My Imagination nah or ?

[markpenn1]

I have a 2006 Nomad 14k miles with only mod is VH baggers. I am a casual rider. I don't know whether I have a problem or my imagination.So I thought I would throw this out to you folks.. few months ago we took a 1,400 mile ride and on the way back I felt like there was more vibration than normal.. you know how those things will do; slowly creep up on you, but not quite sure if is or not?? I have been moving for the last month and had my scooter stored and when I finally went to move it to it's new home; I felt like it had more vibration. Now to be honest with you I always feel that way at first; then after a hour or so I start getting use to it. LOL My last bike was a Gold Wing.... Anyway took it for a excerise ride and what I did was put under a load; note the vibration, then put the clutch in and found the ride ride real smooth. Now in MY mind that cancels out wheels; tires; driveshaft; etc.. put load back on and vibration comes back. Now I know twins vibrate; period!; but this seems to be more than usual???. Senerio #2 pulling up grades vibs not bad; but present, then over crest back down grade vibs more present, disengage clutch smooths out?? Could be driveshaft..trans..main drive bearing or dozen other things that would..wouldn't show up under certain loads..etc.. Just thought maybe one/others of you have experienced same thing and found something concrete. I realize hard to Lazyboy troubleshoot and thanks for any input.. Maybe during xmas break if he's willing; have Scott aka: Catusjack cover over to meet each other and take it for a spin and see if it is normal?? thanks in advance!!

[Top Cat]

I have a 2006 Nomad 14k miles with only mod is VH baggers. I am a casual rider. I don't know whether I have a problem or my imagination.So I thought I would throw this out to you folks.. few months ago we took a 1,400 mile ride and on the way back I felt like there was more vibration than normal.. you know how those things will do; slowly creep up on you, but not quite sure if is or not?? I have been moving for the last month and had my scooter stored and when I finally went to move it to it's new home; I felt like it had more vibration. Now to be honest with you I always feel that way at first; then after a hour or so I start getting use to it. LOL My last bike was a Gold Wing.... Anyway took it for a excerise ride and what I did was put under a load; note the vibration, then put the clutch in and found the ride ride real smooth. Now in MY mind that cancels out wheels; tires; driveshaft; etc.. put load back on and vibration comes back. Now I know twins vibrate; period!; but this seems to be more than usual???. Senerio #2 pulling up grades vibs not bad; but present, then over crest back down grade vibs more present, disengage clutch smooths out?? Could be driveshaft..trans..main drive bearing or dozen other things that would..wouldn't show up under certain loads..etc.. Just thought maybe one/others of you have experienced same thing and found something concrete. I realize hard to Lazyboy troubleshoot and thanks for any input.. Maybe during xmas break if he's willing; have Scott aka: Catusjack cover over to meet each other and take it for a spin and see if it is normal?? thanks in advance!!

That would be the smart thing to do.

[Cajunrider]

That's a wise idea Mark. Scott's a darn good troubleshooter.

[MAS Tequila]

Mine did that in all three variations, 1500, 1600, and current mill.

Some of it is inherent. I thought mine was exceptionally bad but after riding a few other Kaw twins I believe they all have it.

Also as the miles rack up it will have a tendency to loosen up and vibrate a little more. In my experience anyway.

MT

[audiogooroo]

That's a wise idea Mark. Scott's a darn good trouble maker.
That too! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[trosco]

An 05 with only 14k may have set a lot and may have not gotten a lot of sevice attention just cause it is so low mileage. If the rear tire was changed with out servicing the swing arm, drive shaft and rear differential I would try some maint.
Change your rear drive grease. Remove the swing arm and service it's bearings and the shock pivot points then do the drive shaft. Pay special attention to the spline from the drive shaft to the universal joint and the joint it self. If the joint has stiffend up or if the shaft spline was rusted to the universals spline (mine was) it will create the symptons you describe. Especially under deceleration.

[blowndodge]

Scott,,,, a good trouble shooter?!!! Brahahahaha.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Cajunrider]

I guess it's Scott's turn to be gang banged..........

[ringadingh]

Its possible it could be the U joint or the final drive but unlikely, with 14k on the bike. It may also be the rubber vibration dampeners in the motor, I know you have low mileage on the bike, but something isn't right with it.

[skeeter]

Normal to Abnormal?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I would have Scott give it a try and see what he thinks. Trosco tossed out some good advice. A good lubrication might not cure it but it danged sure won't hurt it.

[schoeney]

Where are you feeling the vibration? Maybe it is a simple matter that your shocks lost some air while stored?

[rez]

I have a similar issue on my 2005....86k km....with excellent maintenance record. I feel it has excess/unacceptable vibration. I have done everything and more as suggested here. Even replaced the balancer rubber vibration dampers inside the motor. Nothing has really improved the issue. I am sure it is 'motor' related. I have run a thread about this...here....some time ago but came to no conclusion or satisfaction regarding this problem. I would appreciate any further comments, opinions or suggestions.

[skiman]

My 02 is smooth as smooth gets not even in the floor boards my 2 cents
If was smooth now it's not somethings wrong

[doublel]

You could buy a Harley and ride it for awhile than when you went back to the Nomad it would feel smooth as could be. oooh did a say that out loud :)

[ponch]

I would follow troscos' advice. When I did my drive shaft service, the rear splines were ok, but the front ones were dry as a bone.

[jandreu]

Just my 2 cents but you say it"s smooth with the clutch pulled in. That would rule out anything after the friction plates to the road. Has to be in the engine.

[ponch]

Just my 2 cents but you say it"s smooth with the clutch pulled in. That would rule out anything after the friction plates to the road. Has to be in the engine.

The only thing I know with the engine that could cause it are the rubber blocks in the balancer. They do wear out and can get jiggy.

[trosco]

Ring, DkDixie had to replace his U-joint in less than 12K miles. Was stiff, it happens on Vulcans, that's why there are so many posts about alternative sources of U-Joints. The whole swing arm bearings/u-joint/front spline area seems to be a vicitum of poor factory setup lubrication much like the steering head bearings.
That solved his vibration problem, and because his description matched my friends problem we went into his swingarm with the expectation of replacing universal and found instend the froze, rusted front spline. Disassembly was a bear but getting it appart, cleaned and lubed solved his problem.
And if the vibration is in your motor it stays the much the same clutch in or out. It will change with engine RPM not bike speed. Some thimes under load will make vibration more noticable as the vibration is transmitted to whole bike but if it's in the engine it will be there with or without rest of bike.
If it's is in clutch or trans or shaft it will come and go with cluctch in/out, up hill pulling or down hill slowing and at different speeds in different gears.
That part of the bike is 5 years old now and if it hasn't had maint twice regardless of the miles it needs attention now.

[ponch]

In 5 years grease will dry out...


Ring, DkDixie had to replace his U-joint in less than 12K miles. Was stiff, it happens on Vulcans, that's why there are so many posts about alternative sources of U-Joints. The whole swing arm bearings/u-joint/front spline area seems to be a vicitum of poor factory setup lubrication much like the steering head bearings.
That solved his vibration problem, and because his description matched my friends problem we went into his swingarm with the expectation of replacing universal and found instend the froze, rusted front spline. Disassembly was a bear but getting it appart, cleaned and lubed solved his problem.
And if the vibration is in your motor it stays the much the same clutch in or out. It will change with engine RPM not bike speed. Some thimes under load will make vibration more noticable as the vibration is transmitted to whole bike but if it's in the engine it will be there with or without rest of bike.
If it's is in clutch or trans or shaft it will come and go with cluctch in/out, up hill pulling or down hill slowing and at different speeds in different gears.
That part of the bike is 5 years old now and if it hasn't had maint twice regardless of the miles it needs attention now.

[cactusjack]

In 5 years grease will dry out...


Ring, DkDixie had to replace his U-joint in less than 12K miles. Was stiff, it happens on Vulcans, that's why there are so many posts about alternative sources of U-Joints. The whole swing arm bearings/u-joint/front spline area seems to be a vicitum of poor factory setup lubrication much like the steering head bearings.
That solved his vibration problem, and because his description matched my friends problem we went into his swingarm with the expectation of replacing universal and found instend the froze, rusted front spline. Disassembly was a bear but getting it appart, cleaned and lubed solved his problem.
And if the vibration is in your motor it stays the much the same clutch in or out. It will change with engine RPM not bike speed. Some thimes under load will make vibration more noticable as the vibration is transmitted to whole bike but if it's in the engine it will be there with or without rest of bike.
If it's is in clutch or trans or shaft it will come and go with cluctch in/out, up hill pulling or down hill slowing and at different speeds in different gears.
That part of the bike is 5 years old now and if it hasn't had maint twice regardless of the miles it needs attention now.

...especially in a climate where it's 100°+ for 5 months. The garage where I keep my bike runs about 125° every day, all summer.

[MAS Tequila]

I'll back Trosco on the trans and vibration disappearing when the clutch lever is pulled. It will wear the bearing behind the bevel gear cam and eventually cause it to fail.

I had it happen this past summer.

MT

[ponch]

I'll back Trosco on the trans and vibration disappearing when the clutch lever is pulled. It will wear the bearing behind the bevel gear cam and eventually cause it to fail.

I had it happen this past summer.

MT

The vibration, failure or both?

If the bearing goes, I would bet the u-joint figured into it. Unfortunately, there is no way to grease the u-joint unless you replace it with one that has some sort of zerk fitting on it.

Some cars like the Jeep Wrangler are foregoing u-joints on the drive shafts and they are using sealed CV joints instead. Kawasaki soved the issue by going with a belt drive on newer models.

I have to wonder though, I have never read about a Honda Gold Wing having shaft issues or even needing the maintenance that this one does. On the RT, greasing the lower spline is a 15 minute job.

[MAS Tequila]

No the u-joint was not involved. The front bevel gear is driven by a cam, behind that cam is a ball bearing which is seated in the case. The 3-4-5 gear shaft (which is also the output shaft) rides on this bearing. If something cause the trans to vibrate this is where the damage will ultimately be done.

In my case the bearing cups disintigrated.

The fact that a two part cam drives the front bevel gear isolates it enough to prevent damaging any external parts.

While on the subject, last Feb while at Bike Week in Daytona I rode several different bikes (demo ride) and the 1700 and 2000 had as much or more vibration through the floorboards than my bike.

MT

[ponch]

No the u-joint was not involved. The front bevel gear is driven by a cam, behind that cam is a ball bearing which is seated in the case. The 3-4-5 gear shaft (which is also the output shaft) rides on this bearing. If something cause the trans to vibrate this is where the damage will ultimately be done.

In my case the bearing cups disintigrated.

The fact that a two part cam drives the front bevel gear isolates it enough to prevent damaging any external parts.

While on the subject, last Feb while at Bike Week in Daytona I rode several different bikes (demo ride) and the 1700 and 2000 had as much or more vibration through the floorboards than my bike.

MT

When I rode a Voyager, I thought it wasn't as smooth as my 1600 Nomad. Not in shifting nor the engine. I never rode a 2000, so I can't judge it.

[unwind2]

Well...here's my dumb question. Sounds like what I would describe as 'engine lugging' could it be done by being in wrong gear? (not that I've ever done that ::))

Of course I don't work on my bike, car etc... just take them to the dealer for servicing. :-/