HarleyTechTalk

Technical Forums => Twin Cam => Topic started by: chas on May 31, 2019, 05:09:40 AM

Title: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: chas on May 31, 2019, 05:09:40 AM
Hi all- This winter I decided to replace the front motor mount, thinking it has a split in it and the cause of excessive shaking! Upon removing it I found that it wasn't split and looked ok. I have watched other vids of 03 ultras and they shake much less than mine does. Do I have to think about rear mount replacement to solve this problem, and is alignment something that I need to think about also? What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: kd on May 31, 2019, 05:18:50 AM
Idle speed "shake" is normal for rubber mount engines. If the idle speed is too low (under 1050 rpm) the shake may be worse. Some aftermarket performance cams will have negative influence also.   Vibration at higher as in cruising RPM is a different cat.   Your description doesn't clearly say when.
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: jamminhd2000 on May 31, 2019, 07:00:45 AM
In my experience 03 is one of the bikes that shake the most and not really sure why. I would love to hear people thoughts on it. If the windshield and fairing seem to be shaking check the inner fairing mounts I have seen alot of broken ones....jimmy
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: Don D on May 31, 2019, 09:21:46 AM
Shaking is usually crank runout or motor mount related
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: remington007 on May 31, 2019, 09:53:45 AM
After riding 100's of HD's a year i can say no 2 are alike. Some are as smooth as glass others vibrate miserably. That said if your bike has not undergone a drastic change, its probably the way it is going to be. The early twin cams are quite smooth but the cranks were actually ballanced then, even the charging rotors were ballanced. Everything now is the luck of the draw.
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: chaos901 on May 31, 2019, 11:23:23 AM
Back to what JAMMIN said about the fairing.  The fairing brackets back in 2003 were prone to break which allowed the fairing to vibrate badly, broke several myself.  The replacement bracket has been modified and is much stronger.  This of course would only apply if the fairing is the problem and not the engine.
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: rking1550 on May 31, 2019, 12:54:27 PM
I feel your pain, I'm in the same boat. 01 roadking had original mount, replaced it this winter. Now a bad vibration off idle to maybe 1400 rpms, seems worse on decel, maybe because of spending more time in that range ?  Either way I'm following this closely and seriously considering trying another new motor mount. 
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: koko3052 on May 31, 2019, 02:34:48 PM
Quote from: HD Street Performance on May 31, 2019, 09:21:46 AM
Shaking is usually crank runout or motor mount related

:up:  I think Don hit the nail on the head.. An easy check.
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: Hossamania on May 31, 2019, 04:40:57 PM
Quote from: rking1550 on May 31, 2019, 12:54:27 PM
I feel your pain, I'm in the same boat. 01 roadking had original mount, replaced it this winter. Now a bad vibration off idle to maybe 1400 rpms, seems worse on decel, maybe because of spending more time in that range ?  Either way I'm following this closely and seriously considering trying another new motor mount.

Did you try loosening the mount a bit, start the motor, let it shake into place, and retighten it?
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: Ohio HD on May 31, 2019, 07:47:01 PM
Video it. Many of us can look at the video and see if it looks as normal, or suspect of other issues.

Curious, is this your first rubber mounted Twin Cam?
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: chas on May 31, 2019, 08:55:58 PM
I will loosen the mount, start her up and re-tighten.
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: rking1550 on June 01, 2019, 03:22:59 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on May 31, 2019, 04:40:57 PM
Quote from: rking1550 on May 31, 2019, 12:54:27 PM
I feel your pain, I'm in the same boat. 01 roadking had original mount, replaced it this winter. Now a bad vibration off idle to maybe 1400 rpms, seems worse on decel, maybe because of spending more time in that range ?  Either way I'm following this closely and seriously considering trying another new motor mount.

Did you try loosening the mount a bit, start the motor, let it shake into place, and retighten it?

Yes, I did that, twice. Didnt have a torque wrench,  so it's not torqued to any specific ftlb.
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: chas on June 01, 2019, 06:04:06 AM
Jammin- You mentioned the fairing and windshield shaking from broken fairing mount. That gets me thinking that the shaking could be more from the fairing than the engine because the handlebars shake the most! Could you give me a link to the stronger fairing mount? I will take fairing apart and check the mounts
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: twincam8888 on June 01, 2019, 08:58:29 AM
Quote from: chaos901 on May 31, 2019, 11:23:23 AM
Back to what JAMMIN said about the fairing.  The fairing brackets back in 2003 were prone to break which allowed the fairing to vibrate badly, broke several myself.  The replacement bracket has been modified and is much stronger.  This of course would only apply if the fairing is the problem and not the engine.
YEP
Title: Re: 03 ultra 88 excessive engine vibration
Post by: chaos901 on June 04, 2019, 06:37:03 AM
The H-D replacement fairing bracket is better than the original, it got upgraded after a few years.