Nomad Rattle

[vulcans2]

I was out on a ride today and had occasion to have to ride over a street that was pretty rough and bumpy. I wasn't wearing my earplugs for a change, since I was only going about half a mile for coffee. Anyway, I noticed that when I went over a sharp bump, I could hear something rattling, like something was loose under the gas tank. I don't know of anything loose down there. Maybe something in one of the saddlebags?? Anyone have any wisdom regarding this? It's a 2010 Nomad. Have 4K miles on it.

[ringadingh]

You may have something loose under the tank or someplace else but the most common place is the wiring in the headlight bucket.
Take off the front of the headlight lens and make sure all the wires are fastened down with a couple of cable ties. That cures it most times.

[ve3hzz]

+1 on the headlight bucket. Been a known issue for this noise for years by many a Nomad/Vulcan owner. I would bet that one of the tabs that is used to HOLD down the wiring in there is not connected or a bit loose.

I'd look there FIRST

Scott

[drno]

Was your key in the ignition and if so does it have a metal ring on it.

[dabull]

+1 ALL of the above........

[vulcans2]

No ring on the key, but I hadn't thought about the headlight bucket. Seems the general area where the sound was coming from. I will check it out tomorrow. Thanx for the tip.

[bigmacbkr]

I was out on a ride today and had occasion to have to ride over a street that was pretty rough and bumpy. I wasn't wearing my earplugs for a change, since I was only going about half a mile for coffee. Anyway, I noticed that when I went over a sharp bump, I could hear something rattling, like something was loose under the gas tank. I don't know of anything loose down there. Maybe something in one of the saddlebags?? Anyone have any wisdom regarding this? It's a 2010 Nomad. Have 4K miles on it.
Check the exhaust heat shields. After the replacement was put on mine I had a little rattle that was traced to a loose bracket on the shield.

[rez]

I had a pesky rattle for some time and FINALLY traced it to the left side chrome fork cover......it was the rear cover ('wraps' around the rear of the fork at the top of the forks). It has spots where the plates are doubled up on the inside and creating a rattle. You could check this out....hope my description is understandable.

[redjay]

Take a good look at the shroud over the front of the radiator (if the 2009 and up have them).
The shroud can vibrate against the rad causing a rattle. Window draft exclusion tape between the shroud and the rad cures the rattle.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I was going to suggest the radiator frame. It has been a known problem for rattling. Not sure if the '09 and '10 have this. I know the '08 and below have it.

[unwind2]

I don't know of anything loose down there. Anyone have any wisdom regarding this? Have 4K miles on it.

Okay...I could say something but......... I'll just leave it to all's imagination. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Bad Girl....Bad Girl :-[

[jendesigner]

On my Volusia I had a rattle coming from the front end. After two days of checking everything, I mean everything, including checking/tightening all the bolts, I finally realized the sound was from a pack of tic-tacs I had in my windshield bag :-) So check there too.

[drno]

Lol. Its always the simple things in life that can cause grief... tictacs is priceless.