Something vibrating around 4.5/5k rpm: aluminium bashplate broken + bolt missing !
 

I know the big single is vibrating, but when I reach 4.5/5k rpm on a steady throttle, there's something vibrating somewhere.:happy8:

It's like someting rotating freely making a high pitch noise (not a low rumble).

The kinda of noise I would reproduce by rotating a metallic disc on an axis and then letting it rotate itself down to a stop... like freewheeling....

It's not easy to explain :confused2::confused2:

Has anyone experienced that ?

This is a 09 Tenere with 1500km on the clock

I had a similar problem on my XTX and it was the bashplate.

I have had a few loose items too, can you get the sound to appear if you rev it in neutral? Easier to locate then.

I'll have a look at the bashplate, since I put an aluminium one that could be it.

I'll try in neutral too, good point.

Thank you guys

Found it !!!

It's my engine gards, I noticed by putting my foot on it that the vibration was stopping.

then I investigated and found a missing bolt...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...90508-2015.jpg http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...90508-2016.jpg

Looks like I'll pay a visit to a local Yamaha dealer today ....

Good, those unidentified noises can drive one mad. Good to see that your bike is beginning to get that brown finish too. =)

My usual/closest dealer was closed as he is open "some" saturdays.

I went to a larger dealer and I got the bolt replaced.

However, during the operation I noticed that something else was wrong:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...509-1349-1.jpg

Yep, my yamaha aluminium bashplate has a broken "tab" exactly at this spot...

well, the curve on the bashplate seems to indicate that there should be a tab going up from the break and that tab would be held to the engine gards by a bolt... which was missing in the first place...

I wonder if the dealer who made the 1st service would have tried to lift the bike from under/by the bashplate and would have broken it.... and not told me.....

Anyway, the dealer who installed a new bolt to, at least, hold the engine guards and stop the vibrations told me that he didn't carry warranty work and that I had to contact the Irish Importer.

So I fired them a mail and I'll see what they say.
They're located 1km from my place, so it's going to be easy to just go there too.

It's going to be funny since I'm going to bring a XTZ660 bought in UK, with french plate, to the irish importer :D :D :D

I hope it's going to be ok and they're not going to make a fuss about it....

I have to say this is the thread of the day for me. I too have been trying to figure out (again) the vibration - I managed to get it really smooth one time with all the screws at the front tightened to the specified torque. So this morning just before I went to sort this out I read this thread. First thing I checked was the bashplate. Voila! Both tabs toward the end of the plate were snapped off clean straight line. The vibration lessened but not to where it was, i.e. there is still some between 3.5-4.5 krpm (last time I even managed to smoothen that range out). I still have the factory engine bar-guard. Now I wonder if the vibration would lessen further if I take that off as well, any thoughts?

Now I wonder what to do with the bashplate. Most likely at best the dealer would replace with a new one, but the problem will probably come back. Am not sure if the dealer would give me money back though. Now, may be I will just reinstall the original plastic guard that came with the bike, or should I reconsider the Touratech large bashplate with toolbox option (which I know there has been a couple unsatisfied buyers), but may be TT has modified it to fit better? May be not? Mind you, I think Yam6 was right about the yamaha bashplate as I recall, he was one of the first who identified the weak (broken) points of the plate.

Suggestions?

I checked my alu bashplate today and it's okay! I've done 15.000km's 'till today, so I hope it stays okay, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Greetz, Hans.

At least 5 Z users so far (including me) have had the front right side engine bar bracket snap off.
It may be worth loosening the bolt and checking it. It snaps about 25mm below the bolt hole.
While you are at it take all the front engine bolts out and grease them up, they rust pretty quick and can be a pain to get out.
OGR

Thanks OGR. This morning the engine bar was also taken out. Didn't see any cracks etc. Rode with 1/3 tank and the bike was definitely smoother, even in the mysterious range of 3.5-4.5k rpm.

Come to think of it, I think I should use the word "shaking" as opposed to "vibrations" to describe this rpm range. I know single cylinder vibrates more, and I know it vibrates even more when reaching top of its power/torque rpm, but that range mentioned above I would call "shaking". Yes, I am going to be relentless with this issue here.

So being cautiously optimistic, I tanked it up, and that "shaking" returns at that mysterious rpm range. Mind you this shaking is slightly better than when the broken bashplate was there. I cannot help to think that the extra weight must be sitting on somewhere along the frame that causes the shaking, but below that maximum weight the tank no longer touches that spot, which explains why only when full tank the shaking occurs. At least that's my theory. The immediate guess is may be some gummie somewhere between the frame and the tank would help. But then it may have to do with the "acoustic" effect of all the vibrations and screws combined, which would be a pain to figure out if it's even possible to figure out. The shortcut solution may be bar-end weights, but I've read those who have them still experience the same problem, though they get used to it or ignore it.

As far as I understand from the service manual, the tank connects to the frame at two points: two screws to a mount under the seat, and two long screws at the front behind the upper tank protectors. The frame connects to the steering only at one point, the set of steering nuts and bolts and washers. I am thinking right now putting some gummie between the lower clamp of the handlebar and where it sits on the fork mount frame. What do you guys think? Dangerous mod, useless, etc.? Has anyone taken the tank off to identify where the tank is touching the frame, and where the weight from a full tank might weigh it down to the point of touching the frame?

Well after reading this thread about cracks and breaks in engine bars and bash plates I thought I better check mine .......... all Ok!
But I did find this stuck in the downtube part of the frame (just behind where the oil drain plug is situated) ............

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...Star/021-1.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...geStar/022.jpg

I'm pretty certain I know what it is but who else wants to tell me?

Barry.

Is it a C*ck ring?

Well that was my first thought but after trying it out I found it was too small! :HappyRoll_ANPIUI:

So what is it?

Your C*ck was?

looks like an exhaust gasket to me :p

Yes, I reckon that's what it is!
I think when the bike was assembled at the dealers (or would it be at the factory?) someone must have dropped one of the gaskets off the header pipes when fitting it and obviously couldn't find it so they put another one on.
They must have put another one on because the exhaust doesn't leak!

Barry.

still no news from my dealer about the cracked/broken bashplate mount, that's seriously taking the piss.

I discovered 2 days ago that the front right engine gard mount (behind the R/R) was cracked (as I half expected unfortunately)

I know it's a known problem...

looks like another reason to complain to them.... anyone knows who to contact in Yamaha UK ??