Trunk Rattles By ellpee (Read 1,202 times)

[ellpee]

This is really not something specific to 250cc+, or Chinese, just an annoyance. The plastic trunk is a rattle-trap. I've put rubber tubing and foam pipe insulation in various places, and it improves the situation a little, but it still rattles excessively when at idle or low speed. Has anybody found any really neat tricks to rattle-proof these things?

[alleyoop]

On most you can adjust the Bar on the bottom part of the trunk so when you put the top down which has the hook it holds the cover down tighter. I also put 1/8 strip of weatherproofing around the indented part of the bottom of the trunk that the top part closed over.
Alleyoop

[ellpee]

Things I've tried include slitting some 3/8" rubber tubing and fitting it on the bottom edge, all the way around, so when I close the top I can actual feel the rubber compressing and forming a seal, and also putting some of that foam rubber pipe insulation on all the "weight-bearing" parts of the rack underneath the trunk. The trunk came with some rubber pieces that fit where the bolts and screws attach, but those did pretty much no good at all. It's so annoying I'd be tempted to remove the trunk altogether, but the under-seat and dashboard storage are woefully inadequate. The day might come when I go with soft saddlebags or a backpack, and bag the trunk altogether!

[alleyoop]

Ah, so your problem is the whole trunk rattles on the holder that attachs to the rack. You need to drill a couple hole THROUGH the trunk and through the rack IF you cannot find slits on the rack to run the bolts through so you can bolt it down.
Alleyoop

[justbuggin2]

you can get dyno mat and stick it inside the trunk

[ellpee]

Think I'll take it off completely and run around a bit, just to see if there might be anything else rattling back there that I'm mistakenly blaming on the trunk. Haven't found any loose screws or panels.

[ellpee]

Well, this whole thing is getting a bit silly. I took it off altogether and ran around for a day, and obviously there was less rattling. While removing it, found that one of the four screw holes through the plastic bottom had cracked, so reached for my good friend Mr. GorillaGlue and did a repair, then reinstalled. Took special care to get all the OEM rubber strips where they belong, and also put pieces of rubber (well actually clear plastic) tubing at what I thought would be all the rattle-producing contact areas. Nada, still rattles like a Model T Ford at idle and at every bump in the road. Grrrrrrr. I am now looking around for one of those old rubber pads that you used to could buy for under your electric typewriter in the office, so it wouldn't scoot around the desktop when you were typing. Amazing -- you just get blank stares nowadays at OfficeMax and the like when you ask about that. Haven't had any luck yet; am considering a piece of rubber carpet padding, which I would put under the entire trunk between the plastic and the metal of the bracket. On the one hand this is a piddly problem, on the other it's one that ought to be simple to solve and I'm not giving up until I do.

[alleyoop]

You can get rubber hot pads that are used by the wifes in the kitchen to put hot plates and or hot pans on they come in squares and or round.
Alleyoop

[ellpee]

Hadn't thought about kitchen stuff; checked hardware and automotive but didn't find exactly what I was thinking of. Will try the housewares department.

[ellpee]

I dug around in my Stuff Collection out in the garage and found a sheet of some thin foam rubbery padding that was used under our laminate flooring. About 1/8" thick. Doubled it up and cut a piece to size, and put it under the trunk, between the plastic and the metal rack. Improved the situation considerably; still not rattle-free, but much better.

[fflintstone]

If ya still need rubber pads and insulators ,try Lowes,they got a lot of stuff on the hardware isle--and if you still have rattles ,have you made sure it is not your lid?--after all I have done to mine,the lid still rattles--just saying

[tvnacman]

I have the bestem quick releese box , the rubber pins that are holding the box tight to the plate wear out in like a day . I removed them I use flat foam insulation with a glue back and build it evenly all around till its tight .

John

[ridecheap]

Yeah my plastic key for my truck snapped off inside the lock. I had to get ride of it.... Putting some padding under the box sounds like a good idea.

[ellpee]

The little bit of rattle remaining is indeed the lid, even though I have rubber tubing on the lower lip all the way around and when I close and lock it I can feel that it's getting a tight seal. Guess I've done about as much as I can, and will just live with it until the plastic cracks beyond repair some day, then get a new, better trunk or saddlebags. It's much better than it was in any event.

RideCheap, have you had your scoot since 2007, or did you buy it later? How many miles so far? I'm approaching 2000 on my 2012 (bought new in November) with no major engine/drive train problems, just wondering how long the honeymoon will last.

[ridecheap]

Apr 3, 2013 9:45:30 GMT -6 ellpee said:

The little bit of rattle remaining is indeed the lid, even though I have rubber tubing on the lower lip all the way around and when I close and lock it I can feel that it's getting a tight seal. Guess I've done about as much as I can, and will just live with it until the plastic cracks beyond repair some day, then get a new, better trunk or saddlebags. It's much better than it was in any event.

RideCheap, have you had your scoot since 2007, or did you buy it later? How many miles so far? I'm approaching 2000 on my 2012 (bought new in November) with no major engine/drive train problems, just wondering how long the honeymoon will last.

I bought mine used $800 from Milwaukee summer 2012 but its a 07 model and I had to drive it back to Madison first day on the interstate going 65 it had no windshield on it. Windshield was brought along in a car that took me there. It had 1200 miles on it when bought. I drive it every day since then and put it away for the winter just to drive for the past few weeks every day this year. Last I checked it was over 9,000 miles. I change the oil and gear oil every 700 miles sometimes 900. Comes out black as black. It runs fine it just leaks from the stator cover because I had to replace the magneto. I over torqued 2 of the 8 nuts. Still runs great just leaks a small amount of oil. Otherwise no problems maybe some new pads after 6,000 miles. I still have my stock fuel lines and everything.

Change out your antifreeze and put in a good fuel filter. Mods into it under $1600 total including DMV fees.