I have had my Reverse Motor replaced 5 time now. How many others are having the same problems? My last one only put 2000 miles on bike before it went out. I am sick a hell over this. Is HD every going to fix this problem? Your guess is as good as mine.
Reverse Motor keeps breaking
- Thread starter scubadog40
- Start date
Hi William and welcome to Trike Talk. I've no first hand knowledge having put 24k on my 2018 TG and now have a new 2020 TG but I've heard and read of failures with the reverse motor. But you problems definitely sound excessive even for the 'ordinary' problems. So a couple questions that may help you and many of the others who reply here to identify what is going on.
What year is your Tri-Glide
How many miles
Does the circuit breaker trip. If so how often.
How do you use reverse? It is only for short spurts - not long term engagement and definitely not for backing up inclines. These things will no doubt contribute to an early failure.
I try to limit its use when riding two up. I'll back it out before my co-rider mounts.
And of course it may be possible there is some sort of installation / fitment problem that is contributing to the early failure of the motor. I've never removed / installed a reverse motor but is it possible for some sort of misalignment.
You definitely need a competent dealer / indy to investigate this it seems to me. This is not normal even by Harley standards.
Good luck in remedying this problem.
prariepilot
150+ Posts
First time mine went out ('13 TG), it got replaced with a Motor Trike Mechanical Reverse w/ Safety Lockout. Why? Rebuild the MoCo motor at $295 a pop, and you'll just keep rebuilding it. Replace it with a new one, you have to pay for it at $1700 plus labor and you'll replace it again and again. Spend $1800 plus labor ($2200 total in my case) and it's done! I can back up anywhere for as long as I want and as fast or slow as I want (as long as I can keep it under control). Been running mechanical reverse for about five years now with absolutely no issues!
First ' William Let you welcome you to Trike-Talk.....Second what year is it....
With my 2011 Tri....I took mine out four times my self before i bit the bullet and put in a Mechanical reverse.....Problem resolved...
I do like the idea of a mechanical reverse but I think that could present problems with Harley's factory warranty and some ESPs if installed. I read the installation instructions for the product mentioned and while it looks very well engineered it does involve mods to the trans and the wiring system. Not all have such warranty concerns but for those who do I would consider the implications.
Fearless
Gone But Not Forgotten
sorry to hear
Sad you are having so many problems with the reverse motor not wanting to hex myself I believe our 09 has the OEM on it. I have not had any issues with it at all. I want you to know I only use on the level and not for extended periods doing so. I am very fortunate not to need it often, I pick my stopping and parking places very very carefully and will not use it unless it is absolutely necessary. I have heard so many horror stories such as yours I am very careful when and how I use it. Good luck a mechanical may be the best route of your purposes. Travel safe Fred
I cleaned our frame up last year and again this that reverse motor is no fun to get at with the body on let me tell you. the dirty one is 8 years of crudd
Sad you are having so many problems with the reverse motor not wanting to hex myself I believe our 09 has the OEM on it. I have not had any issues with it at all. I want you to know I only use on the level and not for extended periods doing so. I am very fortunate not to need it often, I pick my stopping and parking places very very carefully and will not use it unless it is absolutely necessary. I have heard so many horror stories such as yours I am very careful when and how I use it. Good luck a mechanical may be the best route of your purposes. Travel safe Fred
I cleaned our frame up last year and again this that reverse motor is no fun to get at with the body on let me tell you. the dirty one is 8 years of crudd
Actually its not too bad.....But then i had practice at it [4 times]...I disconnected the wires to the solenoid taped the ends and then zipped tied them out of harms way ,Then just unbolt the two bolts holding the motor to the frame....All this was while going in from the right side with out jacking up the trike or removing the rear tire ;
;AKA Caveman Style......:laugh:....
DK Custom Products
Sponsor
I've had 2 or 3 replaced, under warranty, since 2011. I use mine whenever I want. Sometimes days go by without using it, other times I may use it 5 times in one day. I do try and limit backing up hill with it.
Having 5 failures, with one of them being after 2000 miles...that is not usual.
Are these replacements new HD units or a 3rd party rebuilt? Is reverse used a lot in going up hill or in sand, etc?
Might be time to go with a mechanical and be done with it.
Kevin
Having 5 failures, with one of them being after 2000 miles...that is not usual.
Are these replacements new HD units or a 3rd party rebuilt? Is reverse used a lot in going up hill or in sand, etc?
Might be time to go with a mechanical and be done with it.
Kevin
Jack Klarich
Guest
Welcome to Trike Talk
Sorry to hear your problem
My understanding is HD is only rebuilding the motors now, it sounds like your problem is not being addressed properly
What do your repair orders show?
Sorry to hear your problem
My understanding is HD is only rebuilding the motors now, it sounds like your problem is not being addressed properly
What do your repair orders show?
Yeah baby...Reverse motor for sale
Welcome aboard, William!
So far at 29,000 miles, no issues yet. I do Like Fearless, don't use it any more than needed. I watch where I park & let gravity do the work. And short bursts only & never up hill. Hope you get it sorted out, does not sound normal to me, based on your info so far.
So far at 29,000 miles, no issues yet. I do Like Fearless, don't use it any more than needed. I watch where I park & let gravity do the work. And short bursts only & never up hill. Hope you get it sorted out, does not sound normal to me, based on your info so far.
May be just lucky. I used mine whenever I wanted. Have slight incline in drive & backed up it many times. Just traded the 16 on a 20. Had 45,000 miles on it & no reverse problems at all. Sorry to see all your troubles. Actually I don't remember ever having the breaker pop either.
- Thread starter
- #13
Mine is a 2014 with 25000 mile on it
Mine is a 2014 with 25000 mile on it. I took out extra warranty when I got my bike and it has saved me a lot more then the cost as I am on my 5th one. Mostly use it when taking it out of garage. It has only tripped the breaker a hand full of times. Every time it goes out not doing any thing crazy.
Mine is a 2014 with 25000 mile on it. I took out extra warranty when I got my bike and it has saved me a lot more then the cost as I am on my 5th one. Mostly use it when taking it out of garage. It has only tripped the breaker a hand full of times. Every time it goes out not doing any thing crazy.
- Thread starter
- #14
I have had it replaced at 3 different HD Shops. This thing is driving me nuts as I am disabled and can't push it bake on my own. Good wife pushes me back when it breaks. After warranty is out will find different kind.
DK Custom Products
Sponsor
Good to hear you have the warranty...that is what saved me too. But 5 times is far too many. What a hassle.
Kevin
bikerbillone
3000+ Posts
I find it odd that scubadog has not answered the questions.
He did say he will keep on replacing them..[Harley only rebuilds them now]... ''Till' the warrantee is over, So that means going to a mechanical down the road...:Shrug:..
Jack Klarich
Guest
I would like to see his Repair Orders to confirm exactly what the dealer is doing
I agree here. Hard to diagnose online really. I'm just curious if it had a burnt spot in the armature or field coil or both and they throw it on a high amp battery, get it to turn, and reinstall it and call it good. Could be brushes, tap on it and it works again for awhile. But I would get the battery load tested. If they have not already. A dead cell can burn up a starter, reverse motor. And does not really show up on a trickle charge or charger. Everything else may work fine.
Jack Klarich
Guest
Yes indeed, the tapping breaks the carbon arc just enough to turn the motor over a bit but does NOTHING in the long term health of the motor
Fearless
Gone But Not Forgotten
Not a so called starter repair shops are created equal
I had a 68 torino and was having starter problems so I went to where i thought was a good place to get it fixed. My Father said he most likely would not take it there ah what would he know anyway... long story short he's a very wise man ended up paying for two. Sometimes you never know could be just bad luck sound odd though. Just sayin Fred
I had a 68 torino and was having starter problems so I went to where i thought was a good place to get it fixed. My Father said he most likely would not take it there ah what would he know anyway... long story short he's a very wise man ended up paying for two. Sometimes you never know could be just bad luck sound odd though. Just sayin Fred
Reverse
I had a warranty when I bought my used trike. The reverse died 2 weeks before it ended used it 4 times. It took 3 weeks to get the new one! I put a manual reverse in at the same time.
Used the new electric twice, love the manual one. I grew up with manual reverse on my police bikes in the 60's.
I had a warranty when I bought my used trike. The reverse died 2 weeks before it ended used it 4 times. It took 3 weeks to get the new one! I put a manual reverse in at the same time.
Used the new electric twice, love the manual one. I grew up with manual reverse on my police bikes in the 60's.
The reverse motor on the Tri-Glide .....Is not a starter motor....It is a High Torque low spinning electric motor...The factory motor on my EX-2011 was made by Hitachi..
First welcome.
After reading many stores the first time mime quit. I installed Motor Trike Mechanical Reverse. With the knowledge of what was to happen if the stock reverse motor was replaced. Replacing with the Motor Trike Kit has been worth every cent.
In my option save your money an do it once. No matter witch after market you choose! Good luck with your choice!
After reading many stores the first time mime quit. I installed Motor Trike Mechanical Reverse. With the knowledge of what was to happen if the stock reverse motor was replaced. Replacing with the Motor Trike Kit has been worth every cent.
In my option save your money an do it once. No matter witch after market you choose! Good luck with your choice!
Thats the one i used on my 2011 Tri...And i found out that its much smoother with the engine off.....Pull the cluch in slide the lever into reverse still holding the cluch in and then start the engine, Then ease off the cluch and back right out..ThumbUp....
Reverse motor repair
My reverse quit last spring. During the summer, I found a local automotive electrical repair shop close to home (Precision Power, Lansing, MI) and took it in. He'd never seen the Harley setup before, but said it was a common small starter motor with a gear reduction added to it. Took him about a week to have time to get to it, but I had it back the next week. Damage mainly was the motor brush assembly was melted and the solenoid contact was burned. The brush holder was a standard Hitachi part, the solenoid a 12 volt Mitsubishi. He said to use genuine OEM parts, as there are knockoffs for both of those parts. (I'll do it myself next time)..
Apparently the duty cycle for this application is about 1%.... (7 seconds on, 700 seconds off)
My reverse quit last spring. During the summer, I found a local automotive electrical repair shop close to home (Precision Power, Lansing, MI) and took it in. He'd never seen the Harley setup before, but said it was a common small starter motor with a gear reduction added to it. Took him about a week to have time to get to it, but I had it back the next week. Damage mainly was the motor brush assembly was melted and the solenoid contact was burned. The brush holder was a standard Hitachi part, the solenoid a 12 volt Mitsubishi. He said to use genuine OEM parts, as there are knockoffs for both of those parts. (I'll do it myself next time)..
Apparently the duty cycle for this application is about 1%.... (7 seconds on, 700 seconds off)
That's how I use mine
Reverse broke by dealer
Took the wife's 2014 in for another issue and an oil change due to lack of time for me to handle. She seldom ever uses the reverse and only when she absolutely has to. We left for Sturgis right after getting bike back from dealer. As we were short on time trailered bikes to the rally. Got there and went to unload -- no reverse to back out of trailer --- GRRRRR! Rode the rally and did a bit of trip before being able to get back to dealer which of course said it wasn't their fault --go figure.
Reverse is still out and need to get it fixed --- not sure what to do -- what is difficulty factor on the Moto trike unit??
Tks
Took the wife's 2014 in for another issue and an oil change due to lack of time for me to handle. She seldom ever uses the reverse and only when she absolutely has to. We left for Sturgis right after getting bike back from dealer. As we were short on time trailered bikes to the rally. Got there and went to unload -- no reverse to back out of trailer --- GRRRRR! Rode the rally and did a bit of trip before being able to get back to dealer which of course said it wasn't their fault --go figure.
Reverse is still out and need to get it fixed --- not sure what to do -- what is difficulty factor on the Moto trike unit??
Tks
I let the dealer do it.....17 hundred with an oil change total.....When the reverse was optional on Tri-Glides 09 and down......He would install the Motor Trike reverse for the same price as Harley was charging for the electric one.......
I bought a Champion mechanical from PaPa it's the one he uses and put and end to HD's BS installed it myself and when I ease out on the clutch I KNOW it will back up
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