| Author | Message | ||
     Gowindward |
Here’s my front end clunk, clunk story. The bike has been making a bit of a clunk feel and sound for a while. Nothing real bad, but it has been getting progressively worst. I had checked the torque on the steering head and fork pinch bolts and everything had checked out okay. I couldn’t find anything that was loose, so I just kept riding and trying to figure out what the heck was causing this clunk feel and sound. Well, last Friday while I was out a lunch I forgot to put my ear plugs in, and while in town and not at highway speeds. Shazam!!!! Not to be confused with “Shazam Sam”, but shazam I figured out what the heck was making that darn clunk, clunk! It was the front motor mount or “Front Isolator” to use the correct Buell term. The bike is still under warranty with 21k miles and four months to go on the warranty. I had a head light housing fracture a month or two back, so I figured I would take the bike in and let my local dealer take care of both these items while still under warranty and save myself the $120 in parts. Well, the dealer had the head light, but didn’t have the front isolator in stock, and it was going to be 7 to 10 days to get the part and then pad that a couple of days before scheduling the service appointment. That put the repair out two weeks!!! YUCK!!! It will cost me $120 plus in gas to drive my truck for 2 weeks, so I get a hold of Super DaveS  , to see if he has the part. He did not have the part, but went the extra mile (okay it was really only a few key stroke, but it meant miles to me) and told me what dealers did have the part in stock. I picked out Bumpus Harley-Davidson/Buell of Memphis out of the list. I picked them because they were the main sponsor of “The Art of The Motorcycle” show in Memphis this last year that I went too and enjoyed. So my way of saying thanks to them. Anyhow they had the latest version of the part on the shelf, and via 2nd Day UPS I have the part on the bike this evening. Thanks to DaveS and Bumpus H-D/Buell the bike was only down three business days. Buell has made some design improvements on the part since my bike was made June '04 The repair took about 40 minutes Bad Front Isolator on bike  Bad Front Isolator on bike  Lower side of bad Front Isolator The rubber has slipped in the casting and moved upwards (down in the photo)The rubber should be nearly flush with the casting.  Upper side of bad Front Isolator The rubber has slipped in the casting and moved upwards. The rubber should be nearly flush with the casting.  Lower Side of New Front Isolator  Upper Side of New Front Isolator  New Front Isolator on bike  Bike Stands are still on my wish list, but between this method and the Craftsman motorcycle jack (not used here) I just haven't really needed them. I supported the bike this way so I could jack the motor vertical to take the load off of the front Isolator bolts   | ||
| Fullpower |
i keep one of those in stock here at Full Power. havent needed it yet. | ||
| Buellistic |
Could this be the result of a "WHEELIE PROBLEM" ??? | ||
| Gowindward |
No problem, I don't do wheelies. | ||
| Jon_s |
I just discovered that I have the same thing going on with my bike. For the past few weeks I've noticed a shudder when applying the front brake. I checked out the steering bearings, brake rotors and calipers but couldn't find anything wrong. I hadn't noticed any increase in vibration nor did the handling seem any different. It was only after reading this thread that I went out and checked the bike. The rubber has completely de-laminated and gathered at the top of the bolt. The bike is still on warranty but rather than wait for an approval (US bike in Canada) I ordered a new mount and bolt from the local dealer ($144 CDN plus taxes). Should have it within two days. I'm a little disappointed with this failure. The bike has done some track days but never been wheelied or ridden on rough roads. Hopefully the new part will last a little longer than this one (7500 miles). | ||
| Jon_s |
I just finished installing the new isolator and bolt. Took maybe 15 minutes. The isolator and bolt came as a kit (part number L1501.02A8; date of manufacture 08/15/06). The new isolator is different from the original. The rubber and metal sleeve is offset from center. Looks to be a lot more stout than the original. Hope it last longer. |
