Bad Vibration

[chatty]

I am a lady rider and I have had my trike for a year in June, I took it in and they said they wanted to check the swingarm and bushings. When I got it back it shakes like crazy, especially when I am sitting still at a stoplight. I put my GPS on it this last weekend and I can't hardly even read it! I have had it back to the dealer twice and they said the bushings were to soft and they put a harder one in. They couldn't put it back the way it was as it might crack the transmission and that would be $2,000 to fix. They have had their servicemen check it out and they say it is ok? I find it really embarrassing to sit there shaking when I stop. Has anyone else encountered this problem? I am very frustrated and this is taking all the fun out of it for me.

08 Ultra Standard with Lehman Trike Kit

 

[Nana]

Hi Chatty, and a big welcome to TrikeTalk!

I ride a Fat Boy/Champion trike, and I assure you I do not have that problem. It doesn't sound right to me at all. There are some incredibly knowledgeable people on here. Hang in there----you will surely get some help and suggestions from them.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

I am a lady rider and I have had my trike for a year in June, I took it in and they said they wanted to check the swingarm and bushings. When I got it back it shakes like crazy, especially when I am sitting still at a stoplight. I put my GPS on it this last weekend and I can't hardly even read it! I have had it back to the dealer twice and they said the bushings were to soft and they put a harder one in. They couldn't put it back the way it was as it might crack the transmission and that would be $2,000 to fix. They have had their servicemen check it out and they say it is ok? I find it really embarrassing to sit there shaking when I stop. Has anyone else encountered this problem? I am very frustrated and this is taking all the fun out of it for me.

08 Ultra Standard with Lehman Trike Kit

Chatty

We have a rider here (bdn56) that has a similar issue with vibration but it was in a higher RPM range. (1800-2500) The vibration was driving him nuts.

he couldn't keep a cup of Joe from spilling all over his trike where he had no issues before.

I rode his trike and he was right... very strange vibration. Now I know that may not be the same thing but it may help... the story goes like this.

He took his 08 Ultra with Champions kit to HD. They tore the motor primary and timing covers off and did run out checks, said they aligned the motor and tranny to the frame but said they could find no problem.

bdn56 then, at his home, got ready to change the front motor mount. Everyone was telling him it must be bad. When he loosened everything up so he could lift the motor slightly the motor and tranny made a "thump" and shifted about 1/2 inch. Seems it wasn't aligned to the frame very well and was offset causing this vibration.

He went ahead and changed the front motor mount and tightened up the other links.

No more vibration.

Maybe Bryan will chime in later.

There are several guys here that build trikes and may have a better answer for you. I personally don't see how a little harder bushing on a swing arm would cause your issue but a motor to frame alignment or an incorrectly adjusted motor to frame link could.

 

[robandlyn]

Nana
Your bike and Chatty's bike have the motor attached differently.
One of my buddies has a Softail and he came riding with Lynn & I
and at the 1st light he looked over and was like WTF ?
Our motors were "rocking" back and forth and his was rock steady.
The Softails have and internal balancer to take the "rocking" motion
away on Softails since they are not rubber mounted to the frame.
Chatty .... Yes the rubber in the HD motor mounts do "get soft"
and it is not a good thing ! Most times it happens if the person
changing the motor oil lets oil drip onto the front motor mount
when doing a oil change. You would get more vibration at a light
now that they installed new ones. Sorry it is the nature of the beast.
Rob .....

 

[robandlyn]

Opps ... Sorry just reread your post and saw you said rear swing arm bushing.
I do agree with Reksul .....
" I personally don't see how a little harder bushing on a swing arm would cause your issue "

Rob ......

 

[trikegypsy]

You might PM Ultraboy. He's a big-time Harley guy, and very knowledgeable.

I have a Lehman, and do NOT have a vibration problem, but it's attached to a Wing.

 

[bdn56]

I am a lady rider and I have had my trike for a year in June, I took it in and they said they wanted to check the swingarm and bushings. When I got it back it shakes like crazy, especially when I am sitting still at a stoplight. I put my GPS on it this last weekend and I can't hardly even read it! I have had it back to the dealer twice and they said the bushings were to soft and they put a harder one in. They couldn't put it back the way it was as it might crack the transmission and that would be $2,000 to fix. They have had their servicemen check it out and they say it is ok? I find it really embarrassing to sit there shaking when I stop. Has anyone else encountered this problem? I am very frustrated and this is taking all the fun out of it for me.

08 Ultra Standard with Lehman Trike Kit

Chatty, I have to run for a while but I will be back later this afternoon with some info.

Did your vibration just start out of the blue? Mine did.

Talk later.

Bdn

 

[chatty]

Nana,
We went to Sturgis and we went on the factory tour, afterwards we asked someone to look at my trike. Even though they were extremely busy they did And they found my pivot arm nut was loose, now it rides ok. The Harley Shop still claims they didn't do anything wrong?
Thanks for trying to help
Kay

 

[chatty]

Also just took it in for my 10,000 mile checkup and my belt needed adjusted, runs like a charm now They told me someone else was having problems with theirs shaking too so they called out to Lehman and they gave them some suggestions of wht to try.

 

[Nana]

Nana,

We went to Sturgis and we went on the factory tour, afterwards we asked someone to look at my trike. Even though they were extremely busy they did And they found my pivot arm nut was loose, now it rides ok. The Harley Shop still claims they didn't do anything wrong?

Thanks for trying to help

Kay

That's wonderful news, chatty! Thanks for letting us know your problem is repaired. And wasn't the factory wonderful for taking time to check it out for you!!!! 3 Cheers to them!!!! :beerchug: