Been pulling my hair out for the last two weeks trying to locate the source of a tinny ratting vibration sound.

Sounded like it was coming from the front. Came and went depending on speed and rpms. I tightened every bolt on the bike I could find. Several times and still that freaking sound was still there.

Got to the point it was either find it or sell the bike

Decided to start taking parts off. First it was the highway pegs. Still there.

Then it was the sissy bar. Still there.

They it was the windshield. Still there

Hmmm. Those heat shields are as tight as they can be so it couldn't be them. What the heck, may as well eliminate them. Took them both off. EUREKA!!!, Success at last.

What a shocker. First because the noise seemed to be coming from the front of the bike and Second, because they were cranked down as tight as possible.

The hose clamps look fine so I'm going to try to put them back on and perhaps change the orientation of the shields a bit. If that doesn't work I'll try new clamps.

Just wanted to pass this on in case someone else runs into a similar problem. If all else fails start taking parts off.


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2008 Heritage Classic: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers

 

right on...it's annoying as hell trying to locate an irritating rattle

 

I wouldn't be able to hear a rattle over the sound of my motor anyway.Were the shields cracked ?wher they touching the pipes other than the clamps?

 

I hoping that the shields were misaligned somehow allowing them to hit the exhaust. The back one did seem to be down a bit too far from the flange and that's the one the dealer took off last time the bike was in the shop. Got them back on and we'll see how it goes tomorrow.


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2008 Heritage Classic: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers

 

A rattle get louder the more you listen for it...

 

I'm gonna look for my rattle tomorrow. I think it's the trim-ring around the headlight. It's a crappy fit anyhow. (I have the Harley extended one..... I took the stock one off). If it's not the trim ring, I think it might be one of the sticky clips rattling around inside the tank panel......... JR

 

If it is your trim ring you could try wrapping tape around the inside of the trim ring where it is touching the metal of the headlight. I had a similar problem a while back. Electrical tape fixed it up.

 

I have similar noise but never figure out what it is, it sounds like metal rubbing under the triple tree cover. I have checked all the nuts and bolts and they seem tight, I hear the noise mostly on rough road but sometimes quiet, it is quite annoying.

 

Heat shields...I had the same sound you described. I just removed my exhaust & heat shields to install the quiet baffles on my pipes. I haven't noticed it again but haven't rode alot either. I guess I'll know after this weekend as we've got a few good days weather coming.
Thanks for the heads up!

Clay

 

Whenever I hit bumps on mine I hear a rattle. Sounds like it's coming from the speedo console somewhere. These kinds of things are maddening sometimes.