noise in turn

[WEB]

Hey guys,I've been a member here for a a few years but haven't been on for a while.I have a problem that I am sure someone on here has come across.When I turn to the right I sometimes hear a noise coming from the right rear of the trike,oh yea,the trike is a 2005 Ultra with a champion conversion.The noise seems to be more regular with a passenger,you don't always hear it but sometimes.I have tried to research this on this site,from what I have read a guess would be maybe a wheel bearing but I would like to hear from the guys in the know.Thats the beauty of a great forum like this.Thanks in advance for any and all help,sorry I haven't been around for a while,I will try to do better.SEEYA

 

[WEB]

Hard to believe nobody has any ideas.I talked to local harley shop,they have it right now,they are talking some kind of $2100 bill to take care of it,they were just guessing ,but that is what they thought.I need some help guys.They are talking the whole rear end being lose and some kind of kits plus totally dissambling the trike.Has anyone had any experience like this.Help

 

[trikermutha]

Have you checked the wheel bearings etc??

 

[MontgomeryLittle]

I'm new to trikes and don't want to waste your time. And not realy knowing how your rear end is constructed my reply is probably a waste as well. Could be wheel bearing, maybe an axle bearing. And my guess is the cost is mostly labor and or damage that an axle or wheel bearing could cause to other parts of the rear end. Back in the 1980's, when I was just a out of high school kid, it cost me around $500 bucks (and mostly junk yard parts) to repair the damage to a Ford Pinto rearend from an axle bearing. That was parts I did the work myself. I was told some of the kit bikes have similar rear ends. And I know some are independant suspensions as well so I'm sure thats a whole different ball of wax.
Again sorry for a reply that offers no real help. But lately I've read on here about a wheel coming off after service work and a new conversion veering off the road and no reason listed yet. So count your blessings. And I felt compelled to reply after you waited 4 minutes between post. Someone will be along shortly.

 

[WEB]

I don't know what the 4 minute comment is about,that is 12 hours and 4 minutes.I have just got off the phone with champion and they put me in touch with the closest champion warranty dealer,may be headed in the right direction.

 

[1550vt]

Could be lots of things and it could be an inner axle bearing and not an outer axle bearing, or the diffy halves coming apart. It sounds to me like they may think it is inside, or at the differential. If that is the case, the axle will have to be dropped and the halves parted to get to that inner bearing. That is a good-sized job and at dealer prices.....they may want $2,100 to do it.

Obviously, it must not be a dragging or loose brake shoe (or caliper if disc) or an outer bearing...all which would be much simpler to fix.

WEB....the problem is that none of us can hear, or feel what you do. If it was in my yard....I bet I could tell you, but anything we could say at this point would be a guess.

 

[oldman]

Take it to a champion dealer it gould as simple as a rock between the fiberglass and frame thai make the noise.

 

[WEB]

Thanks guys,I understand that it is impossible to figure out a problem by somebodys discription on a computer.I basically was just interested to see if this seems to be a common problem,doesn't sound like it is.I appreciate the response and ideas.I hope to find out more today and plan on taking it to the authorized Champion repair shop saturday.Have a great day and thanks.

 

[1550vt]

I hope it is just a loose bracket, or a bolt....something real silly that can easily be fixed. The dealer that wants the $2,100 and can't define the problem in more detail, is either uneducated, trying to rip you off....or actually recognizes it's a serious issue.

Keep us posted.

Good Luck!

 

[bullet 10]

WEB, check your front motor mount, had a 99 roadking motor trike kit had to replace 2 front mounts in 120,000 miles. Went to the velvet drive mount and had no trouble since. Engine will contact frame in a turn. Bad Wheel bearing will rumble at about 20 miles per hr. going straight down road. If in swing arm think it would do it any way your turn.

 

[WEB]

Thanks for the suggestions guys,it goes to the champion warranty dealer today,I will keep you posted on what he finds out.I like about all of the options EXCEPT the one the dealer came up with.

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

Web, mine would do that and it was a bolt that came out on the motor mount.

 

[WEB]

Sorry I haven't got back before now.The gentleman that Champion recommended to look at my trike could not find a thing wrong with it,he checked the brakes,wheel bearings ,wheel centers,everything he could think of.Mark,the guy that did the work,super nice and very thorough,rode the trike multiple times and only heard the noice a couple times but could not pinpoint where it was coming from.I ride it everyday and it still rides great but I still hear the noise every once in a while,no worse,no better.

 

[1550vt]

I worked with a guy over the phone for a while on a "noise on right turn only issue" and we never did solve it either. His was a Honda 1800 kitted with a Lehman Monarch. I finally came to the conclusion (he did too) that if it was nothing obviously wrong...ride it and if it was something wrong.....it would eventually find itself and let you know.

Then there was a case of a guy that chased a noise until he pulled-back the carpet in the back of his trunk and found a rattling shock air-hose fitting tapping the inside of the trunk. The installers duct tape had came loose.

U never know.

 

[screwball]

Have you brought this subject up on the General Trike forums. This forum is for Harley Trikes, the rear ends on a Tri Glide and a Champion Conversion are different
'
Good Luck!

 

[msocko3]

Have you brought this subject up on the General Trike forums. This forum is for Harley Trikes, the rear ends on a Tri Glide and a Champion Conversion are different
'
Good Luck!

I'm pretty sure this section is for the Triglide and Conversions, at least that is what the title says.

 

[WEB]

I don't really have any long rides planned right noe so I think I will just continue to ride it and see if if the noise occurs more often or gets worse in any way.I agree that it could be something really simple,new noises sometimes freak me out.I also agree that my understanding was that this site is for factory built tri glides and conversions,my bad if it isn't.

 

[Nana]

Yup -- Any HD trike whether factory built or a conversion like my Fat Boy / Champion kit is included in the Harley section here.

 

[1550vt]

Not to be in serious disagreement with anybody here.....there are some differences, but not that much. Usually...a straight axle...is a straight axle...is a straight axle. They all pretty-much use the same basic design. Some of them have slightly different methods of attachment and hardware, bearings can be different, but the belt-drive straight axles are pretty close to being alike.....especially the Champion. It's about as close as you can get to a Lehman and not call it a Lehman. The TG drive-train is a Lehman design as well.

 

[screwball]

I'm pretty sure this section is for the Triglide and Conversions, at least that is what the title says.

OOoops, my bad. Should never make assumptions.

 

[1550vt]

screwball.....that's how we learn. There ARE some minor differences, but I speak in "generic" terms when I say they are all pretty much close to being alike. Somebody could beat me up and say one model uses 5-lugs as opposed to 4-lugs, One has DNA calipers and the other may use Wilwood, or the TG has removable fenders....etc., but they are all cousins.

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

screwball.....that's how we learn. There ARE some minor differences, but I speak in "generic" terms when I say they are all pretty much close to being alike. Somebody could beat me up and say one model uses 5-lugs as opposed to 4-lugs, One has DNA calipers and the other may use Wilwood, or the TG has removable fenders....etc., but they are all cousins.

I agree until we speak of straight axles and independant axles, then it can be as wide as a raging river. I just saw the problems a friend of mine is having with his trike kit. I have 40k miles on mine with only a faulty brake spring in that many miles. His has several problems one being serious and he's only got 7k miles on his.

 

[1550vt]

Yes....I was referring to a straight-axle.