noisy lowers

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Oct 3, 2022 | 05:31 PM

mickier

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 46

Likes: 28

From: Georgia

noisy lowers

My 2000 FLHT has lowers which I suspect are aftermarket - dunno how to tell - but at certain RPM's they buzz/rattle a bit - just enough to annoy the stuffing out of me. I have taken them off and added RTV a few places, added rubber gaskets under speaker grill screws, and mostly they're quiet when I thump 'em but still like when I decelerate sometimes, or after I've been riding a while there'll be a rattle from one of the lowers which I'm struggling to just ignore...

The reason I think they might be aftermarket is I don't see any HD emblem or print anywhere on them, and when I remove the two screws to remove the top covers which clamp them to the crash bars, the plastic tabs which press against the crash bars are just flimsy thin little plastic tabs which seem to bend over so they really aren't ever tight... I even tried rubber strips between the lowers and the bars.... maybe MORE RTV - one or two tubes on each side...!

Oct 3, 2022 | 10:04 PM

OldEnuf2NoBtr

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 9,162

Likes: 1,906

From: Doghouse... mostly

Sucks Dude! I hate buzzzzzing and vibbbbbbrating while mottttoring down the highwwwwway! Takes me about 10 minutes to start to feel somewhat normal again! lolol! Butt that's one of the best things about being on a bike! Get an old innertube. that RTV stuff, although it is pretty good, can and will be extremely messy if you happen to be anything like me. Best of Luck!

Last edited by OldEnuf2NoBtr; Oct 3, 2022 at 10:15 PM.

Oct 3, 2022 | 10:11 PM

RKZen

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2013

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From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail

You looked at the vent doors? Those are usually the first to rattle.

Last edited by RKZen; Oct 3, 2022 at 10:18 PM.

Oct 4, 2022 | 06:59 AM

mickier

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 46

Likes: 28

From: Georgia

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKZen

You looked at the vent doors? Those are usually the first to rattle.

I'll check those again. They do mount at just one point and I can see how they could set up a decent racket...

Oct 4, 2022 | 08:58 PM

skratch

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 20,616

Likes: 4,440

From: anacoco, la

those little urethane bushings (hd calls them springs) tend to get squished and deformed. new ones, while kinda pricey for what they are, are not that expensive.

Oct 4, 2022 | 09:52 PM

NODYNA

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,999

Likes: 916

From: Madisonville, La

All HD lowers and side covers have HD branding. Some of the off brands are really cheap and thin material. It's possible the lower it's self is rattling/vibrating and making the noise. Especially if the noise comes as the speeds increases.