Shake, Rattle and Roll...

[tazio]

Well, this be me first "Hog",Rrrrr.
 Bought a piglet (Sportster) new in '89. Loved that thing, even ran it with a side car for a while.
This is the heaviest motorcycle I've ever owned, and I've been searching for something Lisa could
be happy (comfortable) with.
Such a beautiful bike and <16k miles. I told her it's OUR bike, to use on OUR trips..
She fell for it. Hee-hee.
Bike is LOUD, not thilled about that. This will change.
Off idle fueling is near perfect, rear brake locks up too easily for my taste.
 She shakes at idle, you would think that motor was fixing to jump out of there, but the slightest
application of throttle and it smooths right out. Wondering, are the newer H-D's vibrations at
idle quelled to some degree? It's a 2006 Street Glide, Black Cherry, first year for the street and last year for the Tc88 or so I'm told.
One things for certain, the mighty GRiSO in the garage IS PISSED!
Not to worry as nothing runs like a goose.
Anything to keep an eye out for as far as reliability or things that may inhance our riding experience? We are in uncharted waters here...
All insights welcome!!

[leroysch]

Congratulations on the new ride.

I've got a 2006, carburetor-ed, and they both upped the displacement and added a tranny gear in 2007. Motor shakes in frame, but nothing like my '88 FLST solid mount.

Pushing  75000...76000 miles on mine. Cam chain tensioners and busted fairing brackets are typical watch items.

Enjoy!

[Kev m]

Leyroy, 75k? I assume you've replaced the cam tensioners by now yes?

Taz, cam tensioners are the big thing. If not already upgraded to the hydraulic tensioners plan for that now if it's going to stay around.

Idle jumpiness is typical on the rubbermounts, especially the BTs. Ironically the counterbalanced/solidmount motors on the last generation and new generation Softails are the smoothest at idle. The irony is that back in the Evo days the Softails were true vibrators.

Anyway the FLH series is, as you already know, quite smooth underway and hides its weight surprisingly well.

I tend to run stock exhausts and fueling without problems.

[tazio]

Thanks for the input so far fellows.
This bike is fuel injection with Vance and Hines exhaust. Lots of popping on decel.
Lean condition maybe?
Goofy thing is I know guys who LIKE that Jake-Brake sound, go figure..
Lots of rubbery feeling in the handlebars, by design I suppose.
Do you guys think an insert of some sort was yanked out of the mufflers?
Did I tell you how beautiful this bike is? ...

[Kev m]

My guess would say yes on a missing baffle but it's tough to say for certain.

The popping sure suggests it.

[Dilliw]

Hey Michael nice ride!  I had an '06 and it's a one year off motor with a couple of things to be aware of.  The main one is the cam tensioners that Kev mentioned.

Also there was a batch of stator motors with riveted plates instead of welded.  The rivets make great projectiles when they break free.  I would check with the PO to see if the cam tensioners or the stator were touched.

Also the primary inner was considered a "wear item".  Harley replaced lots of them outside of warranty but I doubt they will do anything beyond 10 years (except for sell you a new bike :) ).  There were vids on youtube back in the day for sound identification.  Sort of like the plastic cage Guzzi bearings I guess!

[tazio]

Wow, thanks! Lots of good info.
If anyone else have an input/observation please respond here

[guzzisteve]

Oh, I knew you were a H-D guy all along, good buy!!

[Motormike]

Taz:  Nice bike, I owned a 2003 100th Anniversary edition that I put over 60,000 miles on before I sold her.  Zero mechanical problems.  Very low maintenance really, what with belt drive and hydraulic valves. I did replace the cam chain tensioners everyone here has mentioned around the 30,000 mile mark. That seems to be about average. The timing chain cuts into the hard plastic tensioner shoe over time.  Mine were about 50% to 60% worn through.  Inexpensive parts and easy to do, I changed mine out myself.  You've got a while before you need to check them.  Your bike still has the "old" frame with the three point rubber engine mounting.  Shakes a lot at idle. You can use it to mix paint!  In 2009 Harley redesigned the frame to a four point rubber mount.  They still shake at idle, too, just not as much. ( I have a 2012 Road Glide now)  The new 4 valve "Milwaukee 8" engines have a single counterbalancer, and although still rubber mounted, shake very little at idle.  Enjoy the bike. 

[bobrebos]

Nice scoot you have there!  Awesome.

[tazio]

Some great information guys, appreciate it!
Steve, what was your tip-off that I was a Harley guy??
Second thought, better I don't know! Lol
Ride safe y'all.

[leroysch]

Leyroy, 75k? I assume you've replaced the cam tensioners by now yes?

Taz, cam tensioners are the big thing. If not already upgraded to the hydraulic tensioners plan for that now if it's going to stay around.

Idle jumpiness is typical on the rubbermounts, especially the BTs. Ironically the counterbalanced/solidmount motors on the last generation and new generation Softails are the smoothest at idle. The irony is that back in the Evo days the Softails were true vibrators.

Anyway the FLH series is, as you already know, quite smooth underway and hides its weight surprisingly well.

I tend to run stock exhausts and fueling without problems.

Replaced at 67000 miles.
Worn but serviceable.

[Kev m]

Replaced at 67000 miles.
Worn but serviceable.

Damn, I've seen sets take out motors at half that.

[Motormike]

Funny about those first generation cam chain tensioners.  Some are worn through completely by 30,000 miles, others last much longer.  I think it has a lot to do with the stamped "silent chain" the cams use.  The plates stamped edges can be sharp, and the the sharper the edge, the more quickly they wear into the tensioner shoe.  This is also why replacements seem to last much longer, the sharp edges of the chain plates have been polished smooth by the wear of the tensioner.  That's my theory anyway.  I'd take a peek around 25,000, to be safe.  The front tensioner is right in the open, the second one is buried behind the oil pump plate, but can be inspected with a dental mirror and a flashlight.  Easy-peasy.  Every bike with chain driven cams I've ever seen has some type of plastic tensioner shoe and guides.  Sooner or later, they are wear items on any engine.  The only mistake Harley made was in not posting an inspection interval.

[tazio]

Good info all around! MUCH appreciated!!
Roll on, guys and dolls!