Another vibration question
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 156
From: boston
Another vibration question
Took the bike out for the first time this week due to rain. It is a 2012 sg with 1200 miles. I'm on te highway and noticed a vibration on my feet. I never noticed this befor. I cam getting it in all gears. I move my feet around on the boards and still feel it. Wearing the same boots as I always do. Was out for about 4 hours on Sunday befor the rains and didn't feel any. The motor is purring and all else seems good. Not really worried that much about it, jusdt weird that I never felt it befor. I had the Dealwer do the 1000 mile service and had them put synthetic in every where. Any thoughts?
Jim
Jim
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 184
From:
When I purchased my 2010 new it was smooth and after say a few miles mine does the same thing. I think it has something to do with the motor mounts settling in. I know that sounds crazy but finally noticing several guys starting to complaing about the same thing. I was actually talking to the guy at glide pro and he has designed some new mounts that I may try sometime to see if it helps, he say's they will and thats the very reason he made them.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 9
From: Cherokee Co. Georgia
If the exhaust is not tightened up in a specific order it can do exactly what you are describing. It can be in a bind & you not know it. Ask me how I know. To check it, loosen every nut, bolt & clamp on the entire exhaust. Dont remove them, just loosen them a little so the exhaust system is hanging there. Grab the head pipe now & gently shake it back & forth. It should move easily. Now start with the nuts holding the head pipes to the heads. Tighten them very evenly, a little at a time. Next the cross over pipe hanger & clamp. Tighten them. Next tighten the mufflers. The last thing you want to tighten is the hanger bolt under the transmission on the right side. Tightening this bolt before everything is exactly where it needs to be will put the exhaust in a bind and cause vibration in the floorboards. Hope this helps ya.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
isolate wheher vibrations are:
Motor- rpm dependent
Chassis- road speed dependent
Stereo- thumpin' tunes
If for example you have a vibration at 45 MPH in 3rd gear, pull in the clutch and let the motor idle- vibration go away? if so that points at a motor/rpm relationship.
That'll help figure out if your motor is blowing up, or you forgot to check tire pressure
you can keep notes and determine if problems occur at the same rpm is different gears, or at the same speed in different gears. road surface: concrete/asphalt etc.
as noted above, check the exhaust system ( this is where the "floating" rubber mounted drive train contact the chassis, through the muffler mounts), drive belt for rubbing, tire condition and pressure and grab and shake parts of the bike looking for a loose mount
mike
Motor- rpm dependent
Chassis- road speed dependent
Stereo- thumpin' tunes
If for example you have a vibration at 45 MPH in 3rd gear, pull in the clutch and let the motor idle- vibration go away? if so that points at a motor/rpm relationship.
That'll help figure out if your motor is blowing up, or you forgot to check tire pressure
you can keep notes and determine if problems occur at the same rpm is different gears, or at the same speed in different gears. road surface: concrete/asphalt etc.
as noted above, check the exhaust system ( this is where the "floating" rubber mounted drive train contact the chassis, through the muffler mounts), drive belt for rubbing, tire condition and pressure and grab and shake parts of the bike looking for a loose mount
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; May 12, 2012 at 02:23 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 156
From: boston
MK, I will do exactly that. I will check the vibration at different speeds and rpms. I should say double check. It seems to occur all the time. I am talking a slight vibration that barely tickles my feet. I just noticed this yesterday. I checked tire preasure the other night and both were fine.
I went out last night for a 2 hour ride. I purposly stayed on the highway and rode it fast. Figured I might clear some things out. I don't know if it was that I was used to it, or I was freezing by the time I got home, or it cleard up. Not holding my breath on the last option, but I didn't notice the vibration at the end of my ride. I will go again tonight after completing momas honey do list. You know the old saying, If momma aint happy...
Thaks for any input and will be back with any updates.
Jim
I went out last night for a 2 hour ride. I purposly stayed on the highway and rode it fast. Figured I might clear some things out. I don't know if it was that I was used to it, or I was freezing by the time I got home, or it cleard up. Not holding my breath on the last option, but I didn't notice the vibration at the end of my ride. I will go again tonight after completing momas honey do list. You know the old saying, If momma aint happy...
Thaks for any input and will be back with any updates.
Jim
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Jim,
Don't read too much into a vibration here and there. Of all of the HD's I have owned, they all had/have phantom vibrations. Sometimes they go away, sometimes they hang around.
At 1200 miles, your motor, and other metal to metal pieces are still wearing-in. Your tires are still in new shape at that mileage so it's most likely not them. So just ride it for a while and enjoy the bike. Harley's vibrate. That's a fact of life and that don't change.
But you can at least isolate where the vibrations are coming from by pulling in the clutch as Mike suggests to see if it's motor or frame issues.
Don't read too much into a vibration here and there. Of all of the HD's I have owned, they all had/have phantom vibrations. Sometimes they go away, sometimes they hang around.
At 1200 miles, your motor, and other metal to metal pieces are still wearing-in. Your tires are still in new shape at that mileage so it's most likely not them. So just ride it for a while and enjoy the bike. Harley's vibrate. That's a fact of life and that don't change.
But you can at least isolate where the vibrations are coming from by pulling in the clutch as Mike suggests to see if it's motor or frame issues.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 156
From: boston
As I stated, I'm not rally concerned about it. I just notice it. If it gets worse, then I will be concerned. It is a very slight vibration, and I have always owned v-twins. I realize they vibrate. I also know that Harleys vibrate more than most others. I will try to isolate the vibration and just keep track. Thanks for all the input.
Jim
Jim
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I have run in my old bike on three occasions now and on each of them as the miles build up the engine steadily improves in all manner of ways. Vibrations go away, it runs sweeter at all times and pulls better from low rpms. Patience! Roll on the miles and see how things go.
Last edited by grbrown; May 12, 2012 at 03:40 PM. Reason: Grammar!