Tower rattles on my 08 22Ve'

[ATL 22Ve]

I have a 2008 22Ve'. I live on a very large lake that often has pretty rough water. When I am in choppy water, my tower flexes and makes a ton of noise. It rattles all over the place! I am wondering if anyone has had the same problem & found an easy fix? I am even wondering if there is any way to change to the new tower? Anyone out there have any ideas???

[Jason B]

Get an '09 with the new tower!!!

[ImaPigDog]

The new "Z" tower is not exempt from rattling.

[chpthril]

First, make sure all the hand-bolts (the handle you tighten/loosen to fold) are tight. Then get a torque wrench and tighten the 2 Allen bolts on the back legs and the 2 nuts on the front legs to 22ft/lb's.

[Fast1911]

Get an '09 with the new tower!!!

definitely time to trade up to a new boat

[rushin]

22 ft/lbs doesn't seem like it would be enough.

[Big Wave]

The only rattle on my 07 24ve tower was from the bimini. I wraped electical tape around the end pieces before installing. Has worked great for 2 seasons on lake Mead.

[Timmy!]

I have some rattling on mine before and it was due to those front bolts not being completely tight. It definitely flexes in rough, rough water though but I don't think you will get away from that with any boat/tower combo.

[specialk]

Same hear, I have a 2008 22ve also, notice the rattling, the front two allen bolts were almost out, retightened them, no issues for about 10 hours then reoccurred, will use some thread lock on them to help them from backing out. Once tight, did not rattle.

[NICKYPOO]

I'd have to say loose bolts at the feet as well. My buddy's '07 tower doesn't rattle hardly at all and we hit some seriously ugly water in that thing.

[chpthril]

22 ft/lbs doesn't seem like it would be enough.

I agree that 22ft/lb's is not a lot of clamping force, but 2 things come into play: the rubber gaskest start to ooze out and the fiberglass starts to compress. That's where I decided 22ft/lb's was enough.

The pre-08 bimini was a huge source of rattle!

[da.bell]

I agree that 22ft/lb's is not a lot of clamping force, but 2 things come into play: the rubber gaskest start to ooze out and the fiberglass starts to compress. That's where I decided 22ft/lb's was enough.

The pre-08 bimini was a huge source of rattle!

Not to mention I am sure than manual says to torque it to those spec's also.

Did I say manual??? OMG, Tige produced a manual with important information

[ATL 22Ve]

Thanks for the great info. I will give it a try & let you know if that does the trick!

[tigesinaus]

I have some rattling on mine before and it was due to those front bolts not being completely tight. It definitely flexes in rough, rough water though but I don't think you will get away from that with any boat/tower combo.

the old tower on the malibu was ROCK SOLID!!! it was one of the ones with two front arms and two rear arms all meeting at the towpoint.... the thing would never shake!!!!

[MoneyPity]

You also could have a mishap like I did and unintentional try getting the tower under a carport or drive thru that was just a bit too low. I made that mistake last fall by accident and replaced with a Samson Razor. I have taken into rough water an not a peep. If I was buying a new 20V or 20I which the Alpha Z does not work on I would by the Sampson and not use Tige E or Z series. But at the cost of replacing for eliminating all tower rattles that is very costly.
Tighten the mounts to what chpthrill has indicated and use loctite so the don't vibrate out.

Sampson instructed me to add lock washers to 6 swivel mounts and tighten until washers went flat at about 25ft lbs and before tightening use Loctite on the bolts.

The E-Series towers source of noises was mainly the Bimini. We found if we put the long pole into its mount in the center are of the windshield side panel and used velcro to hold the other poles together the sound was drastically reduced.