Please help with loose front end / possible motor mount
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Please help with loose front end / possible motor mount
I recently purchased a 2004 Road King Custom with 10k miles. It is exceptionally clean and appears to be VERY well taken care of. However, I have had a noise (more of a feel) coming from what seems to be the front motor mount/frame/front end of the bike. This sound and feel is very pronounced when driving over bumps. It feels like something is loose toward the lower front end of the bike.
Also, what sets this apart from other noises/feel is that when firmly pressing the rear brake, you can "feel" a vibration/shimmy of what appears to be something loose toward the front motor mount or front end/fork area. The "feel" is not present when using the front brake. I have checked everything I can think of including:
swingarm bolts
engine stabilizer bolts
front steering bolt / bearing tightness
changed oil in front forks
all nuts and bolts I can find all over the bike including front axle, disks, pads, fork
hardware, fender, etc
I also checked the front motor mount, and the "feel" when braking makes me think the front motor mount may be the culprit, but I can't find any breaks in the welding up front (as well as anywhere on the frame), and the rubber motor mount cushion doesn't have any cracks or breaks. Does a broken/faulty motor mount always have an obvious break, etc? Also, the motor mount bolt is very tight and there is no space between the mount and frame when I loosen the bolt.
Also, when riding 2-up with my 110 lb daughter yesterday, the sound/feel seemed to be more pronounced than riding by myself and appeared to be coming from the area of possibly the front forks. This morning, I lifted the front tire off the ground, sat in front of the bike, grabbed the forks and pushed and pulled back and forth. I couldn't feel any play in the front end.
Can you please give me other suggestions? This is starting to drive me crazy!!!
Also, what sets this apart from other noises/feel is that when firmly pressing the rear brake, you can "feel" a vibration/shimmy of what appears to be something loose toward the front motor mount or front end/fork area. The "feel" is not present when using the front brake. I have checked everything I can think of including:
swingarm bolts
engine stabilizer bolts
front steering bolt / bearing tightness
changed oil in front forks
all nuts and bolts I can find all over the bike including front axle, disks, pads, fork
hardware, fender, etc
I also checked the front motor mount, and the "feel" when braking makes me think the front motor mount may be the culprit, but I can't find any breaks in the welding up front (as well as anywhere on the frame), and the rubber motor mount cushion doesn't have any cracks or breaks. Does a broken/faulty motor mount always have an obvious break, etc? Also, the motor mount bolt is very tight and there is no space between the mount and frame when I loosen the bolt.
Also, when riding 2-up with my 110 lb daughter yesterday, the sound/feel seemed to be more pronounced than riding by myself and appeared to be coming from the area of possibly the front forks. This morning, I lifted the front tire off the ground, sat in front of the bike, grabbed the forks and pushed and pulled back and forth. I couldn't feel any play in the front end.
Can you please give me other suggestions? This is starting to drive me crazy!!!
Last edited by trook; Oct 31, 2010 at 12:11 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Vermont
If you already checked the steering head bearing and mounts and stabilizers, how about changing out the fork fluid? A different set of springs and/or different weight fluid may improve your ride a lot.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Central Coast CA
If you have full floating rotors such as Lydall's you may feel this vibration you discribe in the brake but only when you not moving and holding the front brake lever on. The vibration of the bike can make the floating in the rotor to go from stop to stop. When oving thow you should not notice anything unless maybe your rotor is failing in some way?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 80
From: currently an Okie
front end
It's not clear to me if you have checked the neck bearings yet. If not, this is the most likely culprit. Do the swing test as described in the manual.
If it's the front motor mount, it's going to be a broken rubber on the mount. If you've already checked the neck bearings, I would take the motor mount apart and see if the rubber is broken.
If it's the front motor mount, it's going to be a broken rubber on the mount. If you've already checked the neck bearings, I would take the motor mount apart and see if the rubber is broken.
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I have checked the neck bearings by doing the swing test. The bars swung slightly more than they should, but not much. I tightened them a little anyway, but the original problem is still there.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Greater St Louis, MO
I would go ahead and replace the motor mount. With everything you have already done, you have eliminated about everything other than the motor mount. They do not cost that much and are easy to do. Usually they display cracks or tears, but the center where the bolt goes through could be torn loose and hard to see.
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