"rattle" in fairing on my Voyager

KawasakiJon · 04-02-2012, 07:09 PM

My new bike has developed an irritating rattle somewhere in the fairing. I've got just over 1000 miles on it, and the noise showed up at around 700 miles. Seems like it is coming from the left corner of the windshield, but I've checked every fastener I can find and they're all tight. The rattle seems to appear mostly when I'm under low RPM acceleration and when I hit a bigger than normal crack in the road. Whatever it is, it's getting worse. Anyone experienced this or have any ideas where to look for the cause?? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

**cnc** · 04-02-2012, 07:30 PM

Not having a voyager I'm probably not much help but I was wondering, got a glove box in that fairing and maybe some thing loose in it?
Or on my Nomad when it was new I kept getting a similar noise, it was the main harness connection in the head light pot rattling. I wrapped it with foam rubber.

KawasakiJon · 04-02-2012, 07:55 PM

The first thing I did was take everything out of the cubby.. I wish that would have worked. But, now that I think of it, I wonder if my iPod connector could be the culprit?? Hmmmm, off for I ride I go to find out.

KawasakiJon · 04-02-2012, 08:30 PM

Well, it isn't the iPod connector :( I did find that the 5 allen head screws in the chrome piece that holds the windshield in all had about a half turn in them, but that made the problem WAY worse. Grrrrr. Backed them out and now it's back to not being as bad, which makes me think if has something to do with the 'shield. Advice?

**cnc** · 04-02-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KawasakiJon

Well, it isn't the iPod connector :( I did find that the 5 allen head screws in the chrome piece that holds the windshield in all had about a half turn in them, but that made the problem WAY worse. Grrrrr. Backed them out and now it's back to not being as bad, which makes me think if has something to do with the 'shield. Advice?

Maybe undo those screws and remove the chrome trim and shield and go for ride. If that turns out to be the cause, a strip of rubber either between the shield and the fairing and or the shield and the chrome trim may cure it permanently.

highwayman2011 · 04-03-2012, 07:30 PM

If it's not the shield look behind the headlight there are a lot of wires and connections in there.

**sacarriker** · 04-03-2012, 08:03 PM

had the exact same problem with my 2011 voyager at about same mileage. Took it to the dealer. Was convinced it was in left side faring by wind shield. Turned out it was echoing off the faring but actually came from chrome tank skirt where it goes over the front of the tank. The edges of chrome in front of tank are not supported and at certain frequencies vibrate and the sound bounces off of faring. A little sticky strips of foam and no more sound. Hope that helps. The dealer took care of it for me at no charge. took them a couple hours to figure it out. They tried a couple of other things with faring before they figured it out.

Loafer · 04-04-2012, 06:40 AM

Have we found the problem? And is it cured?

KawasakiJon · 04-04-2012, 09:37 AM

I haven't figured it out yet, but haven't had much time to tinker with it. Thanks for tip on the tank skirt, I'll give that a look next time I ride. I'll be sure to report back what I find.

nomad4dixie · 04-04-2012, 04:39 PM

Funny you mentioned this but I'm having the same issue with my Vaquero. I've got just over 700 miles on it so far and I just thought I was imagining this rattle. Glad to see I'm not alone with this.

BigDog1294 · 04-04-2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad4dixie

Funny you mentioned this but I'm having the same issue with my Vaquero. I've got just over 700 miles on it so far and I just thought I was imagining this rattle. Glad to see I'm not alone with this.

Check the tank bib where it goes over the front. When it starts rattling just place your hand down over the front with a little pressure. If the rattle stops, put some foam tape under the edge where it contacts the front of the tank.

Roadie · 04-05-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad4dixie

Funny you mentioned this but I'm having the same issue with my Vaquero. I've got just over 700 miles on it so far and I just thought I was imagining this rattle. Glad to see I'm not alone with this.

Had the same noise and it was coming from the plastic factory tank bib, just added a very nice leather tank bib made by Sage Brush Designs and the noise is gone and the bike looks even better.

Check them out at:

http://www.sagebrushdesigns.com/tank_bib.html

oldrampy · 04-05-2012, 04:04 PM

Had the rattle on my 11 voyager it also was the chrome on the tank at certain rpm. Did the same as sacarriker to the dealer they were lost but i figured it out and used some sticky foam strips also. Surprise worked great.

KawasakiJon · 04-09-2012, 08:17 PM

Finally got to go out for a ride tonight, it is for sure the chrome piece on the tank. Grab the side of it, rattle stops. Thanks for all the advice...

fire1184 · 06-10-2012, 01:53 PM

Thank you guys so much for this thread!! I have the same problem with my brand new 2012 Voyager. I did the same thing with my windshield, tightened the screws, then backed them out... Now I'm running out to my garage to check the same problem you guys had!!

04-02-2012, 07:09 PM	#1
KawasakiJon Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 18	"rattle" in fairing on my Voyager My new bike has developed an irritating rattle somewhere in the fairing. I've got just over 1000 miles on it, and the noise showed up at around 700 miles. Seems like it is coming from the left corner of the windshield, but I've checked every fastener I can find and they're all tight. The rattle seems to appear mostly when I'm under low RPM acceleration and when I hit a bigger than normal crack in the road. Whatever it is, it's getting worse. Anyone experienced this or have any ideas where to look for the cause?? Any help will be greatly appreciated. __________________ Jon "Pyro" Brown Sioux Falls, SD VBA #1977 2012 Black and Silver Voyager Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-02-2012, 07:30 PM	#2
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	Not having a voyager I'm probably not much help but I was wondering, got a glove box in that fairing and maybe some thing loose in it? Or on my Nomad when it was new I kept getting a similar noise, it was the main harness connection in the head light pot rattling. I wrapped it with foam rubber. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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04-02-2012, 07:55 PM	#3
KawasakiJon Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 18	The first thing I did was take everything out of the cubby.. I wish that would have worked. But, now that I think of it, I wonder if my iPod connector could be the culprit?? Hmmmm, off for I ride I go to find out. __________________ Jon "Pyro" Brown Sioux Falls, SD VBA #1977 2012 Black and Silver Voyager
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04-02-2012, 08:30 PM	#4
KawasakiJon Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 18	Well, it isn't the iPod connector :( I did find that the 5 allen head screws in the chrome piece that holds the windshield in all had about a half turn in them, but that made the problem WAY worse. Grrrrr. Backed them out and now it's back to not being as bad, which makes me think if has something to do with the 'shield. Advice? __________________ Jon "Pyro" Brown Sioux Falls, SD VBA #1977 2012 Black and Silver Voyager
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04-03-2012, 08:03 PM	#7
sacarriker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Dickinson, Tx Posts: 502	had the exact same problem with my 2011 voyager at about same mileage. Took it to the dealer. Was convinced it was in left side faring by wind shield. Turned out it was echoing off the faring but actually came from chrome tank skirt where it goes over the front of the tank. The edges of chrome in front of tank are not supported and at certain frequencies vibrate and the sound bounces off of faring. A little sticky strips of foam and no more sound. Hope that helps. The dealer took care of it for me at no charge. took them a couple hours to figure it out. They tried a couple of other things with faring before they figured it out. __________________ Will ride in rain! Scott & Jude Carriker Dickinson, TX Vulcan Bagger #01989 2013 Road Glide Ultra 2013 Softail Deluxe 2011 Voyager 1700 ABS (traded) 2004 Vulcan Classic 1500 (traded) 2009 Vulcan 900 Classic (Gone but not forgotten) 2007 Vulcan Classic 1600 Last edited by sacarriker; 04-03-2012 at 08:07 PM.
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04-03-2012, 07:30 PM	#6
highwayman2011 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: N Las Vegas, NV Posts: 364	If it's not the shield look behind the headlight there are a lot of wires and connections in there.
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04-04-2012, 06:40 AM	#8
Loafer Sr. Contributor Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 18,287	Have we found the problem? And is it cured? __________________ Gerry Martineau / 802 VT / VBA #0892 /[email]glmjgm@gmail.com[email]
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04-04-2012, 09:37 AM	#9
KawasakiJon Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 18	I haven't figured it out yet, but haven't had much time to tinker with it. Thanks for tip on the tank skirt, I'll give that a look next time I ride. I'll be sure to report back what I find. __________________ Jon "Pyro" Brown Sioux Falls, SD VBA #1977 2012 Black and Silver Voyager
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04-04-2012, 04:39 PM	#10
nomad4dixie Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 17	Same thing in my Vaquero Funny you mentioned this but I'm having the same issue with my Vaquero. I've got just over 700 miles on it so far and I just thought I was imagining this rattle. Glad to see I'm not alone with this.
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04-05-2012, 04:04 PM	#13
oldrampy Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: hadley,pa Posts: 64	Had the rattle on my 11 voyager it also was the chrome on the tank at certain rpm. Did the same as sacarriker to the dealer they were lost but i figured it out and used some sticky foam strips also. Surprise worked great.
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04-09-2012, 08:17 PM	#14
KawasakiJon Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 18	Finally got to go out for a ride tonight, it is for sure the chrome piece on the tank. Grab the side of it, rattle stops. Thanks for all the advice... __________________ Jon "Pyro" Brown Sioux Falls, SD VBA #1977 2012 Black and Silver Voyager
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06-10-2012, 01:53 PM	#15
fire1184 Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1	Thank you guys so much for this thread!! I have the same problem with my brand new 2012 Voyager. I did the same thing with my windshield, tightened the screws, then backed them out... Now I'm running out to my garage to check the same problem you guys had!!
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