Goldwing/Motor Trike driveshaft recall?

[bumlbe]

I own a 2010 Goldwing with Motor Trike IRS.<br />
<br />
I have heard that Motor Trike is replacing the driveshaft on several Goldwing trikes. Can someone tell me if this is true? My Honda dealer, who did the conversion, claims they have heard nothing about this.

 

[Lucky]

I have a Wing/Motortrike and this is the first I have heard of this.Where did you hear this and maybe you should ask Motortrike they are on here.RIDE SAFE

 

[Motor Trike]

There is currently not a recall on any Motor Trike drive shafts. <br />
<br />
Back in May of 2010 we did issue a recall on u-joints only on IRS kits made from September 2009 through May of 2010, but there have not been any recalls since.

 

[roscoe 07]

MY DRIVESHAFT WAS TOO SHORT had to have a machine shop build me a spacer

 

[Rowdy]

MY DRIVESHAFT WAS TOO SHORT had to have a machine shop build me a spacer

I helped a friend with his Adventure that had a vibration. That was the main cause of it. Drive shaft too short.

 

[roscoe 07]

i had my complete driveshaft replaced by motortrike lasted 1500 miles had maching shop make me a spacer installed spacer on same shaft 15000 miles later NO PROBLEM

 

[RRSCOTT]

Where did you put the spacer? And do you have a picture of it?

 

[jnorth]

if it only lasted 1500 miles, should it have been under warranty?

 

[RRSCOTT]

How thick of spacer did you use?

 

[roscoe 07]

my spacer added 3/4 inch in length motortrike said i didnt need longer shaft that was my 3rd shaft it fits betweem rearend flange ad driveshaft flange will have to take off to get pictures 9797989360

 

[Rowdy]

My friend finally had to ship his trike to MT in Troupe for the vibration problem. We drove down from KY. to pick it up and discussed the drive shaft problem with them. We knew from the beginning of our test that the shaft was too short. They insisted that the drive shaft was inserted all the way into the yoke splines. The guy we were talking to went to get the driveshaft that they had removed to prove to me it was indeed inserted the full length of the splines. When the grease was removed the point of insertion was definitely visible on the splines. It was only about 5/8 inch(to the best of my memory). Just as we had told him. He then said "well that could be a problem". He then made up a longer driveshaft so it would insert fully into the yoke to utilize the full spline length of the yoke. When we left the trike was smooth as it should be. I would have thought that MT would have started making longer driveshafts after having seen first hand that they were too short.

 

[Shimpy]

I helped a friend with his Adventure that had a vibration. That was the main cause of it. Drive shaft too short.

What was the nature of your vibrations? Only at a certain speed? I'm having trouble with Champion and my vibrations only come at 2000 rpm regardless of what gear or speed I'm in which makes me think it isn't the driveshaft, but would like to get all the info I can on trying to figure it out. Installer hasn't a clue.

 

[Rowdy]

What was the nature of your vibrations? Only at a certain speed? I'm having trouble with Champion and my vibrations only come at 2000 rpm regardless of what gear or speed I'm in which makes me think it isn't the driveshaft, but would like to get all the info I can on trying to figure it out. Installer hasn't a clue.

His vibration was constant but got worse with speed. It was so bad at 60-70mph that, looking in the mirror, the white center lines were a wide blurr and vehicles behind him were unrecognizable.

 

[roscoe 07]

My friend finally had to ship his trike to MT in Troupe for the vibration problem. We drove down from KY. to pick it up and discussed the drive shaft problem with them. We knew from the beginning of our test that the shaft was too short. They insisted that the drive shaft was inserted all the way into the yoke splines. The guy we were talking to went to get the driveshaft that they had removed to prove to me it was indeed inserted the full length of the splines. When the grease was removed the point of insertion was definitely visible on the splines. It was only about 5/8 inch(to the best of my memory). Just as we had told him. He then said "well that could be a problem". He then made up a longer driveshaft so it would insert fully into the yoke to utilize the full spline length of the yoke. When we left the trike was smooth as it should be. I would have thought that MT would have started making longer driveshafts after having seen first hand that they were too short.

i tried telling motortrike my driveshaft was too short .they acted like i didnt know what i was talking about .im glad they listened to you.i showed richard a video at wingding still didnt get answer .i like my motortrike but they need to listen to riders

 

[RRSCOTT]

What Rowdy said about his friend's is what mine is doing. So I'm going check that out and see how much splines is inserted.

 

[roscoe 07]

mine had 3/8 inch of splines making contac MTengineers said that was enough IT WASNT

 

[Bugsplat49]

My 05 Wing w/08 MT kit has a terrible vibration/ shake/shimmy between 60 and 65+ mph. My Honda service manager has checked it out and says it is not related to front end or tire problems. Could this be the root cause of my problem as well?:Shrug:

 

[Rowdy]

My 05 Wing w/08 MT kit has a terrible vibration/ shake/shimmy between 60 and 65+ mph. My Honda service manager has checked it out and says it is not related to front end or tire problems. Could this be the root cause of my problem as well?:Shrug:

It very well could be but the first thing I would check would be the phasing of the driveshaft. The u joints on each end should be in the same position. If they are not it will result in a bad vibration. Standing at the back of the engine looking forward, the engine turns counterclockwise. If the u joints will not lineup perfectly you should have the front one (engine side) leading the rear by one tooth.

 

[bumlbe]

What Rowdy said about his friend's is what mine is doing. So I'm going check that out and see how much splines is inserted.

After reading all the comments, am I correct saying that the spline should be inserted about 1 and 1/4 inch?

Perhaps someone from Motor Trike can help us out with this issue.

On my 2010 Goldwing with the Motor Trike IRS that was installed in January 2011, I have a vibration noticeable ONLY in the right mirror. I have installed a new front tire, and had the rears balanced, nothing changed.

Does anyone have any ideas why the right mirror vibrates and not the left??

The right mirror seems tight to me.

 

[CASALUV]

I have an 2005 Wing with a 2010 Motor trike Kit. The drive shaft lasted 1500 miles and broke while i was doing 70 on the highway..They covered the towing and the replacment.all FREE,.works Great now...........put 25,000 miles on since and no problems

 

[Gold Rush]

I just responded to a post on another board. The poster had seen this thread and was asking questions. Here is my reply:

"Hey Randy, I read about that spacer on TT board and even talked with the OP on the phone about it. I do have some vibration but think it's tire related not drive shaft. While I had my '06 on the lift doing a U-Joint lube and inspection I ran the engine. Had some tire hop that I believe is the real cause of my vibration. Just to kicks I pulled the side cover (the one you pull to check oil level) and looked where the drive shaft fits on the engine output shaft. Mine was fully engaged. Really, the U-Joint input yoke was as far on the output shaft as possible. It's easy to check and then you will know... "

Short drive shafts can sure cause vibration but it's not the only cause. If you have this problem it's so simple to eliminate the drive shaft so you can move on if necessary.

 

[Rowdy]

I just responded to a post on another board. The poster had seen this thread and was asking questions. Here is my reply:

"Hey Randy, I read about that spacer on TT board and even talked with the OP on the phone about it. I do have some vibration but think it's tire related not drive shaft. While I had my '06 on the lift doing a U-Joint lube and inspection I ran the engine. Had some tire hop that I believe is the real cause of my vibration. Just to kicks I pulled the side cover (the one you pull to check oil level) and looked where the drive shaft fits on the engine output shaft. Mine was fully engaged. Really, the U-Joint input yoke was as far on the output shaft as possible. It's easy to check and then you will know... "

Short drive shafts can sure cause vibration but it's not the only cause. If you have this problem it's so simple to eliminate the drive shaft so you can move on if necessary.

That is not the location of the problem. It is that the drive shaft splines do not engage the yoke far enough. The best way to check this is pull the drive shaft and check for the marks on the drive shaft splines indicating the engagement depth.

 

[Tony T of I V E]

I had a problem with my 2008 GW with the drive shaft "knocking". Installer told me he couldn't hear it Then took it to my regular service mechanic, he took the "U" shaped safety loop off, hmm nothing, but the top FLAT part had "major" wear from the Drive Shaft not spinning right. Then guess what.. about 1/2 way home, the drive shaft fell out.
Thank Goodness MT covered it all under warranty. oh well.

 

[RRSCOTT]

I just got done checking the driveshaft and it is loose at the spline. It don't look like it is in there very far.

 

[RRSCOTT]

roscoe 07, your spacer is it round like the axle end or shaped to match the driveshaft end?

 

[Jakeboy]

This stuff is kind of scary to me. I'm looking for a trike conversion kit for my (as yet) un-purchased 2012 GW. I'm sold on the GW for a machine, just unsure about these types of issues. I'm conflicted and know that there are many satisfied owners of all makes of trikes, but I'm looking at my "last" machine and don't have a bottomless checkbook. I've been an avid bike rider for 42 years and just can't do two wheels safely anymore. I've had a titanium plate w/donor bones put in my neck on 12/15/2011 and shoulder surgery on 2/2/2012 for a macerated torn labrum (pins and stitches) and though the rehab hurts like hell, I'm bound and determined to bounce back. The neurosurgeon that did my neck said I was lucky not to have been paralyzed from the neck down after my last wreck. These surgeries were due to troubles that have occurred over the course of my riding life due to "spirited", riding. I wouldn't consider a trike, but my left leg has been weakened due to chronic sciatica. I try to ride my bicycle to keep it in shape, but other orthopedic issues prevent exercise on a regular basis.

All that being said, I'd like your thoughts. I'd love to talk with any of you that could provide some insights. Please PM me.

Here's an X ray of my neck from 1 week ago. My surgeon told me to take it easy for another three months.

When I woke up from surgery, there was a nurse right there that I mistook for an angel at first. She leaned over me and looked me in the eye and said "Dave, tell me when it doesn't hurt anymore". She gave me a shot of the "stuff", they give for pain for post op.

Turns out she was from Jamaica. I proposed marriage to her (she told me, I didn't remember). Ha ha!

[/IMG]

I thank God for modern medicine, but feel pain for those (especially the children), that couldn't be saved. That sucks big time. May God Bless us all.

 

[RRSCOTT]

Jakeboy, I went to a trike cause of my leg, turned to be my hip (needs replacement), but need to lose weight first. About half way there. I love my trike, just trying to keep going with no problems. Don't let this scare you away from a trike.

 

[roscoe 07]

roscoe 07, your spacer is it round like the axle end or shaped to match the driveshaft end?

my spacer is round same diameter as flange on rearend

 

[RRSCOTT]

Thank you! That's what I thought. Did you take it off or just measure it?

 

[roscoe 07]

took shaft to machine shop and showed them what i needed