Desperate, need help: vibration issues!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,177
Likes: 62
From: Michigan
I get mild thumps at idle after the new cams, race tuner, and dyno but I don't get any vibration at all until about 3000 rpms. I don't even use the 6th gear because I can do 75 all day in 5th.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
I have V&H staggered exhausts, SE heavy breather and Andrews 48 cams. But the vibration was there BEFORE I added these. You feel the vibration in both floorboards, but not in the grips at all.
It vibrates only slightly in 3rd and 4th, but really vibrates at 5th and 6th, especially 6th from 2500 rpm on up. The higher the RPM, the more the vibration…
I check my tire pressure religiously.
I checked the belt tension and it was OK
It vibrates only slightly in 3rd and 4th, but really vibrates at 5th and 6th, especially 6th from 2500 rpm on up. The higher the RPM, the more the vibration…
I check my tire pressure religiously.
I checked the belt tension and it was OK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 20,958
Likes: 12,474
From: South Carolina
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Quad Cities, IL
i'd find another bike.
my experience on this: i originally wanted a heritage. i test drove a used 2007, 08, & 09. they all had the same vibration you are speaking of. the 2007 was the worst offender. i test drove a new 2012, and a 2013. both of them werent as bad but you could tell it was there. my mission went from getting a heritage to just finding a softail that didnt have the vibration at high speeds. after test driving two dozen softails at various dealers with in driving range, i finally found a 07 softail standard with 10,640 miles that didnt do it. it's wasnt exactly what i was wanting but the dealer was asking $1500 under NADA so i bought it.
my experience on this: i originally wanted a heritage. i test drove a used 2007, 08, & 09. they all had the same vibration you are speaking of. the 2007 was the worst offender. i test drove a new 2012, and a 2013. both of them werent as bad but you could tell it was there. my mission went from getting a heritage to just finding a softail that didnt have the vibration at high speeds. after test driving two dozen softails at various dealers with in driving range, i finally found a 07 softail standard with 10,640 miles that didnt do it. it's wasnt exactly what i was wanting but the dealer was asking $1500 under NADA so i bought it.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Quad Cities, IL
my bad I guess I should have paid closer attention to what you posted im 98% sure your problem is the same for all 103 B its called harmonics its the engine that's causing your problem and Harleys shty tolerance or your balance shaft gear when the gear is installed on the crank its +1.5 deg -.8 deg if if your on the neg side your good if your on the pos side you will get vibrations around 3800 to 4400 rpms all b motors have this problem the biger the cubes the more vibrations you will feal mostly in your feet a little less on the grips and if the gear slips on the crank it will shake violently ive seen this happen 3 times now
i test drove a couple dyna's and a RK and SG. i did not feel the vibration in them, so it think it is a softail B (balance) issue.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,246
Likes: 2,343
From: Florida
my bad I guess I should have paid closer attention to what you posted im 98% sure your problem is the same for all 103 B its called harmonics its the engine that's causing your problem and Harleys shty tolerance or your balance shaft gear when the gear is installed on the crank its +1.5 deg -.8 deg if if your on the neg side your good if your on the pos side you will get vibrations around 3800 to 4400 rpms all b motors have this problem the biger the cubes the more vibrations you will feal mostly in your feet a little less on the grips and if the gear slips on the crank it will shake violently ive seen this happen 3 times now
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 913
Likes: 5
From: indiana
no all b motors have this problem the some motors have this problem new as they wear it can go away most 88" that have this problem its a slight vibration the bigger the cubes the more pronounced it is there is a fix but it involves splitting the cases relocate the gear and weld it in place and have the balancers weight matched also you can try pushing the motor ive heard some ppl say it worked for them but I don't recommend doing it could make it worse how to push a b motor is easy tach it out in second gear then shift to first let off the throttle let out the clutch and apply brakes and stop as fast as you can it will push the motor causing it to push hard on the balancer gears over time of doing this they say it will stop the vibrating to me its just aggressive riding and the motor wears faster like I said I don't recommend it you could spin the gear to far and trash to motor also unless you do the weld mod I really don't recommend hole shots or trying to get 120 hp out of a b motor