Vibrations
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Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Milledgeville Ga
Vibrations
I'm really new at this, Only owned the bike a few months, but really handy with wrenches.
My new to me 02 Electra Glide Classic rides really nice at lower speeds. Starts a vibration that I think is excessive at about 45 mph. I've already replaced the front motor mount. Please point me to anything I can check before heading to the shop.
Thanks
My new to me 02 Electra Glide Classic rides really nice at lower speeds. Starts a vibration that I think is excessive at about 45 mph. I've already replaced the front motor mount. Please point me to anything I can check before heading to the shop.
Thanks
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Tire condition and then property dynamic balance is proper attack order. If tires are cupped already or flat skid spotted, nothing is going to fix that but new skins. You can blip the throttle and watch motor for mounts sitting still.
Note that the front is prone mostly to fill it. You can lift the front and careful push back the disk back slightly off rotors.
Now you can spin wheel. Watch tread and fill and look for cups. Spin it a few times and see if same point ends up down. Not a good sign for balanced. If it's just balance that you fill at 45, you can see that even with bearing drag. Too crude to balance that way however.
You can spin rear with motor but be careful. You are not going to fix it but least you will know what to ask for.
When I need new tires, I pull it all down, replace pads front and back. And carry wheels in only. Get a price on that sillyness over the phone. I did it one time and when they brought tire out to me, the bill was full price. Three times what the quote was over the phone. Another service rep fixed it and told me the other rep made an honest mistake...
Note that the front is prone mostly to fill it. You can lift the front and careful push back the disk back slightly off rotors.
Now you can spin wheel. Watch tread and fill and look for cups. Spin it a few times and see if same point ends up down. Not a good sign for balanced. If it's just balance that you fill at 45, you can see that even with bearing drag. Too crude to balance that way however.
You can spin rear with motor but be careful. You are not going to fix it but least you will know what to ask for.
When I need new tires, I pull it all down, replace pads front and back. And carry wheels in only. Get a price on that sillyness over the phone. I did it one time and when they brought tire out to me, the bill was full price. Three times what the quote was over the phone. Another service rep fixed it and told me the other rep made an honest mistake...
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 15, 2021 at 07:16 PM.
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From: Virginia
First place to check, good advice here.
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From: Canada Flats
Where do you feel the vibration the most , bars , seat , feet ? Does it go away at faster speeds or when you pull in the clutch . Could be a number of things , or just the way it is . As stated , starting with tires / bearings is the first thing , then go from there .
What motor mount did you use ? some can cause even more of a vibration than the oem one , and did you follow the proper procedure when torquing , running the bike to help " settle the engine" in before torquing it down .
I would recommend the factory service manual , it'll pay for itself the first time you use it .
Welcome to the forum !
What motor mount did you use ? some can cause even more of a vibration than the oem one , and did you follow the proper procedure when torquing , running the bike to help " settle the engine" in before torquing it down .
I would recommend the factory service manual , it'll pay for itself the first time you use it .
Welcome to the forum !
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 93
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From: Milledgeville Ga
Thanks all, got some checking to do. I never thought to pull in the clutch during vibration. That could narrow between engine/tranny and the running gear. I'm going to start there when weather again permits a ride, maybe this weekend. The wheel spin I can do now as its already on the jack stand
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Canada Flats
Just some advice , if you do go ahead with new tires , that would be a good time to check the swingarm for play , the inner bearings and bushings could contribute to a vibe / wobble if badly worn .
Check out Ronnie's on the part's I'm referring too .
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...0JIFFY%20STAND
Check out Ronnie's on the part's I'm referring too .
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...0JIFFY%20STAND
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 498
Likes: 25
From: Hampshire, UK
If you are getting your tyre balance checked, get a proper motorcycle shop to do it with a static balancer - I had the same on my ;02 Road King, was horrible - got a decent shop to balance and was like a dream; in fact never felt so nice!
The amount of weight actually needed was mental, the casting on the early HD rims leaves something to be desired; they can be pretty off balance to start with.
The amount of weight actually needed was mental, the casting on the early HD rims leaves something to be desired; they can be pretty off balance to start with.
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Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Milledgeville Ga
Well I finally got it back on the road for another test ride today. I tried the clutch pull while at speed and vibrating. Made a little difference but the vibration did not go away. I have gaskets ordered so I can check primary chain tension and a air pump ordered so I car make sure the air shocks are set to the correct pressure and also the tire pressures. Almost vibrated my right hand to sleep.
Any more suggestions would be appreciated.
At least I got the oil leak fixed. Was leaking out of clutch cable. Primary breather tube had dirt dobber plug in it.
Any more suggestions would be appreciated.
At least I got the oil leak fixed. Was leaking out of clutch cable. Primary breather tube had dirt dobber plug in it.
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From: Canada Flats
Just some other things you might want to check , if the vibration is so bad your right hand is going numb , it's making me think something is definitely loose or broken . Still could be tires though .
You might want to open up your fairing and check the fairing brackets for a fracture or break .
Also check the riser bolts and bar clamps .
Check stereo , gauges etc too .
Your primary chain will have to be manually adjusted for spec , lots of videos out there explaining how to do it , unless you already have a manual .
Hope you get this figured out , keep us posted .
You might want to open up your fairing and check the fairing brackets for a fracture or break .
Also check the riser bolts and bar clamps .
Check stereo , gauges etc too .
Your primary chain will have to be manually adjusted for spec , lots of videos out there explaining how to do it , unless you already have a manual .
Hope you get this figured out , keep us posted .