Author Topic: Bad Vibration at 60 mph  (Read 7372 times)

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Arizoni

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Reply #15 on: June 06, 2014, 11:01:59 pm
Make sure the video you found is for a C5.

The G5 (gee-five) has a different front fork and it is very simple to remove the plugs to drain and remove the top plugs to refill.

The C5 (cee-five) front fork is a real PITA to change the oil in.
The C5 forks must be totally removed from the motorcycle.
Jim
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High On Octane

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Reply #16 on: June 07, 2014, 12:19:23 am

........The C5 (cee-five) front fork is a real PITA to change the oil in.
The C5 forks must be totally removed from the motorcycle.


Really?! What the hell is up with that?    ???
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mattsz

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Reply #17 on: June 07, 2014, 12:25:42 am
Ducati Scotty's most excellent C5 fork tutorial:

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,10813.0/all.html

Read 'em and weep (for us), Scottie J...  ;)


olhogrider

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Reply #18 on: June 07, 2014, 03:26:02 am
Vibration can come from the engine or the wheels. Try riding at 60-65 in your vibration zone, pull the clutch and idle the engine. Does the vibration stop? Then it was the engine. Vibration continues? Check the wheels/tires. If it is the engine, my 2010 had a broken upper motor mount, called a head steady. The replacement was a beefier design. You may have the original. If the mounts are ok there is a trick that involves loosening the mounts a bit and running the engine to let it find its happy place then re-torquing them.


kjvelo

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Reply #19 on: June 14, 2014, 09:27:19 pm
Thanks olhogrider. Looks like the head steady is the problem. Mine has totally snapped off! Only a small piece of it left around the bolt on the cylinder head.

I'm getting a new one ordered, but it's not coming in till Thursday. I've got to do my second licensing road test on Thurs morning though (I live in Canada and we have to do 2 road tests to get a full license), which will mean driving on the highway at 60-65 mph (both to get to the testing centre and during the test).  You guys think there's any concern about driving on the highway without the head steady (either safety concerns or doing damage to the bike)?

Thanks.


heloego

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Reply #20 on: June 14, 2014, 10:10:06 pm
I'd think the forward and maybe rear mounts might do better without the additional stress.
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High On Octane

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Reply #21 on: June 14, 2014, 10:58:07 pm
Post a pic so we can see what/where it exactly broke.
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kjvelo

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Reply #22 on: June 15, 2014, 08:21:37 pm
Here's a pic. As you can see, the head steady has totally snapped off with only a small piece left around the cylinder head bolt.

Would appreciate any thoughts as to whether it's still okay to drive at highway speeds until I get it replaced. Thanks.


ace.cafe

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Reply #23 on: June 15, 2014, 08:26:34 pm
Here's a pic. As you can see, the head steady has totally snapped off with only a small piece left around the cylinder head bolt.

Would appreciate any thoughts as to whether it's still okay to drive at highway speeds until I get it replaced. Thanks.
I wouldn't drive without that on there.
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High On Octane

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Reply #24 on: June 15, 2014, 08:30:36 pm
I think you might be OK for your testing purposes if it will be a PITA to reschedule your testing, but I wouldn't ride it any more than necessary until the new bracket shows up.  With the extra vibrations from the bracket being broken, it may cause the other head steady to fail from the excessive vibrations.  But maybe not.  My thought is that engine mounts are there for a reason and they DO decrease the amount of vibration you will feel, and it's never a good idea to continue riding with any broken engine part like nothing is out of the norm.

Scottie J
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Ducati Scotty

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Reply #25 on: June 16, 2014, 12:20:39 am
You can make Ames bracket from bar stock steel from the local hardware store.  Cut, drill, paint, and you're back in business.

Scott


Arizoni

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Reply #26 on: June 16, 2014, 12:57:07 am
Being a single cylinder, there's only one head steady.
With it broken, the engine is going to shake back and forth a lot at all speeds so I would be hesitant to ride it as it is unless I had no choice.
If I had to ride it I would try to take routes that would keep the engine speed away from the area where vibration is really bad.

Jim
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1999 Miata 10th Anniversary


sparklow

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Reply #27 on: June 16, 2014, 02:23:20 am
The good news is that once that is fixed you should be fine at 65 mph. My 2011 B5 is good at that speed. I don't know that I'd ride all day at this clip, but vibration is not excessive at speed.
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Bulletman

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Reply #28 on: June 17, 2014, 05:11:21 pm
You can make Ames bracket from bar stock steel from the local hardware store.  Cut, drill, paint, and you're back in business.

Scott
My head steady broke about a month ago .... I made one from scratch from Bar stock steel..cost 5 bucks for the steel.
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