Vibration issues

[OHjim]

I am the proud new owner of a "brand new" '06 955i with 6800 miles as of 2 weeks ago!!!  I love it but for the vibration on the highway.  I have searched for vibration issues and none of the answers seem to fit my problem.  My assumption is that the triple engine should be about the smoothest engine out there.  Maybe I'm wrong.  So, here goes.

The highway cruising RPM's are roughly 4000 to 4500 RPM as I go around 65 +/-.  When cruising, the handlebars vibrate horribly such that I purchased Grip Puppies to lessen the numb wrist/hand that I got after about 20 min.  (Didn't notice it in my 10-min, city-streets test ride.) The mirrors also vibrate such that everything is a blur.  It has done this from the time I purchased it.  The bike came with Touratech crash guards and skid plate.  I have since removed the skid plate and installed a Triumph center stand.  I have read conflicting reports on the crash bars being the culprit.

If I pull in the clutch and coast on the highway, the mirrors and handlebars are smooth and vibration free (engine idles down).  If I am sitting on it in my driveway and it's in neutral and I rev it to 4000 to 4500 RPM, the mirrors are blurry and buzzing.  I went so far as to buy and install Rox anti-vibe risers.  No help.

So, it's not the chain, the tires, etc. that I have found posts recommending to check those.  It seems to me like a TB balance issue?  Maybe the crash guards?  I don't know if this is related, but when the bike is cold, it starts, runs about 5-10 seconds, then stalls.  I have to re-start it every time in the mornings (a couple times it has stalled twice), and sometimes after work.

Sorry for the long post, but I tend to relay everything I think is pertinent up front.  Thanks for any input.

[metalguru]

Hi there and welcome,
This is very unusual with these and is certainly not typical of the breed. Firstly is it running on all cylinders all of the time.

Secondly is to hook up to a set of vacuum guages and check the TB balance, could be the TB to head gasket leaking which the guages will show.

Hook up a lap top via an OBD2 lead (obainable from fleabay) and download TuneECU (lots on this site about it) connect up and post your findings (screen shot). It is easier this way instead of guessing or assuming and only costs the price of the lead, and there is me assuming you have a laptop!!!!!lol.

Could be something really simple but need to make sure everything is set up right first, just hoping the balance shaft is driving.

[ChazzyB]

Are all your engine mount bolts done up properly? Some would have been loosened to fit the crash bars.

I wouldn't have thought throttle body sync issues would have caused vibes like that out on the road; but what do I know?  :?

[metalguru]

Hi Chazzy
It is a job to know what to suggest in these cases without looking at the bike, it does sound a bit extreme though, just have to try and cover all bases i think   :?:

[Chris Canning]

Can we have photo of the chain ajustment please,before we get side tracked.

[Timbox2]

My Money is on the Engine Mount Bolts, interestingly in the haynes book of lies, it says that the Engine Bolts MUST be done up in a particular sequence or vibration may result, thing is Ive had my engine bars off and on and didnt follow any particular sequence, maybe Im just lucky.

[Chris Canning]

My wife has threatened to have me locked up more than once as I'm always checking the vibes through the left hand bar end with my thunb and forefinger,I got more vibes when I had a new map installed the end of last year,but after some R+D put it down to the TouraTech hand guards as they are mounted onto the end of the bar.

But what OHjim is on about ain't normal,but I'd like to see how slack the chain is before anything.

[OHjim]

OK - I took pictures of the chain (on the sidestand).  First one is slack the second is tight.





Chris - Not sure how the chain would affect things as it does it while sitting in my driveway.  Here is the link to a video of it (it's 78MB): http://rides.webshots.com/video/3031489 ... 4726NVVhng (http://rides.webshots.com/video/3031489050104984726NVVhng)  The vibration is worse that the video shows, I think due to only 30fps on my digital camera and the downconvert from Webshots.  Any other way to post it not counting YouTube?

Timbox2 - I have the factory manual and it states: 1)left hand front upper, 2) right hand front upper, 3) all remaining left hand working from upper to lower, 4) all remaining right hand working from upper to lower.  Is that the same as the Haynes?  I will try this tonight.  I would suppose that when the PO had them put on (by the dealer), they just loosened the ones for the TT guards and none of the others.  Maybe they all should have been loosened then re-tightened in sequence???

metalguru - Can I hook up gages without removing the tank just to check?  The TB sync how-to says to remove the tank.  I will be installing an Audiovox cruise control and may wait to get in there till that comes.  But, if there was a way to sneak on the vacuum tubes just to check, I may not wait if they are bad.  Does TuneECU work on the MAC, or PC only?  Anything special about the OBD2 lead?  I am guessing it has an OBD2 connector on one end and a USB connector on the other?

Thanks guys.  I'll re-tighten the engine mounts and post back.

Jim

[OHjim]

I loosened all the engine mounts and torqued them to 80 Nm in sequence per the manual.  No difference sitting in the driveway.  

On my ST1300 that I had, there is a counter-balance shaft that, when adjusted right, helped minimize vibration.  Is there an adjustment like that on these triples?

[Timbox2]

I loosened all the engine mounts and torqued them to 80 Nm in sequence per the manual.  No difference sitting in the driveway.  

On my ST1300 that I had, there is a counter-balance shaft that, when adjusted right, helped minimize vibration.  Is there an adjustment like that on these triples?

There is a balance shaft but no adjustment as such, well not externally anyway.

Synching is a bit of a pain, you do need to remove the tank as the idle motor tubes have to come off and be replaced by the synch tool pipes, also you need to connect the tank up while off the bike, on your bike it can be done without extensions by snipping some zip ties and pulling the fuel pump wire and petrol pipe across to the other side.
Ive looked at your vid but cant see anything really.

One other thing, has the bike definately got the big end weights still on the bars?

One other thing, dont expect the Tiger to ever be as turbine smooth as Big H's  V4.

[Timbox2]

There is something else to consider here, 6000 miles in 5 years?

The bikes hardly run in and hasnt been used, how old is the fuel in the tank etc etc.

Run something through the tank, get the TB's synched then get an Off Road Can(If it hasnt got one) and get a new Tune loaded.

[Chris Canning]

Couldn't help but be amused when after a couple of posts an ST1300 is introduced into the equation!!! your Tiger ain't no ST  :roll:

The fact that you think you can ajust the chain with a measure is wrong,the Tiger has no linkage system hence it isn't riseing rate,hence chain tension depends on the weight of the person/s on the bike,the only way to do it.

Sit on the bike,lean down and check the chain tension,almost certainly your chain is too tight,picture 2 is how it needs to be with you sat on it,it won't be,because your weight will tension the chain by some margin,sit on the bike one up,check the chain,now have 2 people on and check a again ,it's a hassle doing it two up,but it will so how much difference there is,you'll not be the first(or last) me included to be riding a Tiger with a chain set like a banjo string.

Re your video,bike sounds good,rev the balls of mine it'll vibe the mirrors just like yours.

What Tim said is right,lows miles not used much,there is lots written about how BMW's need lots of miles to bed in,Triumph are just as bad,my Tiger really started to settle down with 10,000 on,and they were hard miles,with the kind of miles you have it ain't even run in,and I mean that on a serious note  :( .

You will also find plenty of info on fuel maps,they makes heaps of difference and hence my habit of checking vibes through the bar end,oh the other thing,go out and ride 200 miles and then see how the motor is,warm motors run better and you'll really see were you are with the bike.

[Chris Canning]

As some kind of bench mark,I'm just in the process of loading the Tiger up for a few days away in Holland,the chain setting you see is for two people and gear,I made my mistakes with an earlier 885i  :oops: (tension is the same),with both of us on the setting/tension will be spot on.

Yes the chain is well knackered as you can see by the tight links but still gets the jobs done,well it will till this winter when it'll get a new one.

[metalguru]

Judging by the rough idle you have there it still has the original weak as hell fuel map which will make it vibrate lots especially at the revs you say.

Takes a while to navigate but there is a wealth of info on this site which will answer all your questions, just use the search button. It all seems a bit daunting taking the tank off but once completed a couple of times it is straight forward. IE, OBD2 lead, yes there is a connector under the seat cushion, to connect pc to bike.

Do you have a Scotoiler or similar fitted as these can cause problems?

If all this sounds a bit complicated you could always go to the stealer and have him tune it but it will cost.

So long as you have access to a laptop the OBD2 lead are very cheap and the maps are available from TuneECU free.

I have had and found by experiment and reading, have managed to create a map that is smooth, economic when needed and goes like hell when needed to show up sports bikes! If you are stuck I will be more than happy to send it, just PM me your email addy.

The poor starting would also lead me to think it is running very weak which could be an air leak, perhaps caused by the PO removing the scotoiler or the scotoiler if still fitted causing a leak on the vacuum 'T' piece, the Idle Air Control Valve sticking (likely), can be reset with TuneECU without tank removal, or pipes from same gone hard. The Idle Air Control Valve does need cleaning from time to time and with the motorcycles light use over the years this may be a good place to start, as if it sticks slightly open will cause weak running hence vibes.

[OHjim]

Couldn't help but be amused when after a couple of posts an ST1300 is introduced into the equation!!! your Tiger ain't no ST  :roll:

Well, I know it's not the bike the ST is, but I also did not mention that my previous-to-the-ST-bike was a V-Strom DL650.  The mirrors on that did not vibrate either and I would consider it the same or less refinement as the Tiger.

I will loosen the chain a bit, though I still cannot see how that would affect vibration when I sit on the driveway and run through the RPM range.  

Metalguru - I will look for the cable and get TuneECU.  It looks like it's only for PC, so I'll have to load it stealth on my work laptop.  No scott oiler ever - PO used a wax from a spray can.  But, I am about out of gas, so now is a good time to remove the tank and look things over.  I'll dig into it this weekend and not wait for the cruise.  

For a tune, I really like to get good mpg's.  The bike is plenty powerful enough for me, so I don't need more performance.  My first tank, I got 47 mpg's which I was OK with.  Would like more.  I will look into tunes - are the factory tunes available?  Or are they no good and go with something like what you have?