Suspension noise
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From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Suspension noise
My custom has started to make a snapping , cracking sound when I lift it up off the side stand and bounce on the seat. Sounds like a dry pivot in the rear suspension or something. Can't see the main pivot as the problem due to it being a ball bearing so I'm guessing either the shock attachments at the front or the shock eye pivot as making the noise. Anyone had this noise and what did you lube to stop it. I suppose I could go lube crazy and hit all 4 points if needed. Recently drove 50 miles in pouring rain, which may have contributed to this.
Ron
Ron
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RE: Suspension noise
I have a 07 FLSTC and it has made a weird pop noise from day 1 when first sat on and lifted up off of the stand, worse after I put on the new sundowner seat, took the seat off for a test and no noise. The noise was coming from the seat when I first put weight on it and stood bike up, frame of the seat flexing or something, I've just got used to it and B4 you start laughing I go about 180 lbs. so thats not the problem.
Just an idea or something to check?
Later,
Dan
Just an idea or something to check?
Later,
Dan
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RE: Suspension noise
Could you get someone one else to putweight on & off the bike while you get down & around the bike to pin point where the noise is coming from? The 07 Softail Service Manual says that the rear fork's pivot shaft's spherical bearings are lifetime lubricated and require no further attention other than cleaning and if not damaged will last the life of the motorcycle, however there are bushings and spacers in there as well that the shaft goes through. I would check just to make sure the pivot shaft is not to loose or torqued tospecs "Pivot Shaft Nut 90-110 ft-lbs" If the pivot shaft is making noise and the bike is a 07 I would take to a dealership and have them fix or clean out since there is awarranty.
If the noise is coming from the shocks check to see if any of the shock's bolts are loose, I don't know why a little WD-40 would hurt onthe shock's piston &around the shock's bolts & washers?
An extreme case that happened with someone I know of, they had a early 90's Road King that in their rear swing arm or fork developed a crack right above the axle nut, good thing only on the top side and not the bottom side as well or the axle would have fell out. I know this is an extreme case but I would just check the rear fork and it's weldsfor any crackssince you did metion a cracking sound?
Later,
Dan
If the noise is coming from the shocks check to see if any of the shock's bolts are loose, I don't know why a little WD-40 would hurt onthe shock's piston &around the shock's bolts & washers?
An extreme case that happened with someone I know of, they had a early 90's Road King that in their rear swing arm or fork developed a crack right above the axle nut, good thing only on the top side and not the bottom side as well or the axle would have fell out. I know this is an extreme case but I would just check the rear fork and it's weldsfor any crackssince you did metion a cracking sound?
Later,
Dan
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RE: Suspension noise
My '97 Fatboy has been making the same noise lately. I'm not sure what it is either. My bike seems to do it worse some times than others. Sometimes it's really bad..other times, you can hardly hear it. If you figure it out, let me know what it is.
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RE: Suspension noise
Found the noise to be from the two eyes of the shocks that bolt to the pivot. They appear to be a tight, dry bushing or sleeve in there. Short of taking them off and applying a decent lube, I just kept brushing the eye ends with oil and working the suspension up and down. Took a couple of hours for the oil to seep into the tight spots, but the noise is now gone. I think that I'll lube these up at regular intervals, usually when the oil is changed from now on. The front shock attachments are rubber mounted and require no lube.
Ron
Ron
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RE: Suspension noise
My 06 Heritage was doing the same thing, I took it back to the dealer thinking I had a bad bearing in the swing arm, WRONG. The mechanic sprayed WD-40 in the holes on the end of the shock, wha-la, no more squeek. These are the holes that the spanner wrench fits in to adjust the shocks.
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salty_rider
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Apr 20, 2015 08:56 AM
davidson, harley, lubricate, making, motorcycle, noise, rear, shock, softail, softtail, springer, suspension, suspention
