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Message started by SimonTuffGuy on 06/19/08 at 10:23:48

Title: Something Rattling?
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/19/08 at 10:23:48

I noticed today, on my jaunt back into work from lunch, that something was sort of rattly up front... It wasn't like this prior to my 600 mile maintenance that was done by the dealer this past weekend. It only seems to be under hard acceleration or at high RPMs...

I parked at work and looked around to see if I could find anything. I grabbed the side of the gas tank and pulled, and it moved a little bit. Not like, moved that it fell of or moved and stayed where I tugged... But it moved to the point where I can shake it pretty easily. Should it be tighter than this? And if so, where does one tighten at down at? (I didn't get my Clymers yet).

If it SHOULD be semi-loose... Then what else should I be looking for?

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by T Mack 1 on 06/19/08 at 10:32:18

Tank should have a tiny bit of play. When you get home, take the seat off and look to see if the bolts are tightened down. Also take a flashlight and look it the tank tunnel (sorry, that's probably not the right name for it) and check to see if the tank is seated on the rubber pads. The tank has two half cups that slide on to the rubber pads.

Also check the headlight when riding .... reach over and hold it for a second or two to see if rattle goes away. If for some reason they opened the bucket or adjusted the light, you may have developed a rattle there. On mine, I was curious and looked in. Well, I didn't get all the wires & connectors back in just right and got "the rattle".

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by Gary On A Savage on 06/19/08 at 11:05:46

Tank tightness is controlled by the mount bolts at the front of the seat. Doing a seat lift (spacers) sometimes prevents it from being tighted up all the way, so it will jiggle. Shouldn't hurt anything as long as it doesn't move too much.

What kind of rattle? Buzzing, knocking or thuding? Headlight, speedometer, tank pads missing are some things to look for. Anything loose is another.... windshield?

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/19/08 at 11:28:34

Gary - It's an 07, 800 miles on it. It seems like more of a buzzing noise... There's no windshield.

It could be the headlight... I'll have to try this evening when I leave work to see if I can do it again. My fear is being at high rpms and going one-handed... :-P

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by Gary On A Savage on 06/19/08 at 11:39:15

Headlight or speedo. Start with the headlight. Search the tech section for fixes for both.

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/19/08 at 13:03:29

Run bike up to the speed the noise starts, place hand on speedo, if noise stops or is abated, you have found the offensive element. Speedo rattles are more common than headlight, & its a lot safer putting a hand on the tank at 70 tghan the headlight. If I wasnt comfortable with reaching up to the headlight, I would consider wrapping it u[p &tieing it, so it would at least change the noise. That should allow you to decide if its the culprit. If you feel safe messing around out there while running down the road,, oookay..

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/19/08 at 13:30:40

Well, it happens at slow speeds too, during high rpms... I should be able to figure it out in 1st or 2nd gear, just as I would 4th or 5th. :)

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by rpgpgmr on 06/19/08 at 13:39:22

Funny you should mention that, I've just noticed a rattling at high rpm's too! I think maybe something is loose in my headlight assembly. It's definitely in that general area. It's starting to drive me crazy! :-? I took the bike apart this past weekend and checked everything for tightness and all was well. I thought, "Well whatever it was, I fixed it." Nope, spoke too soon. Just last night I started thinking about that headlight assembly.

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by dropoutjohn on 06/19/08 at 17:28:31

i got a "buzzing" rattle recently and it turned out to be the gas cap. i thought it was the headlight or speedo too...

put your thumb on the key hole and see if it goes away. (like what mack 1 suggested with the headlight.)

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/20/08 at 05:25:46

I found it... It's not the speedo itself... It's the assembly AROUND the speedo, that houses the turn signal and high beam lights. It's rattling at the bottom (closest to me)...

Is there a place that this tightens down or what's the solution?

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by youzguyz on 06/20/08 at 06:07:32

Among others fixes:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1179104436

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/20/08 at 08:19:03

I saw that thread before... But for some reason, I was thinking the rattle was the speedometer itself and the mount was a different part.

Thanks. Looks like a weekend project sometime. :)

Title: Re: Something Rattling?
Post by rpgpgmr on 06/26/08 at 05:35:59

Well I finally tracked down my rattle. It was the dreaded speedo rattle. I didn't expect that so soon since I bought it new 14 months ago, but that's definitely what it was. Last night I did the fix in the Tech Section by Oldfellar (you da man) and it worked great. Rode to work this morning with no rattle.

....now I have to figure out the rubbing sound at my front brake caliper. It's always something. ::)