old one out, the new one in and everything back together I was an hour. it would be quicker now that Ive done it. That was my experience. may go quicker with your model, on a lift with a mechanic thats done lots of them
hope this helps
Jake
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 200
Likes: 83
From: Los Angeles
Likely the front mount. Even some new front mounts are known to be defective. See the attached HD Service Bulletin. If you have no gap where there is supposed to be up to a 1 mm gap between the top of the mount/isolator and the bottom of the engine mount bracket, you're gonna get excessive vibes transferring directly from the engine to the frame. You may have to cut/shave/file down the rubber on the top of the mount/isolator to fix this. Good luck!
Get an aftermarket mount... a new OEM mount WILL fail again.
and while the aftermarket mounts like a Vibratechnics will degrade and fail over time, it will certainly last many times over what the OEM ones do.
and while the aftermarket mounts like a Vibratechnics will degrade and fail over time, it will certainly last many times over what the OEM ones do.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
From: Penticton, BC
I had a weird one that took me forever to track down. An engine vibration on a 2009 Fat Bob that had been there since I bought the bike. It got to the point finally that had me thinking it was a crank problem. I first checked for proper clearance on the top of the front mount, and shaved off the rubber ridge just to make sure. Nope. Shimmed it. No change. I changed to a new front mount, same as always. I changed the rear mount. No change again. Checked crank runout, there was .003" on the pinion side, a little more on the sprocket side. I changed the front mount to a Predator, which helped but didn't fix the problem. One day while laying on the floor, looking at the bottom of the crankcase to check for leaks, I noticed that the kickstand pivot block was touching the engine case. I removed the kickstand and there was the problem. At some point it had been removed for lubrication and reinstalled with the block upside down but the pin head installed the correct way. In that position it was just touching the case and transmitting vibration to the frame. There was a small amount of wear from the block on the case, but nothing to speak of. Switched it around, reinstalled the stand, started it up and the problem was gone. What a relief!
Last edited by 5mel4; Apr 4, 2022 at 12:15 PM. Reason: clarity
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