Champion Trike vs Harley

[THEREALTRIKKY]

Larry,

First of all, it sounds like you're a bit frustrated and irritated. I'm afraid the issue isn't as simple as it "seems". I've seen a few broken transmission cases, in 2 and 3 wheelers (contrary to popular belief, it's not just a "trike issue"). In 90% of the broken transmission cases I have seen, there has been at least one additional factor contributing; the most common being a bad/worn front motor mount, or the front torsion bar bolt loose, or missing completely.

The swingarm pivot shaft is also a mount/support for the transmission, as I'm sure you know. In cases with motor mount/ torsion bar problems, this greatly enhances the load applied on the transmission case, and creates an added stresser that a "pot metal" aluminum case is simply not strong enough to support. If you look very close at your transmission case, you can see where the crack originated from and "grew" until it broke.

As far as the pivot shaft snapping, I've only seen that on one occasion, and it was an older bike with the 3 pc pivot shaft (If you haven't seen one, be grateful!).

I'm not placing blame anywhere, but just saying, it would be worthwhile looking at the entire motorcycle as a whole, and not solely at the trike kit itself as the cause of this.

 

[Papa Zook]

Champion Trike Kit with Broken Swing Arm Shaft

I bought a new 2005 Electra Glide Harley Motorcyle and triked it with a Motor Trike Kit. I rode the trike for 23,000 miles. I then changed the trike to a Champion kit and rode for less than 4,000 mikes. The trike then started vibrating and bottoming out. I took it to a mechanic and it had the right threaded end of the swing arm shaft broken off in half. The middle of the transmission and the transmission casing were shattered.

Our mechanic has replaced 1 other broken swing arm shaft on a Champion trike. Champion definitely knows of a third incident and also there is one on the internet making 4 total incidents recorded. You decide! Is it the Champion kit or is it the Harley with swing arm shafts being weak. Champion says that Harley transmission cases are weak.

The case didn't break the shaft, the shaft snapped breaking the transmission. Why are swing arm shafts snapping in half anyway? How does a weak transmission case break a 3/4 inch shaft in half? In my opinion, something is putting pressure on the shaft and someone needs to address the problem instead of pointing fingers and putting lives in danger. SERIOUS DANGER!

Champion says 4 shafts is less than 1% of trikes sold. How many were fixed and not reported? My mechanic built 12 trike kits within 2 shafts broken, my math says that is 10%.

PS: I have a trike for sale.

Larry Hughes, NV

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harle...ion-case-3650/

As the link you provided points out, this has occurred on other conversion brands and two wheelers as well. Its not a Champion problem, but a problem that has several contributing factors being: weakened tranny housing design on the later model Harleys with the "webbed" style tranny case VS the earlier solid case, worn motor mounts, tiny air bubbles have been seen in some broken castings, pot holes, etc.

There are numerous Champion HD trike owners who are members of this board and have many thousands of miles on their trikes with zero issues.

 

[msocko3]

As the link you provided points out, this has occurred on other conversion brands and two wheelers as well. Its not a Champion problem, but a problem that has several contributing factors being: weakened tranny housing design on the later model Harleys with the "webbed" style tranny case VS the earlier solid case, worn motor mounts, tiny air bubbles have been seen in some broken castings, pot holes, etc. There are numerous Champion HD trike owners who are members of this board and have many thousands of miles on their trikes with zero issues.

:Agree: Harley's castings are not the greatest, done by the cheapest supplier. I've seen engine cases that weep oil due to porosity and the folks having to have their engines rebuilt with new cases. Cylinder heads with some pretty bad porosity in the ports. I had a friend call me one day to see if I had a head laying around in the natural aluminum, when the head ported started working on his he found a big old hollow pocket which would be a PIA to weld up.