Need to pick some Brains

[eastkytriker]

My Goldwing/Motortrike has developed a wiggle at highway speed 70-75 just like you were turning the handlebars back and forth. My MPA front tire was showing signs of cupping so I put on a new BT-45, but the wiggle is still there. I run 41 and 26 psi in the front and rear tires. Now im thinking maybe loose or worn steering head bearings. Advice would be appreciated.

 

[DeltaDart]

<div class="bbcode_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote">
<div class="quote_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote_container"></div>

<div class="bbcode_postedby">
<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>eastkytriker</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=254822#post254822" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
</div>
<div class="message">My Goldwing/Motortrike has developed a wiggle at highway speed 70-75 just like you were turning the handlebars back and forth. My MPA front tire was showing signs of cupping so I put on a new BT-45, but the wiggle is still there. I run 41 and 26 psi in the front and rear tires. Now im thinking maybe loose or worn steering head bearings. Advice would be appreciated.</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>It's a good possibility the head bearings are loose or worn. I've tried to test mine but they are either tight or I don't know what I'm doing. Either is a definite possibility. <br />
<br />
Do you have a rake kit installed? I do and that may be another reason it's hard to tell... Just don't know.

Since you did the tire thing I'd guess the head bearing is the next best suspect.<br />
<br />
Let us know what you find.

 

[mhgoldwing]

In addition to the stem head bearings, I would also check rear tires closely for belt separation or some other issue. A problem with rear tires will often translate to front end problems on a trike.

 

[eastkytriker]

<div class="bbcode_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote">
<div class="quote_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote_container"></div>

<div class="bbcode_postedby">
<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>DeltaDart</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=254824#post254824" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
</div>
<div class="message">It's a good possibility the head bearings are loose or worn. I've tried to test mine but they are either tight or I don't know what I'm doing. Either is a definite possibility. <br />
<br />
Do you have a rake kit installed? I do and that may be another reason it's hard to tell... Just don't know. Since you did the tire thing I'd guess the head bearing is the next best suspect.<br />
<br />
Let us know what you find.</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>Yes I have 6 deg. rake, I have raised the front wheel and tried to shake the forks, no movement but the handlebars turn awful easy, maybe to easy.

 

[DeltaDart]

<div class="bbcode_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote">
<div class="quote_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote_container"></div>

<div class="bbcode_postedby">
<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>eastkytriker</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=254863#post254863" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
</div>
<div class="message">Yes I have 6 deg. rake, I have raised the front wheel and tried to shake the forks, no movement but the handlebars turn awful easy, maybe to easy.</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>That may be true. I forget what the pull force is but it should be noticeable. You should have tapered bearings so that is a plus. Might be worthwhile to check things out.

 

[mhgoldwing]

If you tried to pull forward on forks with wheel raised and didn't feel any slop, other than just a little inherent with fork bushings when front end extended, then I'd said the stem bearing are probably not causing the problem.<br />
<br />
Have you double checked front wheel that it is secured properly and tight? (Don't laugh, I had an installer leave all four of my fork pinch bolts loose.)<br />
<br />
have you checked front tire for separation or damage? Rear tires?<br />
<br />
Good luck chasing this one.

 

[eastkytriker]

<div class="bbcode_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote">
<div class="quote_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote_container"></div>

<div class="bbcode_postedby">
<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>mhgoldwing</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=254944#post254944" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
</div>
<div class="message">If you tried to pull forward on forks with wheel raised and didn't feel any slop, other than just a little inherent with fork bushings when front end extended, then I'd said the stem bearing are probably not causing the problem.<br />
<br />
Have you double checked front wheel that it is secured properly and tight? (Don't laugh, I had an installer leave all four of my fork pinch bolts loose.)<br />
<br />
have you checked front tire for separation or damage? Rear tires?<br />
<br />
Good luck chasing this one.</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>the problem started before the tire change and yes I installed the wheel myself and I checked everything pretty good, So im positive it is installed right.

 

[JaysGone]

Sometimes its as simple as a thrown wheel weight. Look for the tell tale marks of where a weight might have been. Such as a shinny spot on the rims edge or as plain as day the tape residue left from a taped on weight.
Of course if your using Ride-On or Dyna bead type balancing this wont be a cause.
With my Yamaha it was a loose head bearing to much slop. Easy to tell if when the fronts in the air. The Bars fall side to side without any help.
Good luck shouldn't be all that hard to figure out.
Just eliminate issues one by one.

 

[suvcw04]

Long shut, but, carefully check that the new tire's bead is seated equally all around the rim. Get as close as you can, spin it and watch to see if the raised rubber line on the tire seems to move in relationship to the rim. It should stay equa-distant all around.

 

[eastkytriker]

Sometimes its as simple as a thrown wheel weight. Look for the tell tale marks of where a weight might have been. Such as a shinny spot on the rims edge or as plain as day the tape residue left from a taped on weight.
Of course if your using Ride-On or Dyna bead type balancing this wont be a cause.
With my Yamaha it was a loose head bearing to much slop. Easy to tell if when the fronts in the air. The Bars fall side to side without any help.
Good luck shouldn't be all that hard to figure out.
Just eliminate issues one by one.

I have eliminated the tire because the problem started with the old tire.

 

[dirtdobber]

Not every time is a wobble caused by the front end. A lot of the times it comes from the rear.
Not saying it is one or the other. Just saying check the rear to, closely. If a axle lock came lose it can shake /vibrate/wobble.
It sounds like it did it all at once. No warning. If that is the case then I would be check other things. With tapper neck bearings I add 5 ft lbs more than it calls for. Much better handling. Each bike is different for neck bearing torque and many have different procedures for setting the neck bearings. I still use toque. I set it according to the make and then add 5 lbs.

hope you figure it out and by all means post the result here for us to learn from.

 

[eastkytriker]

Not every time is a wobble caused by the front end. A lot of the times it comes from the rear.
Not saying it is one or the other. Just saying check the rear to, closely. If a axle lock came lose it can shake /vibrate/wobble.
It sounds like it did it all at once. No warning. If that is the case then I would be check other things. With tapper neck bearings I add 5 ft lbs more than it calls for. Much better handling. Each bike is different for neck bearing torque and many have different procedures for setting the neck bearings. I still use toque. I set it according to the make and then add 5 lbs.

hope you figure it out and by all means post the result here for us to learn from.

Good info dirtdobber, I am going under the rear and see if I can find anything wrong. thanks for the post.

 

[razortrike]

Not every time is a wobble caused by the front end. A lot of the times it comes from the rear.
Not saying it is one or the other. Just saying check the rear to, closely. If a axle lock came lose it can shake /vibrate/wobble.
It sounds like it did it all at once. No warning. If that is the case then I would be check other things. With tapper neck bearings I add 5 ft lbs more than it calls for. Much better handling. Each bike is different for neck bearing torque and many have different procedures for setting the neck bearings. I still use toque. I set it according to the make and then add 5 lbs.

hope you figure it out and by all means post the result here for us to learn from.

What brand of rear tires are you running. I had a very simular problem on mine running cheap fuzion tires that came on my kit. I thought it was the front tire, then head brgs, put centramatics on and nothing worked. I put 2 new michelin defender tires on the rear and it rides smooth as silk. Had them road force balanced.

 

[eastkytriker]

What brand of rear tires are you running. I had a very simular problem on mine running cheap fuzion tires that came on my kit. I thought it was the front tire, then head brgs, put centramatics on and nothing worked. I put 2 new michelin defender tires on the rear and it rides smooth as silk. Had them road force balanced.

Got Goodrich T/A radials but they have some wear on them

 

[msrvpeig]

My first trike was a '93 1500 MotorTrike, and it developed a "wobble" when decelerating at about 55-60 mph. Turned out to be a bent driveshaft. Didn't wobble when accelerating or maintaining speed. Worth a look. Good luck with it, and be sure to let us know what it was when you find out.

 

[bustedwing]

I'm not sure about your model of trike, but if you haven't found the problem yet I have a few other things that you can check. I have seen the swingarm bushings that have a lot of slack, some are grease able but rararely see grease. When you are traveling fast with slop in the swing arm it lets the rear axle travel side to side giving you the same feeling. Also if one of the rear shock absorbers has leaked the fluid out, only one is trying to support the rear weight. If you can't tell if the shocks are working or not, you can first, go for a ride over an area with a lot of bumps then grab each shock, it should be at least warm. If you can't do that, you might have to take them off and work them by hand. You should be able to tell, if you feel resistance when you work the shock. If you feel none, that is at least part of your problem. Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[eastkytriker]

Thank everyone for your comments and advice, I now have a lot of things to check. Will let you know if I find the prob.

 

[Trikerbobbilly]

Very interested in what you come up with, I have a 2000 gl1500 with Motortrike conversion and have experienced the exact same problem, although it usually occurs at 80 mph and above but only when I'm riding solo, with my wife on back it tracks straight and smooth. I have noticed that when it begins to happen, if I push forward on the bars very slightly it will dampen the wobble and keep it from getting to the point that I have to back down on my speed. There is no play in my front end but I figure it is still in the stem bearings most likely they need adjustment, just haven't had the time to delve into it yet.

 

[eastkytriker]

Very interested in what you come up with, I have a 2000 gl1500 with Motortrike conversion and have experienced the exact same problem, although it usually occurs at 80 mph and above but only when I'm riding solo, with my wife on back it tracks straight and smooth. I have noticed that when it begins to happen, if I push forward on the bars very slightly it will dampen the wobble and keep it from getting to the point that I have to back down on my speed. There is no play in my front end but I figure it is still in the stem bearings most likely they need adjustment, just haven't had the time to delve into it yet.

Your problem sounds exactly like mine, When it starts you can look down at the handlebar and see them moving back and forth

 

[kwputt]

Roger our 2012 developed a vibration in the front with around 5000 miles on it. Turned out to be one of the rear tires had a belt separation problem. Two new Michelin tires fixed the problem.

 

[Trikerbobbilly]

Your problem sounds exactly like mine, When it starts you can look down at the handlebar and see them moving back and forth

About a month and a half ago I put a super brace on mine and have not experienced the wobble again, this makes me think it's not so much as a problem in the stem bearings but possible looseness in the forks themselves, allowing them to flex at higher speeds. The super brace defiantly adds stability to the front forks, there is a lot of praise on this site and other wing sights for the super brace.

 

[eastkytriker]

About a month and a half ago I put a super brace on mine and have not experienced the wobble again, this makes me think it's not so much as a problem in the stem bearings but possible looseness in the forks themselves, allowing them to flex at higher speeds. The super brace defiantly adds stability to the front forks, there is a lot of praise on this site and other wing sights for the super brace.

Thanks for the comment, But I already have a super brace.

 

[eastkytriker]

Roger our 2012 developed a vibration in the front with around 5000 miles on it. Turned out to be one of the rear tires had a belt separation problem. Two new Michelin tires fixed the problem.

Kwputt, Thanks for the comment that's kinda where I'm looking now. Ive about eliminated everything else but I hate to spend 318.00 for two tires and it not help. I guess it could be worse.

 

[msrvpeig]

Kwputt, Thanks for the comment that's kinda where I'm looking now. Ive about eliminated everything else but I hate to spend 318.00 for two tires and it not help. I guess it could be worse.

Get your rear tires spin balanced, that will tell you if there are any belt problems before your forkout $$ on new tires, you may not need.

 

[LASER]

Get your rear tires spin balanced, that will tell you if there are any belt problems before your forkout $$ on new tires, you may not need.

I also suggest you have the tires "Road Force" balanced. I had my tires balanced twice the conventional spin balance method and still had vibrations. Having then Road Force balance was the silver bullet.

 

[eastkytriker]

Want to thank everyone for their comments on my wiggle problem. It ended up being the rear tires, A new set of Michelin Defenders and it is now going straight (Thanks Kwputt you were right on) So now I got new treads all the way around, New Brakes and new Water pump, Only prob. now I don't have any money left to ride.

 

[Lucky]

Want to thank everyone for their comments on my wiggle problem. It ended up being the rear tires, A new set of Michelin Defenders and it is now going straight (Thanks Kwputt you were right on) So now I got new treads all the way around, New Brakes and new Water pump, Only prob. now I don't have any money left to ride.

If you have not changed them those tires were put on when it had 52000 miles on the bike. Would be interested in how many miles they lasted. RIDE SAFE

 

[eastkytriker]

If you have not changed them those tires were put on when it had 52000 miles on the bike. Would be interested in how many miles they lasted. RIDE SAFE

Lucky, I had 108,500 when I changed the rear tires, So that's about 56,500 miles and still had enough tread for that many more miles, but I guess a belt separated.

 

[Lucky]

Lotta miles! Great to see she is still going strong. RIDE SAFE