Mysterious rattle after Dealer visit...

wbruiser2

wbruiser2

Member
I took my 05' ridgeback in for a new front tire, bearings, and fork oil about a month ago. Lately I've noticed after riding for a while and then coming to a stop (completely stopped) I can here something rattling (very brief) in the front end (I think). The rattling doesn't last long enough for me to pin point it and it doesn't happen everytime. :bang: But it is an obvious rattle, ie, two pieces of metal knocking each other due to vibration and something else. I have touched every bolt from the calipers back to the rear fender. I'm 99% sure it isn't coming from the engine. I don't know if the dealer visit has anything to do with it (coincedence maybe).
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to check? Could it be neck bearings? ( everything seems fine)
Is there something else in the forks that could be loose (forgot to tighten up when changing the fluid) there are no leaks... I'm stumped and I can't make it rattle to pin point it. The only time it happens is when I come to a stop (most of the time) after cruising above 50mph... Any advice would be greatly appreciated.:flag:
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
First check the top motor mount bolts. Both the one thru the frame, 2 into the heads, and the 1 thru the motor mount to coil mount. If loose, remove, clean, red loctite, and torque to spec. Consider replacing the 2 bolts into the heads with .5" longer bolts for better engagement.

THen if those are tight, check the little metal tube inside the gas tank filler, just under the cap. That is known to come loose and rattle. The fix is to break it out, or easier is to put a dab of jbweld on the tube where it goes thru the filler neck to keep it from rattling.

If neither of those report back, cause the next places are more in depth.
 
Oscar Maldonado

Oscar Maldonado

Guru
Calendar Participant
Your saying 2 pcs. of metal knocking on each other - is it a tinny sound or a nasty rattle.

I had a similar problem like yours at one time and found it to be a broken heat shield clamp. So I would check that out if it would sound like that. If not then I would still tighten the snot out of it just to rule that out.
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Well it could be the heat shields, or it could be the handlebars too. Handlebar bushings could be worn.

Worse, it could be the front motor sprocket coming loose and the stator trying to self distruct itself.
 
Oscar Maldonado

Oscar Maldonado

Guru
Calendar Participant
Gas Man said:
Well it could be the heat shields, or it could be the handlebars too. Handlebar bushings could be worn.

Worse, it could be the front motor sprocket coming loose and the stator trying to self distruct itself.
Click to expand...
True on the handlebars too!

I think that it'll really depend on the type of sound. Heavy or Light - we don't know, he'll have to get a little deeper into it.
 
wbruiser2

wbruiser2

Member
It's a heavier rattling sound and I checked all the motor mounts, coil cover etc... I'm pretty sure it's not coming from the engine internally. The first time It happened I thought the headlight came loose. But nothing in that area to include the handle bars are loose. I have tried to find something in them by sitting on the bike pushing on the bars back and forth, side to side, up and down... everything seems fine. Heat shields are good, I checked all that. I might just pull the primary cover and take a look just to rule anything out there (I can't hear good out of my left ear so maybe thats throwing me off)....
 
BIG HOUSE

BIG HOUSE

DOG ONA DOG
Calendar Participant
Try tappin with a rubber mallet covered with a rag usually will pinpoint most rattles
 
wbruiser2

wbruiser2

Member
Well I pulled the primary cover last night and everything look good as far as I could tell; nothing loose, no metal chunks or shavings, etc... I've went back and doubled checked everything you guys have suggested and didn't find anything out of the ordinary except when I sit on the bike, hold the front brake and push it forward (compressing the forks) it makes a weird squeaking sound, not a high pitched one though. I don't know if thats normal since it seems like the dogs make all kinds of little weird noises. I guess I'll change the fork fluid again myself just to know it was done right (or done period)...
 
Fibersnake

Fibersnake

Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
It could be the rotor slight movement since they are floating type. They will move just a little bit when first braking and you can hear a little noise and some times rattle when at very slow speeds and braking. Also you may want to check and hell even replace the rotor rivets for they do wear out and will cause even more play and thus noise.

Not very expensive and a good idea to do every so often and the miles add up.

You may also as suggested above, take a rubber mallet and gently tap the rotor and see if the noise is similar!

Oh how are the brake pads themselve? Are they getting at their limits??
 
surferdude

surferdude

dry docked
What's that noise?

If you can lift your back wheel off the ground to spin the wheel see if that is the cause of the knocking sound ... mine is doing that right now and I need to take it in to see what it is ... hope my back wheel doesn't fall off getting it to the mechanic. My belt seems to be too tight also ... I need to adjust it tomorrow. Be interesting to see what your noise is. :confused: :D :up: Belt was too tight ... got her loosened up and no noise ... :up:
 
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wbruiser2

wbruiser2

Member
Well, it was that tube in the tank. I was about out of gas and when I stopped it rattled long enough to let me put ear to the tank to pin point it. So I opened the tank when I got home and didn't see anything, so I took a magnetic tool and fished around for awhile and found that the tube broke lose from the top. Can I just break the thing out with out messing anything up?
 
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chopperfool

chopperfool

Member
Hot damn! I can't begin to say how happy I am man..., a vibration started for me just after I had my bike dyno'd. Driving me nuts, 2800 rpm regardless of speed, I checked everthing, even while riding was trying to grab things, days of frustration, then..., I remembered this forum, searched on vibration and found this thread..., never thought about an inside tank vent tube thing, so checked it, and what the *&^*..., the stinking thing is broke off the flange (just like you said) and causing one hell of a noise. I couldn't break if completely off because its too long, (didn't want to Mig it back obviously).., so I wired it with a few loops of tie wire until nice and tight, what do you know, the damn thing is fixed. This forum is the best thing since the invention of beer - thanks man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
RADAMS445

RADAMS445

RADICAL
Gas Man said:
First check the top motor mount bolts. Both the one thru the frame, 2 into the heads, and the 1 thru the motor mount to coil mount. If loose, remove, clean, red loctite, and torque to spec. Consider replacing the 2 bolts into the heads with .5" longer bolts for better engagement.

THen if those are tight, check the little metal tube inside the gas tank filler, just under the cap. That is known to come loose and rattle. The fix is to break it out, or easier is to put a dab of jbweld on the tube where it goes thru the filler neck to keep it from rattling.

If neither of those report back, cause the next places are more in depth.
Click to expand...
ASk Ray :lol: j/k
 
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