Triumphrat

Tbirdnz

I have a friend who's Tiger experiences a vibration in all gears but more pronounced in 4th - 5th at 2500rpm at 60km/h. When it's both under load and cruising. i.e. when under throttle or backing off.

This has just started after 8000km. He took it to the Triumph dealer who had an initial quick check and found the front sprocket was slightly loose, this was tightened but has only changed the problem slightly for the better. The problem still basically exists and it is due to go back to the dealer next week.

My friend suspects it may be a clutch problem but unsure.

Anyone any ideas what this problem may be ?

-------------
Ride on !

iansoady

Chain too tight (unlikely to happen suddenly*) or maybe a tight spot?

*Although the dealer may have overtightened it when sorting out the sprocket.

__________________
Ian
2004 Tiger 955i
1955 Velocette Viper.

katoomon

+1

Our dealer here is great, service, sales, enthusiasm, etc, but bikes have been known to come out of the shop with chain tension closer to 35mm than 45mm free play, which is too tight.
You have probably seen lots of discussion on chain tension; alignment and tension is the place to start. Hope that's all it is.

jaak

2500 rpm is well below the sweet spot. To allow the engine produce some good torque and work more efficiently, keep it over 4000rpm. It could be the reason that you are overstraining the engine when making it work way outside the optimal rpms - hence the vibes.

Tbirdnz

Thanks for the replies, Mike has now joined the site as TigerFox. We did search the Tiger Workshop site for 'vibrations' prior to posting the query and did note the chain tension issues. The Dealer did in fact tighten the chain up slightly as well as the front sprocket which lessened the vibration.

Mike runs with two-up a lot of the time which with the added weight could make the chain a little tighter.

Regarding the revs, slowing down and coming up to the lights the revs are dropped but uses normal revs for the gears under normal running. This vibration has just come up the last few days. It is also his second Tiger, he had an '05 and was trading it in for an '07 but changed his mind on the new design and got a brand new ''06 last year when the dealer got a batch of them left over in the UK. He's also had a Thunderbird the same time as his '05 Tiger and previously a Bonnie, so he knows Triumphs.

However this is a strange problem and hoping it's not pointing to something in the engine.

It's still under warranty and due to go back into the dealer this coming Wednesday.

---------------
Ride on !

miker

Hey John, and welcome Tigerfox.

I have the same vibration, that is, if you have similar symptoms as this.

Accelerating up through the gears is fine, smooth and lovely, but as you roll off the throttle between 3 and 4,000 rpm you get a vibration on an even throttle. I know you said 2,500, but I don't ride that low usually.

I've re-mapped using the Triumph off road pipe map, but still have the standard pipe. This makes the bike run a little richer at those revs. I've also adjusted the chain to about 60mm slack, ON THE SIDE STAND, measured half way, in the usual manner. This reduced the vibration to almost negligable, and everyone I've spoken to, both at the Triumph dealer, and a local independant have suggested that it's perfectly normal, and would more than likely change again when the sprocket and chain were changed. I've also noticed it's less noticeable when I've lubed the chain. The tyres also can create a vibration, if you have the Anakees especially.

The best way to check the actual chain tension is to sit rider and pillion on the bike and check the slack then. If it's set to factory specs, loaded it will be piano string tight.

Good luck with it, it may be something you just get used to, but if there is something additional the dealer finds, I hope you'll share it here!

Mick

__________________


My Album

"We may not be able to change the direction or strength of the wind, but we can always trim our sails"

Tbirdnz

Thanks Mick, what you state about the chain is reasonably plausible and could be the reason for the vibration. The front sprocket was loose which could have been part of the original vibration and the chain was also tightened to manual specs which may have re-introduced it.

Mike can't check at the moment, needs a 3rd person to check the chain tension with both he and is wife on the bike. He also advises me that his scheduled shop booking has been delayed as he also wants to get his brake disks (rotors) changed under warranty, slightly warped. Triumph have to come back and ok this. This isn't part of this vibration problem.

---------------
Ride on !

miker

A pleasure John, as always. He and his wife must be of decent size! I can load Gabi up, sit on the bike and reach down and check the chain tension myself. Oh, no, I can't actually measure it, but I know what it should feel like.

The rotors warped? Has he had a run-out guage on them? The reason I ask is that I've had similar experiences, not with this Tiger, but with my Harley which proved no warpage, but displayed symptoms as if it was warped. This link may explain it. take note of the "Prevention" section. Very interesting reading.

Mick

__________________


My Album

"We may not be able to change the direction or strength of the wind, but we can always trim our sails"

DAGAD

Hi Guys, I had a similar problem on my 900 Trident........ yes I know it's carbs BUT they were out of balance and between 2500 and 2900 it vibrated bad. Check the throttle boddies for balance. Easy and quick to do and it might cure it?
There have been quite a lot of rotors replaced on tigers, it seems since the cast wheel versions were introduced.
Roy.

Tbirdnz

Looking at your signature pic Mick I would say Mike and his wife are similar heights and build to both of you. Mike took the bike into the dealer this morning and on the side-stand the mechanic put in 60mm of chain slack, then with two up the mechanic said the chain tension was bang-on !

However the test ride didn't improve the vibration although the ride thru traffic Mike felt the chain was a little smoother and didn't 'snatch' like it did now and again previously in traffic.

The vibration if anything is getting worse, Mike rode along and pulled in the clutch, revved the engine and backed off the throttle and it rumbled and vibrated. He says the vibration comes on at 60km/h in the lower gears at 2.5-3000 revs, at 80km/h in 4th/5th at 4000 revs. Again at 90km/h in 6th at 4000 revs but then levels out and reduces slightly at 100km/h.

Mike things something is not balanced right in the engine itself, this problem just surfaced at 8000km and getting worse.

He's still waiting for Triumph to Ok his rotors and he'll put the bike in for a thorough check.

Anyone had issues with an 955 Tiger engine ?


----------------
Ride on !