Goldwing/Motor Trike driveshaft recall?

[RRSCOTT]

OK, thank you!

 

[Gold Rush]

Well let me toss my hat in the ring...... Put my '06 on the lift table this morning and pulled the drive shaft. Sure enough, the ware mark shows only about 3/4 of an inch in the u-joint. I'm now in the process of building a 1" spacer to fully engage the yoke with the drive shaft splines. I'm sure when the assembly is fresh new there is very little if any slop but before long that minimal spline to yoke match up causes premature ware.

I dropped by my Motor Trike dealer and showed him the shaft. He said he was going to explain what he saw to the powers that be. We'll see what comes of that...... I'm not going to wait for resolution. I'll just make the spacer and see what happens.. Sure would be great to not have any vibrations.....

Thanks to everyone for convincing me..... GRIN.

 

[Rowdy]

Well let me toss my hat in the ring...... Put my '06 on the lift table this morning and pulled the drive shaft. Sure enough, the ware mark shows only about 3/4 of an inch in the u-joint. I'm now in the process of building a 1" spacer to fully engage the yoke with the drive shaft splines. I'm sure when the assembly is fresh new there is very little if any slop but before long that minimal spline to yoke match up causes premature ware.

I dropped by my Motor Trike dealer and showed him the shaft. He said he was going to explain what he saw to the powers that be. We'll see what comes of that...... I'm not going to wait for resolution. I'll just make the spacer and see what happens.. Sure would be great to not have any vibrations.....

Thanks to everyone for convincing me..... GRIN.

They definitely know about this problem. If you read my other post, I personally showed the same thing to the MT Shop manager(can't remember his name) at Troupe when we were there to pick up my friend's trike.. This was last fall so evidently they have no plans to change anything even though he admitted it "could be a problem".

 

[roscoe 07]

They definitely know about this problem. If you read my other post, I personally showed the same thing to the MT Shop manager(can't remember his name) at Troupe when we were there to pick up my friend's trike.. This was last fall so evidently they have no plans to change anything even though he admitted it "could be a problem".

i talked to richard today at MT he said 5/8 inch is what they are designed to have i dont think that is enough

 

[Rowdy]

i talked to richard today at MT he said 5/8 inch is what they are designed to have i dont think that is enough

I agree. We both know that is not enough. This kit being an independent suspension with the driveshaft fixed, there is no reason not to utilize as much of the splines as possible. The shaft will remain fixed in the original position with no sliding in and out in the splines. I can see the reasoning (for limited insertion) on a solid axle trike where the swingarm design (ladder bar in MT case) is still in play. If you build a spacer and have the same results as my friend had, you will definitely see that the joint at the drive shaft/yoke will have much less motion and slop. I can only assume that using the short shaft is in some way a financial decision. Maybe they use the same drive shaft for both the solid axle and the IRS. Good Luck

 

[RRSCOTT]

What bolts did you use? I'm going take the driveshaft out this morning. Then tomorrow go and see about getting a spacer made.

 

[roscoe 07]

i went to a bolt supply store BRAZOS FASTENERS i could only get allen head they work fine
my machine shop has spacer in computer on machine they just put in thickness

 

[RRSCOTT]

Ok, thanks. This shop I'm not sure how computerize they are.

 

[Gold Rush]

How are you guys getting around the two ABS ring mounting tabs (see photo)

I see mention of a round spacer. Are you notching out around the ABS rind tabs. That seems like a must.

I just traced the rear U-Joint output yoke footprint onto a piece of 1/2 inch plate aluminum I had and cut it to fit. Had to do it twice to get the 1 inch needed to fully engage the front U-Joint. I also had to cut the center out of the spacer to allow for the pinion shaft and nut.

Tomorrow morning I'll be at the bolt store when they open up. I got so taken up in the build that I forgot to get new bolts on Friday. 20/20 hind sight sure is nice. Wish my fore-site was nearly that good!!! :Shrug: :Shrug:

 

[RRSCOTT]

They didn't have the abs kit when mine was done. It came out after, so mine was disabled. I'm going with a 3/4" spacer. I don't think the driveshaft was all the way on the output shaft. Mine was almost slid in 1" in yoke. I slid a 1/2" and the play was gone.

 

[RRSCOTT]

I'm not sure there is enough room for a full 1" spacer.

 

[Gold Rush]

I'm not sure there is enough room for a full 1" spacer.

You're right Randy. A full inch spacer is not really needed. I slipped the drive shaft assembly back in place and put in temporary bolts. The tip of the actual drive shaft protrudes through the front U-Joint yoke maybe an eighth of an inch. I'd like so have full spline engagement to what I have will work well... I'm really excited to get the correct bolts tomorrow morning so I can get things assembled properly and test ride this beast. I'll post results good or bad....

 

[roscoe 07]

how do you put pictures on here

 

[Gold Rush]

how do you put pictures on here

PM sent....

 

[RRSCOTT]

I went with a 5/8" spacer, had a piece in the pile. Just need to get bolts. Then I can put it back together and try it.

 

[Gold Rush]

This is gonna be a bit long but many good reads are. I have good information (I think)....

Well, it has been an interesting day to say the very least. The bolt store did not have 12 point bolts but they did have allen head bolts so I purchased four of them and after some minor adjustment to my install methodology the new 1" spacer is in place and the bolts were torqued to the 75 inch pounds per the Adventure Kit install directions.

I started out easy and tried to be extremely objective in my evaluation. After a few miles of rural riding I hit the highway so I could do some testing at greater than 50 mph. Let it suffice to say that this bike is now very smooth up to and including RIDICULOUS speed. This is what I have been working toward since the conversion last June.

When the vibration first reared it ugly head, my dealer/installer noticed some looseness in the rear U-Joint and a very slight warp in the drive shaft itself so that was replace. Motor Trike also paid to have the wheels rebalanced because some of the stick on weights had come off. There was moderate improvement at that point and since then I have had the wheels balanced twice. I finally decided the stick on weights mounted to the inside face of the aluminum rear wheels just was not going to work so this last time I had only the "knock on" style weights used.

I just had a couple very interesting phone conversations with Richard Purdy (Motor Trike GURU). They have been following this thread with interest and believe at least in some cases there are issues secondary to the drive shaft length to be considered. In my case Richard believes when my installer replaced the drive shaft he used the original front U-Joint assembly which most probably had damaged splines caused by the warped shaft. Mating damaged U-Joint splines with new drive shaft splines was not the way to go.

Motor Trike is sending me a completely new drive shaft assembly (front to rear). I am going to ring this thing out and tell them (and you) exactly what I see. If there is even a hint of vibration I'll put my spacer back in and give it a second test.....

Is Motor Trikes stand on the issue correct or are there cases out there that need their attention. It's for sure that all of us are not having these vibration issues. Maybe it's our riding style or as Richard said a secondary problem. I know I hammer my ride pretty hard and put lots of miles on it. If it can take my beating then it should take anyones...

Stay tuned my friends. I promise as soon as I recover from hernia surgery (going in tomorrow morning) I will get on this and post exactly what I see...

Ride safe. For now at least if you have an issue the spacer seems to be a way to quiet it down....

 

[Rowdy]

This is gonna be a bit long but many good reads are. I have good information (I think)....

Well, it has been an interesting day to say the very least. The bolt store did not have 12 point bolts but they did have allen head bolts so I purchased four of them and after some minor adjustment to my install methodology the new 1" spacer is in place and the bolts were torqued to the 75 inch pounds per the Adventure Kit install directions.

I started out easy and tried to be extremely objective in my evaluation. After a few miles of rural riding I hit the highway so I could do some testing at greater than 50 mph. Let it suffice to say that this bike is now very smooth up to and including RIDICULOUS speed. This is what I have been working toward since the conversion last June.

When the vibration first reared it ugly head, my dealer/installer noticed some looseness in the rear U-Joint and a very slight warp in the drive shaft itself so that was replace. Motor Trike also paid to have the wheels rebalanced because some of the stick on weights had come off. There was moderate improvement at that point and since then I have had the wheels balanced twice. I finally decided the stick on weights mounted to the inside face of the aluminum rear wheels just was not going to work so this last time I had only the "knock on" style weights used.

I just had a couple very interesting phone conversations with Richard Purdy (Motor Trike GURU). They have been following this thread with interest and believe at least in some cases there are issues secondary to the drive shaft length to be considered. In my case Richard believes when my installer replaced the drive shaft he used the original front U-Joint assembly which most probably had damaged splines caused by the warped shaft. Mating damaged U-Joint splines with new drive shaft splines was not the way to go.

Motor Trike is sending me a completely new drive shaft assembly (front to rear). I am going to ring this thing out and tell them (and you) exactly what I see. If there is even a hint of vibration I'll put my spacer back in and give it a second test.....

Is Motor Trikes stand on the issue correct or are there cases out there that need their attention. It's for sure that all of us are not having these vibration issues. Maybe it's our riding style or as Richard said a secondary problem. I know I hammer my ride pretty hard and put lots of miles on it. If it can take my beating then it should take anyones...

Stay tuned my friends. I promise as soon as I recover from hernia surgery (going in tomorrow morning) I will get on this and post exactly what I see...

Ride safe. For now at least if you have an issue the spacer seems to be a way to quiet it down....

In my mind, having the vibration and being cured by lengthening the drive shaft closes the case. Especially when you are not the first rider to have the same results.(see my previous posts). It is a proven cure. As far as I know, my posts on this was the first about this potential problem and the cure was a longer drive shaft. I do not understand the reluctance of MT to admit there is a problem and resolving it by the simple proven methods here and elsewhere. It is somewhat of an insult to disregard competent riders input and continually insist that the drive shaft is not the problem. I will give you an example that I have not mentioned in my other posts. We were told when we drove from KY. to Texas to pick up my friends trike that the problem was in the MIRRORS. I was taken aback by this. I told them that they were treating the symptoms and not the cause. We were definitely not going to accept this after driving 1800 miles. They have seen this problem first hand with this trike and me standing there. Anyway, I'm glad your vibration is gone and wish you nothing but smooth riding. Good luck with the surgery.

 

[RRSCOTT]

GoldRush, Well let us know and hope everything goes good for you.
I found when I took the driveshaft off. The flange on the driveshaft had treads. Makes me wonder if the 2 flanges weren't matching flat together.

 

[roscoe 07]

I complained for 2years talked to Richard and told hm that I put a spacer I didn't
Want my warranty voided he said it wouldn't unless they determined spacer was problem

 

[roscoe 07]

This is gonna be a bit long but many good reads are. I have good information (I think)....

Well, it has been an interesting day to say the very least. The bolt store did not have 12 point bolts but they did have allen head bolts so I purchased four of them and after some minor adjustment to my install methodology the new 1" spacer is in place and the bolts were torqued to the 75 inch pounds per the Adventure Kit install directions.

I started out easy and tried to be extremely objective in my evaluation. After a few miles of rural riding I hit the highway so I could do some testing at greater than 50 mph. Let it suffice to say that this bike is now very smooth up to and including RIDICULOUS speed. This is what I have been working toward since the conversion last June.

When the vibration first reared it ugly head, my dealer/installer noticed some looseness in the rear U-Joint and a very slight warp in the drive shaft itself so that was replace. Motor Trike also paid to have the wheels rebalanced because some of the stick on weights had come off. There was moderate improvement at that point and since then I have had the wheels balanced twice. I finally decided the stick on weights mounted to the inside face of the aluminum rear wheels just was not going to work so this last time I had only the "knock on" style weights used.

I just had a couple very interesting phone conversations with Richard Purdy (Motor Trike GURU). They have been following this thread with interest and believe at least in some cases there are issues secondary to the drive shaft length to be considered. In my case Richard believes when my installer replaced the drive shaft he used the original front U-Joint assembly which most probably had damaged splines caused by the warped shaft. Mating damaged U-Joint splines with new drive shaft splines was not the way to go.

Motor Trike is sending me a completely new drive shaft assembly (front to rear). I am going to ring this thing out and tell them (and you) exactly what I see. If there is even a hint of vibration I'll put my spacer back in and give it a second test.....

Is Motor Trikes stand on the issue correct or are there cases out there that need their attention. It's for sure that all of us are not having these vibration issues. Maybe it's our riding style or as Richard said a secondary problem. I know I hammer my ride pretty hard and put lots of miles on it. If it can take my beating then it should take anyones...

Stay tuned my friends. I promise as soon as I recover from hernia surgery (going in tomorrow morning) I will get on this and post exactly what I see...

Ride safe. For now at least if you have an issue the spacer seems to be a way to quiet it down....

send your email address to davidjoe@kallusnet.com and i will send pictures of my spacer