Finding a rattling problem
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
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From: NW NC
Finding a rattling problem
First of all my Road King is an 01. When going down the road I can hear a tinny sounding rattle. This developed about a year ago. Problem is I can't hear it unless I am riding. Any ideas on how to locate the culprit? When I clean the bike I go over it pretty thoroughly checking for anything loose but have not found the problem. Only thing I can think of is to rev the motor with it on the lift but afraid it would vibrate too much and fall off. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
I noticed no one responded to you so here are some tips that I have used that may help.
1) If you have any kind of lift, use it. Try to get the bike as stable as you can (with tie down's etc). Once you have it contained, without running it, see if you can move as many of the moveable parts as possible, shifters, wheels, brakes, shocks, etc..
2) if you still can find it, and it does not make the noise in a stationary position (running or not), if it is load enough, you have have someone run next to you (or even ride a bike next to you). this is crazy I know, but it could help.
3) lastly, you "could" run it on a lift or better yet, table lift to see if you can detect the noise.
Hope this helps.
1) If you have any kind of lift, use it. Try to get the bike as stable as you can (with tie down's etc). Once you have it contained, without running it, see if you can move as many of the moveable parts as possible, shifters, wheels, brakes, shocks, etc..
2) if you still can find it, and it does not make the noise in a stationary position (running or not), if it is load enough, you have have someone run next to you (or even ride a bike next to you). this is crazy I know, but it could help.
3) lastly, you "could" run it on a lift or better yet, table lift to see if you can detect the noise.
Hope this helps.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,618
Likes: 290
From: Johnstown, PA
Can you duplicate the noise while revving in neutral? I had a rattle that I chased for a while. I could hear it when either revving to 2500 RPMs or cruising down the road at the same RPMs. Turned out to be a loose baffle in my left muffler. I ran 3 long screws up through the baffles, and the noise is almost gone. I still hear a slight squeak in the RPM range, but it's hardly noticable now. I do plan to replace my slip ons to totally get rid of the noise, but it's tolerable now.
Might be somewhere for you to look.
Might be somewhere for you to look.
Last edited by steelerdude1; Aug 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 46
What side does it seem to be coming from? My shifter rattles, take your foot & put some pressure on the shifter (side pressure) & see if it goes away. Other that that, may be the exhaust covers. Good luck
Toby
Toby
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
if it's a rattle that seems to be coming from the top end, inside the motor...it could be worn wrist-pin bushings, causing a little piston-slap...this is EXACTLY what happened to my buddy 3 years ago with his 2000 Road King..drove him crazy for a while...thinking it was valve train noise...finally had enough and we tore the engine down in my garage...one of his piston wrist-pin bushings was literally missing about 30% of the brass!!...Luckily brass is so soft that the shavings turn into powder and don't hurt anything else..we had to split the cases to do the job...hope that's not it..but an internal rattle is usually piston-slap...and that damage is usually related to running too lean..good luck..
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
Hi,
My 2010 FLHT still has the original 'legal' exhaust pipes
The chrome sleeves above the front fork tubes produce a certain 'sound' when I tap them with a fingernail. The rattle I hear when I ride sounds the same. Could this be the source?
I also have two helmet locks, one on each side of the crash bar, and their little catches vibrate but with a different pitch. Nothing seems to come from the fairing, instrument cluster nor switches. So we only have the fork tubes in common !
Cheers
My 2010 FLHT still has the original 'legal' exhaust pipes
The chrome sleeves above the front fork tubes produce a certain 'sound' when I tap them with a fingernail. The rattle I hear when I ride sounds the same. Could this be the source?
I also have two helmet locks, one on each side of the crash bar, and their little catches vibrate but with a different pitch. Nothing seems to come from the fairing, instrument cluster nor switches. So we only have the fork tubes in common !
Cheers
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: TOAK western branch
The 3 things I have run across are 1) a rattling fuel cap 2) a worn joint on the shifter linkage 3) loose license plate bolts. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
I noticed no one responded to you so here are some tips that I have used that may help.
1) If you have any kind of lift, use it. Try to get the bike as stable as you can (with tie down's etc). Once you have it contained, without running it, see if you can move as many of the moveable parts as possible, shifters, wheels, brakes, shocks, etc..
2) if you still can find it, and it does not make the noise in a stationary position (running or not), if it is load enough, you have have someone run next to you (or even ride a bike next to you). this is crazy I know, but it could help.
3) lastly, you "could" run it on a lift or better yet, table lift to see if you can detect the noise.
Hope this helps.
1) If you have any kind of lift, use it. Try to get the bike as stable as you can (with tie down's etc). Once you have it contained, without running it, see if you can move as many of the moveable parts as possible, shifters, wheels, brakes, shocks, etc..
2) if you still can find it, and it does not make the noise in a stationary position (running or not), if it is load enough, you have have someone run next to you (or even ride a bike next to you). this is crazy I know, but it could help.
3) lastly, you "could" run it on a lift or better yet, table lift to see if you can detect the noise.
Hope this helps.
Can you duplicate the noise while revving in neutral? I had a rattle that I chased for a while. I could hear it when either revving to 2500 RPMs or cruising down the road at the same RPMs. Turned out to be a loose baffle in my left muffler. I ran 3 long screws up through the baffles, and the noise is almost gone. I still hear a slight squeak in the RPM range, but it's hardly noticable now. I do plan to replace my slip ons to totally get rid of the noise, but it's tolerable now.
Might be somewhere for you to look.
Might be somewhere for you to look.
if it's a rattle that seems to be coming from the top end, inside the motor...it could be worn wrist-pin bushings, causing a little piston-slap...this is EXACTLY what happened to my buddy 3 years ago with his 2000 Road King..drove him crazy for a while...thinking it was valve train noise...finally had enough and we tore the engine down in my garage...one of his piston wrist-pin bushings was literally missing about 30% of the brass!!...Luckily brass is so soft that the shavings turn into powder and don't hurt anything else..we had to split the cases to do the job...hope that's not it..but an internal rattle is usually piston-slap...and that damage is usually related to running too lean..good luck..
[quote=Expat1;8718044]Hi,
My 2010 FLHT still has the original 'legal' exhaust pipes
The chrome sleeves above the front fork tubes produce a certain 'sound' when I tap them with a fingernail. The rattle I hear when I ride sounds the same. Could this be the source?
I also have two helmet locks, one on each side of the crash bar, and their little catches vibrate but with a different pitch. Nothing seems to come from the fairing, instrument cluster nor switches. So we only have the fork tubes in common !
Cheers[/quote
Only thing close to this I can think of is my gremlin. Maybe I need to just take it off and hope it is something that simple but it has been on there quite a while. Thanks!!!
Nah, all tight. I did find my rear exhaust was loose last cleaning so am gonna make sure I got everything tight. Other than all the helpful suggestions, just looking for a way to secure the bike on the lift. Thanks and keep em' coming!!!!
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
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From: NW NC
I believe I found the problem and will find out for sure later or tomorrow. Took off my saddlebags, gremlin and pillion. I did find the rear fender screw loose where the pillion is secured but do not believe that has anything to do with it, a concern nonetheless. After I removed everything I took it for a ride and still had the rattling. Pulled into the garage and tried to figure out what was up as I could hear the noise seeming to come more from the right side. What I found was a couple loose screws on the timer cover and the cover itself was rattling. I had replaced the cover a couple years ago. Anyway I removed the screws and put blue Loctite on them. So now I want to let it set and take another ride later hoping that was the problem. I was able to get some of my exhaust shield screws to tighten a bit and still want to give the bike a good going over checking that everything is indeed tight. Thanks for the help!!!