Rear Wheel Help

[tinamc209]

Good Afternoon! I have a question about wheel size! This is a Frankenstein Kit and was not put on by myself or husband. We recieved this trike for free, yes, free. The work was done by either the person who had the trike or whom he hired. He has passed, hence why I have the bike.

With that said, he had put 00-04 Corvette rims on it. While I am a Chevy Gal, I am in no way shape or form a Corvette or Camero fan. I want to change these rims, now that the need for the tires to be changed is happening.

I want to go down a size to a 16" rim, but don't know if that is possible. If possible, I would like to put the same size rim that Harley puts on the trikes. Would anyone know that size? Also if it possible to put that size on this conversion kit?

 

[trike lady]

Hello & welcome to Trike Talk.
The rim size used by Frankenstein is 15x8.

15" x 8" ION, Style 171-5865P, Polished
5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern, 3 1/2" back spacing, center caps, lug nuts, valve stems

This info is from their website: https://www.frankensteintrikes.com/images/measuring for fender brackets.pdf
I don't believe that is a Frankenstein conversion as they do not make independent suspension axles.

Frankenstein Trikes Harley-Davidson Trike Kits

www.frankensteintrikes.com

Do you have any documents that came with the trike? Possibly Mystery, American Trike or DFT made it.
Bingo it's an American Trike. American Trike

 

[tinamc209]

Hello & welcome to Trike Talk.
The rim size used by Frankenstein is 15x8.

This info is from their website: https://www.frankensteintrikes.com/images/measuring for fender brackets.pdf
I don't believe that is a Frankenstein conversion as they do not make independent suspension axles.

Frankenstein Trikes Harley-Davidson Trike Kits

www.frankensteintrikes.com

Do you have any documents that came with the trike? Possibly Mystery, American Trike or DFT made it.
Bingo it's an American Trike. American Trike

I just looked though all of my paperwork and it is American Trike. So, now, it looks like I can put smaller wheels and tires on it, so thank you. Now, to find out what side they recommend!*

*Ok, well, their website yields zero information, and the email address is not a working one. So, I am still looking if anyone has more information, because all I have are the installation instructions.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Sweet looking trike, smaller tires may throw your speedo off, bigger wheels and tires also can throw your speedo off

Keep in mind bigger tires will take more power to turn ( higher RPM's

 

[tinamc209]

Sweet looking trike, smaller tires may throw your speedo off, bigger wheels and tires also can throw your speedo off

Keep in mind bigger tires will take more power to turn ( higher RPM's

And I 100% want smaller ones. The fenders rattle and shake and sometimes scrape the tire. If there is a rock in the tread, it goes "scrape scrape scrape" and forget going over raild road tracks.

 

[trike lady]

I just did a search of the company and the address came back as a 3 bedroom house on the market and a name change to www.extremetrike.com another nonfunctional site.

 

[tinamc209]

I just did a search of the company and the address came back as a 3 bedroom house on the market and a name change to www.extremetrike.com another nonfunctional site.

Sounds to me like they have gone out of business? So from what I have found, it looks like I can put 225/45/17 on it.
I am also wondering out the bearings, what size would that be?
We are also having an issue with sway or shimmy in the rear end. I don't think I am going to get the answers I am looking for.

 

[trike lady]

You'd have to dismantle the unit and pull the bearings and see who made them and what the number is on them and hopefully they are available.
I'm surprised they have no parts list in the installation manual.
It looks to have limited clearance between the tire and fender. You could probably go to a 16". Also check at the mounting point where the swing-arm connects to the frame. You may need a new set of these.

 

[tinamc209]

You'd have to dismantle the unit and pull the bearings and see who made them and what the number is on them and hopefully they are available.
I'm surprised they have no parts list in the installation manual.
It looks to have limited clearance between the tire and fender. You could probably go to a 16". Also check at the mounting point where the swing-arm connects to the frame. You may need a new set of these.
View attachment 126446

Thank you so much for all of your comments! You have been such a help! I was thinking 16 but wasn't sure. Also, my husband is a machinist and knows how to pull them off and look for all that stuff! Thank you!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thank you so much for all of your comments! You have been such a help! I was thinking 16 but wasn't sure. Also, my husband is a machinist and knows how to pull them off and look for all that stuff! Thank you!

It is a good thing having a husband who is a machinist, these beasts we ride require some wrenching

The Frankenstein kits are beasts for sure, they are built solid