Rattle, rattle, rattle

[avinitboys]

Hi all,

Not had my 98 TLR too long and to be honest, I have really not even looked under the skin in the two months I have had it (other than drop the oil and change the rear pads) so not hugely familiar with them.
Loving everything about riding this big old beast and now know why everyone says they are just so addictive!
Anyways, back on subject. There's an annoying hollow rattle coming from the around the clock area. I can even hear it with ear plugs in and the un-baffles Harris race cans I have! Think I have narrowed it down to the headlight bulb holder but cant be sure. Now, on looking at the parts list, it seems the headlight is pretty much a sealed unit. Right or wrong? What holds the bulb holder in place and can I get to it to tighten it up. If not, any thoughts on how to pack out the freeplay. Might be way off track but just cant find anything else it can be. Only other thought is headstock bearings but haven't as yet got adaptors for my ABBA stand so cant tell for sure.
Lastly, while I have your attention. Ideas for suspension settings please. I am around 75 kg, carry a pillion a fair bit, and ride fairly hard when solo. I have returned everything back to stock settings and will work from there.
Cheers in advance

[TerryLemmons]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

check the bolts on the front fender ( mud gaurd to the UK) they are sholdered and some times need to be shimmed as the plastic wears, grab it and see if it rattles just a bit , mine made a hell of a rattle. T.L.

[plumber_rob]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

I had a broken reflector in my old headlight that rattled.

[Steve TLS]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

It is a sealed headlight housing.

Check your guard, check the brake lines or that the wiring cables aren't slapping anything either.

[Suprachrgd82]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

I had a rattle too. It turned out to be one of the screw tabs fro the black glossy inner fairing. The damn thing was flopping around, but some ABS cement cured the problem.

As our bikes age, small tabs get broken, foam spacers harden, screws back out....it goes on and on.

A thorough inspection really is required to find your rattle, but when you do, the silence IS golden. Get some grubby clothes on and crawl around under the bike.

[CWBethel]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

it is also possible for the center piviot of the reflector to come unseated although it would take quite a tap to do so as for resetting it no easy answer but if you narrow it down to that pm me ...best indicator would be excessive beam movement noticed best at night ...good luck hope you find something else causing you rattle

[plumber_rob]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

it is also possible for the center piviot of the reflector to come unseated although it would take quite a tap to do so as for resetting it no easy answer but if you narrow it down to that pm me ...best indicator would be excessive beam movement noticed best at night ...good luck hope you find something else causing you rattle

My riding buddies commented all the time about my old headlight flickering before I replaced it with another one.

[hitman54]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

which brand has the best spark plugs for a 2000 tl1000r, and wat brand of oil should i put in her

[Steve TLS]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

NGK CR9EK for plugs

Safflower oil, it has better specs than canola or or peanut oil.

[kicker]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

Hi all,

Not had my 98 TLR too long and to be honest, I have really not even looked under the skin in the two months I have had it (other than drop the oil and change the rear pads) so not hugely familiar with them.
Loving everything about riding this big old beast and now know why everyone says they are just so addictive!
Anyways, back on subject. There's an annoying hollow rattle coming from the around the clock area. I can even hear it with ear plugs in and the un-baffles Harris race cans I have! Think I have narrowed it down to the headlight bulb holder but cant be sure. Now, on looking at the parts list, it seems the headlight is pretty much a sealed unit. Right or wrong? What holds the bulb holder in place and can I get to it to tighten it up. If not, any thoughts on how to pack out the freeplay. Might be way off track but just cant find anything else it can be. Only other thought is headstock bearings but haven't as yet got adaptors for my ABBA stand so cant tell for sure.
Lastly, while I have your attention. Ideas for suspension settings please. I am around 75 kg, carry a pillion a fair bit, and ride fairly hard when solo. I have returned everything back to stock settings and will work from there.
Cheers in advance

hi mate had the same problem, and its the bulb holder that had come loose in the headlight and was driving me made rattleing about at low speeds, what ive done for a quick fix is to squeze a piece of fuel pipe in between the bulb holder and the plastic headlight surround, problem solved,no more rattles,hope this helps.

[kicker]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

does anyone know why the bulb holder gets loose and starts to rattle about, what excactly is it that holds it in place?

[Rimotu66]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

Guys, have you seen how long ago this thread started

[SkullCrusher]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

Kicker = thread necromancer.

[Rimotu66]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

Kicker = thread necromancer.

If only we could eh!

[V2]

Re: Rattle, rattle, rattle

Guys, have you seen how long ago this thread started

Was thinking the exact same thing