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Motor mounts!?!?
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 8
From: Twin Cities,Mn.
Motor mounts!?!?
I am really hopefull that you guys might have some insight to my problem; When i take a left sweeping corner my motor sways to the right about an inch or so. This is on the bike you see below, a 96 wideglide. I had a few techs check the motor mount and they say everythings fine! Are you kidding me? That does NOT seem normal to me. I had one specificly check the top motor mount. He claimed it was good. Am I missing something? Any help you could give would be DEEPLY appreciated.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Don't forget your motor,trans and rear swing arm are all tied together and in rubber.It sounds reasonable to me.Of course without actually seeing the bike it is impossible to make a conclusion.Good Luck
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
A similar situation with my '95 Dyna convinced me to replace both mounts which I did find to be rotten. The thing is, you really can't tell just by a visual on-board inspection, especially in the case of the rear mount, you have to remove the motor mount. At least in my case that was true as in place the mounts are compressed and don't readily show the stress fractures in the rubber. Best $200 upgrade I've done so far.
Here's the view of the old rear mount while still in place. Can anyone see the rubber?
This is the old and the new; look at how the old rear mount had separated down the left side:
Here's the view of the old rear mount while still in place. Can anyone see the rubber?
This is the old and the new; look at how the old rear mount had separated down the left side:
Last edited by oldroadie; Jul 16, 2009 at 07:59 AM. Reason: added images
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
So, short of pulling the thing off and looking, how else can you check these things? And how much trouble is pulling the thing off? What all has to come off? I've looked in the shop manual and I don't see anything about it.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
1. strap the bike down in a level position.
2. Put a floor jack under the engine to take the weight.
3. Pull the left side passenger foot peg and the belt guard.
4. Fish a ratchet and extension through the right side to the nuts.
5. Fish a wrench through the left side and loosen the motor bolts.
6. Remove the allen bolts below the fender, jacking the motor up and down to free them up.
7. Remove the motor bolts and drop the mount free.
Once I get the pictures sized properly I'll add them to this post.
Even if you could get under the bike this all you can see:
I strapped the bike down to an old shipping crate, rolling it up on two 2x8s to get enough clearance for the floor jack:
Then I used a floor jack to lift and maneuver the motor, using a wooden block to protect the oil pan:
The nuts are hidden very well under the starter area past the brake reservoir behind the pipes:
and the motor bolts go through the right side of the mount:
It took me a couple of hours but I was took my time so I didn't injure the bike. Much better now.
Last edited by oldroadie; Jul 16, 2009 at 02:42 PM. Reason: added images
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
Thatnks for the info, guys.
That doesn't sound too bad. You should try removing the exhaust manifold on an Esprit. "Well, I can see the nut, if I use a mirror..."
What signs/symptoms are there when that thing is bad? I have this clunk when I go over a big bump that I've been trying to track down for the last few years. I think it's stuff in my saddle bags at this point, but I'm still not sure.
That doesn't sound too bad. You should try removing the exhaust manifold on an Esprit. "Well, I can see the nut, if I use a mirror..."
What signs/symptoms are there when that thing is bad? I have this clunk when I go over a big bump that I've been trying to track down for the last few years. I think it's stuff in my saddle bags at this point, but I'm still not sure.
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