Roadsmith Driveshaft

[jayhawkokie]

In my owners manual it says the driveshaft should be greased annually. Today I talked to the Honda dealership service manager that did my conversion to make sure on the brake recall and After finding out the Roadsmith didn't need the recall I mentioned the next time was in i wanted them to grease the u joints on the driveshaft and he said they never needed to be greased again, do I go with the manual or the service manager.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Follow the manual.
Ask that "person" why the rear master cylinder was not replaced as it's part of the recall. Also if the adv still functions, it's activated by the SMC.
Damage to the rear master cylinder could have occurred prior to the bike being converted to a trike!

 

[jayhawkokie]

The Service Manager said they block off the SMC on all the Roadsmith trike builds and it is not necessary to even inspect the Master Cylinder, you would think they would be getting paid by Mother Honda to do this at least.

 

[Gold Rush]

I'm not going to argue the need to replace the rear brake master cylinder. I can tell you it is absolutely necessary to lube the drive shaft annually. Also, part of the Roadsmith conversion is defeating the ADV.

Some so called mechanics think they know far more than they do. If they refuse to lube the shaft, do it yourself or find a new dealer" :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[mhgoldwing]

I disagree with other posters because I talked to Roadsmith directly about the driveshaft. It has sealed bearings like a car and does NOT need to be greased. Look for yourself. BTW, mine is a 2011 kit. I don't when they changed but it was obviously before then.

Unfortunately, the Roadsmith manuals, both online and delivered with the bike for the HT1800 and HTS1800 are woefully behind the times and much has changed.

When in doubt about anything on your kit pick up the telephone or email Roadsmith directly before you make a huge mistake.

 

[Gold Rush]

I disagree with other posters because I talked to Roadsmith directly about the driveshaft. It has sealed bearings like a car and does NOT need to be greased. Look for yourself. BTW, mine is a 2011 kit. I don't when they changed but it was obviously before then.

Unfortunately, the Roadsmith manuals, both online and delivered with the bike for the HT1800 and HTS1800 are woefully behind the times and much has changed.

When in doubt about anything on your kit pick up the telephone or email Roadsmith directly before you make a huge mistake.

The annual lube is not the u-joints it is the telescoping splines that require fresh grease. Read the manual. Yes, there have been changes and to be honest I have not looked to see if newer updates are there. The drive shaft is not among the changes so follow the recommended service procedures. :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[jayhawkokie]

I will get in touch with Roadsmith. My dealer builds many trikes a year, Roadsmith and CSC, they have a very good reputation.  I know the last two new Ford pickups I bought don't require or have grease fittings to grease the u joints.

 

[mhgoldwing]

The annual lube is not the u-joints it is the telescoping splines that require fresh grease. Read the manual. Yes, there have been changes and to be honest I have not looked to see if newer updates are there. The drive shaft is not among the changes so follow the recommended service procedures. :xszpv::xszpv:

Again, I contacted Roadsmith directly about lubing the driveshaft. According to RS the driveshaft used, at least since 2011 when my kit was built, is like an auto and does not require maintenence. How often do you lube the driveshaft in your auto or truck?

Look, there is too much misinformation on these forums as it is. Part of that blame falls directly on the trike manufacturers who do not update the technical info quickly enough. That leaves way too much room for opinion instead of fact.

And the manufacturers haven't figured out yet that they are costing themselves money and time by not informing the buying public of changes and/or providing accurate and timely information.

The installers are also complicit in this neglect. So it is up to us as owners to stay on top of it by asking questions. I'm not always on top of it but I try. I wish everyone else would do the same so we quit spreading wrong info.

 

[jayhawkokie]

Thanks for your input mhgoldwing, I plan to get over your way this year to ride some of the roads around Harrison.

 

[1dn5up]

If it's a cv joint, never. A regular u joint needs lube 2000 miles (oil change schedule) that's if it has a grease zerk .

 

[tfdeputydawg]

In my owners manual it says the driveshaft should be greased annually. Today I talked to the Honda dealership service manager that did my conversion to make sure on the brake recall and After finding out the Roadsmith didn't need the recall I mentioned the next time was in i wanted them to grease the u joints on the driveshaft and he said they never needed to be greased again, do I go with the manual or the service manager.

If there are grease zerks then, obviously the joints need a shot of grease now and then!

I've never heard of any that need this every 2,000 miles:Shrug:nor oils changes every 2000 miles:Coffee:Not for many,many years!

 

[1dn5up]

If there are grease zerks then, obviously the joints need a shot of grease now and then!
I've never heard of any that need this every 2,000 miles:Shrug:nor oils changes every 2000 miles:Coffee:Not for many,many years!

JMO I still practice old school methods. Syn or Dino, oils cheap insurance. Had mecedies that recommended oil change at 15k miles using some Golden Syn stuff. Turns out to be Mobil One ! Way too long intervile for me. Like I said in the beginning -JMO

 

[Gold Rush]

Research Complete.. Fork in hand... I hate the taste of CROW !!

The owner's manual does indeed state grease U-Joints annually and we know they do not have zerk fittings but the shaft spline area does and that is never mentioned. The installation manual does however instruct installer to grease the splines via the zerk fittings (two of them) after the shaft is fully installed. It does not mention any follow up greasing but I know from experience these splines will ware if not lubed properly. I will take the time once a year to pump fresh Moly grease in. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[Shimpy]

If there are grease zerks then, obviously the joints need a shot of grease now and then!

I've never heard of any that need this every 2,000 miles:Shrug:nor oils changes every 2000 miles:Coffee:Not for many,many years!

Champion calls for grease in "U" joint fittings every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. I feel better doing 3,000 as it's not a big deal.

 

[Wingrider55]

Brake recall

In my owners manual it says the driveshaft should be greased annually. Today I talked to the Honda dealership service manager that did my conversion to make sure on the brake recall and After finding out the Roadsmith didn't need the recall I mentioned the next time was in i wanted them to grease the u joints on the driveshaft and he said they never needed to be greased again, do I go with the manual or the service manager.

My brother just had his 1800 Roadsmith in for the brake recall and the dealer replaced both master cylinders. Mine is going in on Wednesday for the same thing. They apparently have made a change to the rear master cylinder, so it should be changed no matter what.

 

[Dude]

Called two Honda dealers and both said that the Roadsmith did not need the recall, My ADV is disabled on mine when I did the race tech springs and gold valve kit. I did take mine in and had the clutch and brake system flushed, also had them document this and send into Honda.

 

[Fireeater]

I am no means a mechanic so I called my local Honda dealer about the recall. They told me yes, it needed to be looked at. After all said and done, they told me they replaced the 2 cylinders. I feel a difference in braking..and like the change.

Just saying....

 

[bikerbillone]

I have a 2012 RS conversion, the drive shaft has a sealed U joint forward and aft, in the center of the drive, there's a coupling with a zerk fitting, that requires grease. Might want to climb under there and take a look.

 

[mhgoldwing]

I have a 2012 RS conversion, the drive shaft has a sealed U joint forward and aft, in the center of the drive, there's a coupling with a zerk fitting, that requires grease. Might want to climb under there and take a look.

I did look and tried to grease a couple of years ago. Grease went no where. Now RS tells me the ujoints and driveshaft, just like a car, need no routine service. I'm taking them at their word.

 

[Gold Rush]

When it comes right down to it, like so many other choices, all of us have to decide what maintenance level we want to hold. Now that I am officially OLD, I find there is more time to be a bit picky so I am. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[tndragonrider]

Jerry I guess that since I will be having a driveshaft that is off center as well with my MT I will have to keep a close eye out on it for any signs of locking up or loss of flexibility.

 

[bikerbillone]

I did look and tried to grease a couple of years ago. Grease went no where. Now RS tells me the ujoints and driveshaft, just like a car, need no routine service. I'm taking them at their word.

That's good, not trying to convince you one way or the other. I bet there's grease in that coupling, if there's a zerk fitting, it's there for a reason, if grease does not go in when the grease gun trigger is squeezed, then the the coupling is full and doesn't need grease. RS should know their product, so I guess they are giving you good advice. Happy trails.

 

[Gold Rush]

Jerry I guess that since I will be having a driveshaft that is off center as well with my MT I will have to keep a close eye out on it for any signs of locking up or loss of flexibility.

Unless MT has changed the driveshaft (which I doubt) the U-Joints have Zerk fittings and require servicing every 6000 miles.

I understand somewhere through the '05 production year Honda changed things and actually started installing the upgraded transmission like my '06 had. The output shaft is slightly shorted which positions the front U-Joint on the MT conversion just forward enough to allow access via the removed right engine side cover. See green..... If not, the driveshaft must be removed to lube the front U-Joint! BUMMER !!

 

[bikerbillone]

When I was considering my conversion in early 2012, tjhe MT installer maybe 20 mins from me, told me the MT should come to the shop around once a year for drive shaft maintenance, that really turned me off, because having a shop that near was really convenient. Instead I chose the RS in Daytona, an hour forty five on a good day for me, I really didn't want to do that, but it has worked out well, I've not had any cause to take it back there.

 

[Gold Rush]

When I was considering my conversion in early 2012, tjhe MT installer maybe 20 mins from me, told me the MT should come to the shop around once a year for drive shaft maintenance, that really turned me off, because having a shop that near was really convenient. Instead I chose the RS in Daytona, an hour forty five on a good day for me, I really didn't want to do that, but it has worked out well, I've not had any cause to take it back there.

YUP, probably worked out best in the long run Bill!! You might have been one of the lucky ones but if not you probably would have been making that ride. Until MT came out with the newest version of their driveshaft it wasn't the most fun I've ever had. Dropping/reinstalling the driveshaft is not a quick and easy task. :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[bikerbillone]

Gold, I thank you for that post.

 

[Bohica66]

The annual lube is not the u-joints it is the telescoping splines that require fresh grease. Read the manual. Yes, there have been changes and to be honest I have not looked to see if newer updates are there. The drive shaft is not among the changes so follow the recommended service procedures. :xszpv::xszpv:

We just had a Roadsmith kit put on a couple of months ago and I asked the installer if the sliding spines needed periodic greasing. He pointed out that he greased the splines before sliding the two halves of the driveshaft together. The rearend housing is bolted into a "cage" that is bolted to the bike frame, so the driveshaft splines never move. It seems to me he said they had a way to lock the splines so the driveshaft effectively became one piece.

 

[Gold Rush]

We just had a Roadsmith kit put on a couple of months ago and I asked the installer if the sliding spines needed periodic greasing. He pointed out that he greased the splines before sliding the two halves of the driveshaft together. The rearend housing is bolted into a "cage" that is bolted to the bike frame, so the driveshaft splines never move. It seems to me he said they had a way to lock the splines so the driveshaft effectively became one piece.

What your installer said was partly true. The splines are not an absolute tight fit so there is some play between the individual vanes. The lock he spoke of is to keep the splined section from collapsing. It is set so there is 1/16 to 1/8 inch gap which does allow for some forward to back movement.

Here is my take on the annual greasing. Grease, no matter where it is employed will break down with time and use. If refreshing that grease in the splines once a year with MOLLY GREASE prevents me from having a problem the why not do it. It is just part of the preventative maintenance we all should be doing.

For me it is relatively easy because I have the means to get under the trike and just makes good sense.

:xszpv::xszpv:

 

[Bohica66]

What your installer said was partly true. The splines are not an absolute tight fit so there is some play between the individual vanes. The lock he spoke of is to keep the splined section from collapsing. It is set so there is 1/16 to 1/8 inch gap which does allow for some forward to back movement.

Here is my take on the annual greasing. Grease, no matter where it is employed will break down with time and use. If refreshing that grease in the splines once a year with MOLLY GREASE prevents me from having a problem the why not do it. It is just part of the preventative maintenance we all should be doing. For me it is relatively easy because I have the means to get under the trike and just makes good sense. :xszpv::xszpv:

Thanks Jerry, since the kit is a fairly new install, I'll wait til fall and try to get some grease in the driveshaft splines.

 

[Gold Rush]

Thanks Jerry, since the kit is a fairly new install, I'll wait til fall and try to get some grease in the driveshaft splines.

Yes, No need to over do it. A couple full pumps of fresh grease in each of the two Zerk fitting should be plenty.

Be sure to use the MOLLY grease. It has the best longevity in this type of use. I have two grease guns. One loaded with Black MOLLY and one with Lucas Oil Red N Tacky. For most things I like the Lucas but for gears and splines the Black Molly is best. :xszpv::xszpv: