Front engine mounting

[Mr B]

After reading the other thread about bad handling on a Tourer, the front engine mounting was mentioned. I decided to check mine, and have noticed that it doesn't look right to me...I need your opinions...if it's bad, I'll have a new one on tomorrow.
The bottom seems to be pulled out of line...the bolt isn't through straight, as if it's starting to collapse. This is as the factory fitted it.
Your advice please.









Brian.

[Mr B]

Here's the top of the mount.




Brian.

[Mr B]

Thanks for replying to my PM's Phil....this front mounting is apparently shagged. There should be a gap between the plate and the top of the rubber. It's collapsed. Only done 3,700 miles from new, I'd advise everyone to check yours.

Brian.

[Jester]

Were there any symptoms? Just noticed how thin the paint is about the frame welds.

How old is your bike?

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by Jester

Were there any symptoms?

I've always had handling problems and always thought I'd found the answer each time. The main symptom was it felt twitchy going into corners.

Brian.

[DynaMik]

Originally Posted by Brian

I've always had handling problems and always thought I'd found the answer each time. The main symptom was it felt twitchy going into corners.

Brian.

Christ, with an engine mount as shagged as that I bet that wasnt the only thing twitching either

[Heritagebob]

That is one munched up mount! Thanks for the Heads up. just checked mine out as I've the same bike/year.

Incidentally they changed the design and shape of the front mounts on the tourers from 2006 because of the problems.

The new P/N to order is 16207-79C and fits tourers from 1980 on.

[Limey_Dave]

Vibration Fixed! MOCO screwed up! (long)

In post #4 double click on crosses to see pics.


Service Bulletin re mounts.

M1182.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

[Mr B]

Thanks for that Dave...makes interesting reading. When I took my old rubber mounting off, it hadn't collapsed as first thought, but had gone really soft., and out of shape. It just wasn't up to the job it had to do. The clearance hole for the bolt that goes through the middle was so big that the bolt didn't stand a hope of holding the engine central on the mounting. The new modified rubber was a better bit of kit altogether, the hole through it was the right size for the bolt, and it's made of much stiffer material.
I don't know if it'll vibrate any more than the original one, but my ride to Lincoln on Sunday will reveal all. It'll either rattle my teeth out or it'll make a nice change to be able to relax a bit while riding along.

Before I removed the old rubber, my mate held the front brake on and let the clutch bite on and off. The rubber was compressing badly under engine torque, then uncompressing, but when tried with the new one...hardly any movement....it's got to be an improvement. At least I know that I've got the right part on my bike now.

It made me laugh when I read the Service Bulletin for this new improved rubber mount. HD are virtually saying that the new mount will only be issued as a replacement part for warranty claims, and not as a factory fitment until all the inferior ones are used up on the assembly line. That makes me real confident....what other parts have I got on my bike that are cheap and nasty and about to fail.....most of it I expect.

Brian.

[Limey_Dave]

It's strange with these bolt sizes.There's been talk that the sizes got mixed up around 05/06 when mount changed.With earlier models you wonder if they had a pocket full of thin bolts and if they couldn't get one lined up they stuck a thin bolt in.Oh no,sorry,that was motorway bridges.
When you start looking at these mounts it gets a bit strange.

16207-79C $45

16207-79B still available as Buell #L0501.2 $16

DS-243515 Drag Specialties replacement for 79B $20

Buell has to use old part as it has an extra washer, that won't fit new part,as engine hangs from rather than sitting on mount.