Counter Balanced Engine - Page 5 : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Prototype413 · 06-15-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjsmithjr

That it is the only valid reason I have ever heard to keep the vibration.

How about one of these instead..

http://www.viberider.com/

wjsmithjr · 06-16-2009, 07:01 AM

WoW! I think this would be money well spent.

BigMike · 06-16-2009, 10:48 AM

I wouldn't buy a touring bike with a counter balanced engine. It's the main reason I sold my Heritage and won't go back to a Softail. At 80mph, the balancer is annoying. I recently test rode and new Crossbones and a new Streetbob. Streetbob felt much quicker and didn't have the annoying balancer sound.

airmann6 · 06-17-2009, 08:25 AM

Rode a loaner Heritage the other day and remembered how nice it was not shake while stopped .

hamyoo06 · 06-17-2009, 09:11 AM

Question for those in the know:

Is it possible that a B motor, if left relatively free floating, has a strong resonance at some rpms? By attaching it to the frame, the resonance characteristics are different, and presumably mild.

If it were rubber-mounted and therefore somewhat floating, it could vibrate more or less out of control. Is this a possibility why the Bs can't be rubber-mounted?

wjsmithjr · 06-18-2009, 11:03 AM

Well that is sort of the question. I don't know that they can't be rubber mounted. They do it in cars but for some reason they don't do it in the Harley. I am operating under the assumption there is a valid reason from an engineering point otherwise it wouldn't make any sense not to do it.

hodshire · 06-19-2009, 09:52 AM

I just got a 09 fhstf, this is the first "b" engine that I have had. I traded my 06 v-rod in on it and I love the bike but I have noticed the engine has vibration when the rev's are up. I have always had baggers and still have a 06 flhpi and I know my glides and roadkings are/were smoother at cruising speed. The FatBoy seems to be silky smooth at idle but when twisted up has an internal vibration, being my first softail I hope this is normal. I only have 480 Miles on it and I just ran it hard for the first time last night. I did not hit rev limiter but sure I was around 5000 rpm and noticed the vibration. Runs silky smooth at idle and cruising but did notice vibration during roll on I did for the first time. Is this what everyone is talking about? My 77 flh, evo and tc88 shook at idle but got smooth as glass at highway speeds. Dont mean to hijack the thread but while its being discussed I had this question. Thanks

facn8me · 06-19-2009, 10:05 AM

if your your in too tall a gear and lug it when rolling on yes it will vibrate. 6th is kinda worthless below 65mph. From what I gather some must vibrate and others like mine and 6-8 more that have replied to this thread notice no vibration. Guess it's just luck of the draw.

route66paul · 06-19-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamyoo06

Question for those in the know:

Is it possible that a B motor, if left relatively free floating, has a strong resonance at some rpms? By attaching it to the frame, the resonance characteristics are different, and presumably mild.

If it were rubber-mounted and therefore somewhat floating, it could vibrate more or less out of control. Is this a possibility why the Bs can't be rubber-mounted?

All HD v-twin engines have a strong resonance at certain RPMs. "Balancing" a HD V-twin is a process in which you balance for the cruising speed(unless it is a race motor) there are all kinds of extreme balances for the cranks, depending on how you are building it.

The reason for the counterbalancer is so that the hardmounted engine won't bounce the bike at idle. The soft tail "style" is why they are hard mounted, it looks more old school.

hammer dawg · 12-06-2012, 04:11 PM

My 08 heritage is smooth as silk at 70 80 100 not sure what buzz ya'll are talking about wouldn't trade it for any bagger !

rickr01 · 12-07-2012, 02:14 PM

I have not ridden a counter balanced softail that was as smooth as my rubber mounted touring bike when on the Interstates. The counter balanced motors at highway speeds and higher rpms have a very noticable high frequency buzzy type vibration that I find more annoying than the old non counter balance softail standard vibration. Just my .02....

Thermodyne · 12-07-2012, 02:50 PM

If the MoCo wanted to put the B motor in a touring scooter they could have done it with the 09's. Personally I think they didn't because the A motor is cheaper to build. There is also the issue of what happens when a motor that is counter balanced for a ridged mount gets hung on rubber mounts. It might not work as expected. Cages have to use oil filled mounts to calm them down.