20 mph vibration

exharley · 01-21-2014, 01:10 AM

See if you are familiar with this. I've had a noise for about a year. If I accelerate up to....whatever....and then when I come to a stop , as the Mph is coming down , right at 20 mph I hear a buzzing noise that sounds like a front fender is loose and vibrating. It lasts about a second or so then goes away. It's never at any other speed other than 20mph while decelerating whether clutch is in or out. Makes no difference. But it does it every time. I've checked everything for looseness and can find anything. Why would it only happen when I decelerate and get to 20 mpg? Could it be coming from the motor ?

dshelly · 01-21-2014, 07:34 AM

Pull your headlight and see if anything in there could be vibrating against the housing.

BandC · 01-21-2014, 07:54 AM

If you haven't checked it yet, the heat shield on the exhaust pipes have rivets that some times will loosen also.

**cnc** · 01-21-2014, 08:51 AM

I don't see what bike you are refering to so I assume it is a nomad. Some possibilities that others have found vibrating are: Rad housing or grill, the speedo housing, extra keys on your key ring, and don't laugh, but one fella was having a hard time pinpointing the source of the noise convinced it was some where on the front of the bike. Finally turned out to be the snaps on his helmet visor.

tonik · 01-21-2014, 09:53 AM

Check the little rubbers where the chrome exhaust covers meet. The section right below your seat where the front cover connects to the rear. There is a tongue and grove setup and the tongue is covered in rubber.

Can't believe I just wrote that with a straight face.

**Bamabrat** · 01-21-2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dshelly

Pull your headlight and see if anything in there could be vibrating against the housing.

Mine did this. I put a tiny piece of 3M double sided auto tape in 5 or 6 spots equidistant between the beauty ring and the housing and it stopped. I couldn't hear it at higher speeds, but I think that was only due to the higher amount of wind and engine noise. Either way, now it's gone.

nomad ryder · 01-21-2014, 11:37 AM

My '04 VN1500 had a persistent vibration buzz at low speed; I found the windshield barely touched the banjo bolt for the clutch master cylinder and thought I had it, but the vibe was still there, then while doing something else, I found two driving light wire clamps behind the windshield. Put a 10mm wrench on one, turned it half a turn till good and snug (hold the wire clamp so it won't pinch the wire) and do the same to the other one. Vibe gone.

exharley · 01-21-2014, 06:16 PM

I've checked most of the things mentioned. My problem is that it only happens at 20 mph. With the clutch pulled in and coasting down to 20, there is no vibration to speak of and it still does this. It has something to do with the 20 mph as it doesn't do this at any other time.

tonik · 01-21-2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exharley

I've checked most of the things mentioned. My problem is that it only happens at 20 mph. With the clutch pulled in and coasting down to 20, there is no vibration to speak of and it still does this. It has something to do with the 20 mph as it doesn't do this at any other time.

It's a harmonic balance sound wave vibration thing. I just made that up. It is happening when you describe because that just happens to create the right set of conditions to make it happen. It isn't the clutch or the engine.....it is just the engine rpm and engine vibration is just right with the road vibration. Let the clutch out it dampens the engine vibration a little and it doesn't happen.

That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

Start taking stuff off and try it. Pull the headlight and wrap the wires in rags. Go for a ride. Take off the fan shroud and do it again. Exhaust bling next....unfortunately it's going to take that kind of an effort to nail it down I am afraid.

ndbigfish · 01-21-2014, 09:25 PM

If your bike is a 1500 just reach out and touch the speedo when it buzzes or rattles. I had one Nomad that did it and I had a terrible time trying to figure out what it was. I thought the noise was a fender or the radiator. I used washers to shim out the buzz until I got the rubber under the speedo replaced.

exharley · 01-22-2014, 12:06 AM

The bike is an 05 1600. I guess I'll just have to start taking things apart till I figure it out.
It makes the noise whether the clutch is in OR out , makes no difference.
Thanks fellers.

01-21-2014, 01:10 AM	#1
exharley Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Culleoka, Tn Posts: 136	20 mph vibration See if you are familiar with this. I've had a noise for about a year. If I accelerate up to....whatever....and then when I come to a stop , as the Mph is coming down , right at 20 mph I hear a buzzing noise that sounds like a front fender is loose and vibrating. It lasts about a second or so then goes away. It's never at any other speed other than 20mph while decelerating whether clutch is in or out. Makes no difference. But it does it every time. I've checked everything for looseness and can find anything. Why would it only happen when I decelerate and get to 20 mpg? Could it be coming from the motor ? __________________ Life is too short to dance with ugly women. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-21-2014, 07:34 AM	#2
dshelly Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgrade, MT Posts: 2,824	Pull your headlight and see if anything in there could be vibrating against the housing. __________________ Dave "(dshelly)" Shellenberger 2014 Harley Ultra Classic 2007 1600 Nomad (Black) Shellenberger Machine Belgrade, MT Various Bagger Member (Harley Chapter) VBA # 2395
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01-21-2014, 07:54 AM	#3
BandC Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iron Range, Northern Minnesota Posts: 2,288	If you haven't checked it yet, the heat shield on the exhaust pipes have rivets that some times will loosen also. __________________ 2005 Blk/Silver Nomad (Sold) VBA #00671
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01-21-2014, 08:51 AM	#4
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	I don't see what bike you are refering to so I assume it is a nomad. Some possibilities that others have found vibrating are: Rad housing or grill, the speedo housing, extra keys on your key ring, and don't laugh, but one fella was having a hard time pinpointing the source of the noise convinced it was some where on the front of the bike. Finally turned out to be the snaps on his helmet visor. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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01-21-2014, 09:53 AM	#5
tonik Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 714	Check the little rubbers where the chrome exhaust covers meet. The section right below your seat where the front cover connects to the rear. There is a tongue and grove setup and the tongue is covered in rubber. Can't believe I just wrote that with a straight face. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-21-2014, 11:37 AM	#7
nomad ryder Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 274	My '04 VN1500 had a persistent vibration buzz at low speed; I found the windshield barely touched the banjo bolt for the clutch master cylinder and thought I had it, but the vibe was still there, then while doing something else, I found two driving light wire clamps behind the windshield. Put a 10mm wrench on one, turned it half a turn till good and snug (hold the wire clamp so it won't pinch the wire) and do the same to the other one. Vibe gone.
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01-21-2014, 06:16 PM	#8
exharley Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Culleoka, Tn Posts: 136	I've checked most of the things mentioned. My problem is that it only happens at 20 mph. With the clutch pulled in and coasting down to 20, there is no vibration to speak of and it still does this. It has something to do with the 20 mph as it doesn't do this at any other time. __________________ Life is too short to dance with ugly women.
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01-21-2014, 09:25 PM	#10
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	If your bike is a 1500 just reach out and touch the speedo when it buzzes or rattles. I had one Nomad that did it and I had a terrible time trying to figure out what it was. I thought the noise was a fender or the radiator. I used washers to shim out the buzz until I got the rubber under the speedo replaced. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
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01-22-2014, 12:06 AM	#11
exharley Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Culleoka, Tn Posts: 136	The bike is an 05 1600. I guess I'll just have to start taking things apart till I figure it out. It makes the noise whether the clutch is in OR out , makes no difference. Thanks fellers. __________________ Life is too short to dance with ugly women.
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