Beef up supports for CSC Cobra Ground Effects

[robval87]

Well I got the Ground Effects back on and I love the way the Trike looks. I am going to take some 1/4 inch thick aluminum and placed it underneath and sandwiched the front and rear mounting points. I am still waiting on the middle mount to arrive from CSC. Here are a few pics of my progress to date...ThumbUp
This has been a Outstanding mod for the Trike...Thanks for the info Seabill

 

[rmrc51]

Received the Comfort Controls and got them installed. They do put the brake and shift levers in good locations for using the running boards as foot rests.





One problem is that the rear brake lever does contact the running board when fully depressed. Going to see if I can locate a brake lever that is a little straighter. I'm not going to put the foot pegs back on so the lever does not need to have as much of a bend in it.

I agree 100% as per the Comfort Controls being a perfect addition for making the foot placement with the Ground Effects (Roadsmith's WingBoards or any other floor boards) just about perfect! Not to also forget and mention the increased leg room. No more of that lousy 'cramped' or 'tucked under' leg position!

As for the brake lever hitting the floor board, that is very true. Roadsmith actually installs a rubber bladder in a cut-away on the Wing Board so the brake lever can depress fully. I personally like the option/suggestion of replacing the brake lever with the one from a GL1200. ThumbUp

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Well I got the Ground Effects back on and I love the way the Trike looks. I did take some 3/16 thick aluminum and placed it underneath and sandwiched the front and rear mounting points. I am still waiting on the middle mount to arrive from CSC. Here are a few pics of my progress to date...ThumbUpView attachment 18673View attachment 18674
This has been a Outstanding mod for the Trike...Thanks for the info Seabill

Having my Wing Boards LINE-X'd will clearly be a future enhancement, not only for appearance sake but mainly for protection! Love the way yours looks and the addition of the diamond plate inserts is perfect! ThumbUp

 

[robval87]

Well I completed my install of the Ground Effects today. I have some minor cosmetic work to finish, but nothing major. I did have aluminum plates that I was going to put on the underside of the Ground Effects, but 1/4 inch was just to thick. I looked at the project and decided to have a metal shop fab a piece of aluminum to fit from the front mount to the rear of the middle mount (following the contour of the bottom of the Ground Effects) then sandwich the fiberglass between the top aluminum (diamond plates) and the 1 piece aluminum 1/8 or 3/16 thick on the bottom. I did work up a set of foot pegs that did allow me to fold them in when out on the highway so I could stretch out my legs, and fold them out for a more factory ride when in the city/curvy mountain roads. Here are a few more Pics of my progress.
I installed Blue Led Pods in both foot wells facing toward the rear, and put 3/4 inch Led Markers on the outside edge of the Ground Effects. I will post final Pics when I install the bottom piece of aluminum and have the foot peg bases painted to match Trike. ThumbUp

 

[SEABILL]

Looking Good! The lights are a nice touch.

 

[coolpoolken]

Very nice job all around!! What did you use for foot peg bracket? They look like they will be very functional. Well out of the way for moving your feet onto the boards!!!.....Ken

 

[robval87]

They are off the rear (passenger) 2011 Yamaha Stryker. I cut off a lot of the extra metal, flipped them upside down and placed them on the opposite sides and backwards. I am going to take my GW stock front peg mounting base to the metal shop and have them trace and cut out a piece of 1/4 inch steel. I will then cut off the peg mount from the Stryker base and weld it onto new GW base, shoot it with some silver paint and reinstall them. They should look almost stock when I am done with them.:Coffee:

 

[coolpoolken]

robval87, you are a talented man!! There are sure is a lot of god ideas and info on this site. Can't wait to get my trike home and incorporate some of the things I have seen and learned on here!!!.....Ken

 

[ljsdsm]

I will be ordering the bracket from CSC this week. How long to install ? Does it come with bolts / nuts ? I had my boards linex'd and 1/2 up fender and along side of fenders. thanx ljs

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Forgot to ask, how did you attach diamond plate ?? Did you put anything under it ??

thanx
ljs

 

[SEABILL]

I will be ordering the bracket from CSC this week. How long to install ? Does it come with bolts / nuts ? I had my boards linex'd and 1/2 up fender and along side of fenders. thanx ljs View attachment 18887

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Forgot to ask, how did you attach diamond plate ?? Did you put anything under it ??

thanx
ljs

ljs

You can probably install the middle mount bracket in about 1/2 hour. The bolts are included. I don't know how RobVal87 attached the diamond plate on his (he did a nice job), I replaced the bolts that CSC sent for attaching the middle mount to the Ground Effects with carriage bolts and put them down through the diamond plate, through the Ground Effects and then through the bracket.

Hope that make sense to you.

BTW: nice looking trike!

 

[ljsdsm]

Do you have to take running boards off to put bracket on ??

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Also, how much weight will boards support now ??

 

[SEABILL]

Do you have to take running boards off to put bracket on ??

- - - Updated - - -

Also, how much weight will boards support now ??

You do not have to remove the running boards to install the bracket.

I saw somewhere that CSC stated that the Ground Effects on the newer Cobra, Cobra XL and Viper will support 700lbs.

 

[ljsdsm]

I just ordered the bracket an hour ago.
1 Did you just put an identical piece under the board for support ?
2 Was top 1/8 and bottom 1/4 ?
3 Did it make a difference in support ?

thanx

 

[SEABILL]

I just ordered the bracket an hour ago.
1 Did you just put an identical piece under the board for support ?
2 Was top 1/8 and bottom 1/4 ?
3 Did it make a difference in support ?

thanx

The idea is to stiffen the running boards and to keep the mounting bolts from pulling through the fiberglass.

For the front mounts; I put a 1/8th inch aluminum plate. I tried to pick-up as much area as possible. This helped a lot.

For the middle mounts; I put some Diamond Plate in the foot well. I found the Diamond Plate at Home Depot. It appears to be a little thinner then 1/8th inch. I used the rubber pad that was in the foot well as a pattern.

The new middle mount helps a lot, but on mine anyway, the fiberglass is thin and it worked more then I liked. The Diamond Plate makes a big difference.

For the rear mounts; I used larger washers where the running boards mount to the rear fenders. Probably didn't need to do this, but just wanted to be sure.

 

[robval87]

I tried 1/4 aluminum plates under the ground effect's, but learned they were just to thick. I went with a 1/8 thick plate that is formed to the bottom of the ground effects ( from the front mount to 6 inches behind the middle mount ). The metal shop cut and bent the aluminum as required. I did place a few drops of Black RTV ( to prevent any possible vibrating ) under my diamond plate inserts and then drilled 1/4 inch holes and used carriage bolts with locking nylon nuts. I then sandwiched the ground effects between the diamond plate and the formed aluminum on the bottom. I am still working on the foot beg design. I will post pics on those when finished. I did get the beg bases done ( 1/4 inch steel ) and have went with a Kuryakyn peg mounts and pegs for a cleaner look (more chrome). The pegs will still fold to the rear when not needed allowing me to stretch my legs out on the highway.ThumbUp

 

[ljsdsm]

Robval87: On the large plate where your feet go, do you have 2 bolts to CSC support and 2 other just for plates ?

The underside plate that goes from the light to the foot plate is one piece ?
Couldn't you just get longer bolts to fit the 1/4 plate ?

 

[robval87]

Robval87: On the large plate where your feet go, do you have 2 bolts to CSC support and 2 other just for plates ?

The underside plate that goes from the light to the foot plate is one piece ?
Couldn't you just get longer bolts to fit the 1/4 plate ?

I found out that after I mounted the new middle mount and tried to swing it up to the Ground Effects that the 1/4 inch plate was just to thick and was causing me to push up on the Ground Effects to get the bolts thru the mount. I did use the new hardware that came with the middle mount, 2 tapered bolts on each side go thru the Ground Effects, thru the 1/8 inch plate and then thru the middle mount. I then did four additional carriage bolts 1 in each corner area thru the Diamond Plate, Ground Effects and Aluminum Plate on the bottom and then tightened it down with a nylon lock nut. This process was done at the Front Mount (using existing hardware) and the small area behind the Middle Mount (single carriage bolt in the middle of the Diamond Plate). See pic below, enlarge to see better..

ThumbUp

 

[ljsdsm]

Thanx, pic's explain alot.
Did you take off the original center bracket support ?
I don't see it where you notched out the plate.

 

[robval87]

Thanx, pic's explain alot.
Did you take off the original center bracket support ?
I don't see it where you notched out the plate.

No I did not use the original Center Mount. CSC rep. advised that it was no longer needed and that the new Middle Mount was all that was needed. I might replace the Diamond Plate (without the cut for the original bracket)ThumbUp

 

[ljsdsm]

I just got my GFX mid mount. Without getting trike up in air, I do not see how this will support anything mounting underneath.
1 Where is the support when you put your feet on ground affects ?
2 How is it braced underneath ?You would think you would need the original middle support.

I did not get any instructions. I just sent them email.

3 Did you use the two front mounting bolts to go thru both plates ?

thanx
ljs

 

[ljsdsm]

Found this on ebay for brake pedal, think this will work ??

[h=1]Details about Honda GL1200 Rear Brake Pedal GL 1200 Interstate Goldwing 1984 - 1986 on ebay[/h]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-GL1200-Rear-Brake-Pedal-GL-1200-Interstate-Goldwing-1984-1986-/221391402120?_trksid=p2054897.l4276

Think this will work

 

[SEABILL]

Found this on ebay for brake pedal, think this will work ??

Details about Honda GL1200 Rear Brake Pedal GL 1200 Interstate Goldwing 1984 - 1986 on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-GL120...984-1986-/221391402120?_trksid=p2054897.l4276

Think this will work

That brake pedal looks well used. There are better ones out there. You only need the GL1200 brake pedal if you are going with the Comfort Controls, which lowers the controls down 1 inch and forward 3 inches. If you are not installing the Comfort Controls you can still use the GL1800 brake pedal.

 

[SEABILL]

I just got my GFX mid mount. Without getting trike up in air, I do not see how this will support anything mounting underneath.
1 Where is the support when you put your feet on ground affects ?
2 How is it braced underneath ?You would think you would need the original middle support.

I did not get any instructions. I just sent them email.

3 Did you use the two front mounting bolts to go thru both plates ?

thanx
ljs

Here is a link to the instructions for the Ground Effects.

http://www.californiasidecar.com/downloads/Cobra_GRD_EFX.pdf

 

[ljsdsm]

robval87:
1 Did you use the two front mounting bolts by lights to go thru both plates ?
2 What type of metal bolts and nuts did you use ?
3 I understand steel and zinc react to aluminum.
4 I plan to use 3 individual pieces on top and 1 piece bent to shape on the bottom - I hope.
5 Thought about using just one piece for top and one for bottom - did you think about it ??
6 Looks like you can not use the original middle support due to where new support is located, is that true ?
7 Can you get under it to do these mods if you use car ramps ?

thanx
ljs

 

[robval87]

robval87:
1 Did you use the two front mounting bolts by lights to go thru both plates ?
2 What type of metal bolts and nuts did you use ?
3 I understand steel and zinc react to aluminum.
4 I plan to use 3 individual pieces on top and 1 piece bent to shape on the bottom - I hope.
5 Thought about using just one piece for top and one for bottom - did you think about it ??
6 Looks like you can not use the original middle support due to where new support is located, is that true ?
7 Can you get under it to do these mods if you use car ramps ?

thanx
ljs

1. Yes I did.
2. I used chrome hardware that I purchased at Ace Hardware.
3. Unsure.
4. That's what I did.
5. Yes, but I like the way that the individual plates look with the black liner breaking it up.
6. That is what I understood from CSC Rep. (plus there was not enough room for org. bracket.)
7. Yes that is how I get under mine, I back up onto ramps and then jack up the front.
(Remember your reverse may not be strong enough to back up onto the ramps by it's
self, so I always assist my Trike by standing off to the side as I push the reverse button and have someone lightly push from the front.)ThumbUp

 

[ljsdsm]

Robval87:
Thanx for responding to all my questions.

Couple more and I should be done: Did you use any thing under the top pieces like rubber gasket stuff, calking or even rubber spline ?
Was thinking of for some reason to keep water from settling under pieces when washing or drill hole(s) to drain ?

 

[ljsdsm]

I can not get the bolts out to take kick stand off. I about pull trike off ramps and no luck.

any ideas ??????

 

[SEABILL]

I can not get the bolts out to take kick stand off. I about pull trike off ramps and no luck.

any ideas ??????

I have no real experience when it comes to removing the center stand. The only thing I can think of that might be a problem is that the bolt on the right hand side has a left hand thread and the bolt on the left side has a right hand thread.

 

[ljsdsm]

FYI on original support in middle of ground affects.
I cut about 1 1/2" off the bracket underneath and it will fit. It really helps make it more
solid especially with the aluminum underneath.

 

[SEABILL]

FYI on original support in middle of ground affects.
I cut about 1 1/2" off the bracket underneath and it will fit. It really helps make it more
solid especially with the aluminum underneath.

That is good info! Does seem like it would benefit from some added support in that area. Not sure that will work on mine, b'cuz it has the Comfort Controls. Am looking at making a bracket for it.

Sure enjoying having my feet on the running boards rather then the foot pegs. Last year my crotch would go to sleep in the first hour of riding. Last weekend, wife and I, spent about four hours in the saddle without any problem.


BTW: Tried to respond to your PM, but it bounced back.

 

[ljsdsm]

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