Steering damper

[Scootergranny]

Just got a 2012 GL 1800 with Motor Trike conversion five days ago. All excited. Only 13,000 miles on her. Disappointed with the wobble, took her to a knowledgeable mechanic and he replaced the shock bushings, as they were collasped and had holes worn in them. The front tire is cupped, he thinks it may need a steering damper after tire replacement. I think Seeley stopped making them with the 2010 model year. If I DO need one, where can I get one. This bike is unrideable over 60 mph. In neutral on cement, engine off, the handlebars wobble when we push her. Help. Liz

 

[trike lady]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Congrats on the trike.

When you got the trike did they say if it had raked triple trees?

If they did you may want to have it re-torqued.

If not you may want to have it installed.

For some reason Motortrike doesn't feel you need raked trees, you do.

 

[David357]

Hey Liz,

:welcome: to Trike Talk from South Florida:wave4:

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

Worn shock bushing are fairly common on m/t. The ones I've replaced are rubber, and I replaced them with bushings made of a newer material that m/t supplied. I'm sure the newer material ones will last longer.

Assuming your rear suspension is now tight, I too would check the steering head bearings, and check to see that it has an easy steer triple tree. I believe m/t recommends a 4.5 deg. easy steer. You should have the one they recommend.

 

[Tricycleman]

I'm guessing you do not have a rake kit. Rake kit will have the heavy duty bearings typically the light duty OEM bearings are problem on trikes they produce this wobble your having

 

[Ozarkryder]

Welcome to Trike Talk Liz! I always recomend new trikers check out this link for tips from experienced trike riders: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/242-Making-The-Switch-Bike-to-Trike-Great-Info!

We had a GL1500 Motor Trike that did the same thing as you described. If lessened slightly with a new tire, and as mentioned above, a rake kit cured most of the problem. The rest was cured by slightly over torquing the steering head bearings over the stock specs. This is common with trikes. If you do not add a rake kit, replacing the stock ball bearings with a tapered roller bearing kit will help a lot. (Most rake kits do this as part of the kit.) One of the more popular tapered roller bearing kits fron Wings is, paradoxically, from a company called "All Balls"

 

[Scootergranny]

Trike all road worthy now

We do have a rake kit, and also the tapered bearings. The new Avon Cobra AV71 Trike tire on the front did the trick. But.....now when we start her up we see the main screen, but when we push trip to erase a trip, or info, we get no headlight adjustment screen or temperature screen. The steering stem was tightened, could something in there gotten knocked loose or unplugged? Thanks for the help. Liz

Welcome to Trike Talk Liz! I always recomend new trikers check out this link for tips from experienced trike riders: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/242-Making-The-Switch-Bike-to-Trike-Great-Info!

We had a GL1500 Motor Trike that did the same thing as you described. If lessened slightly with a new tire, and as mentioned above, a rake kit cured most of the problem. The rest was cured by slightly over torquing the steering head bearings over the stock specs. This is common with trikes. If you do not add a rake kit, replacing the stock ball bearings with a tapered roller bearing kit will help a lot. (Most rake kits do this as part of the kit.) One of the more popular tapered roller bearing kits fron Wings is, paradoxically, from a company called "All Balls"

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

We do have a rake kit, and also the tapered bearings. The new Avon Cobra AV71 Trike tire on the front did the trick. But.....now when we start her up we see the main screen, but when we push trip to erase a trip, or info, we get no headlight adjustment screen or temperature screen. The steering stem was tightened, could something in there gotten knocked loose or unplugged? Thanks for the help. Liz

There is connector under the meter panel for the 4 control buttons that operate the info display. To check its connection, pull loose the meter panel but do not remove it. The connection is under it and in front of the ignition switch area. It is best to check it while standing on the right side of the bike. If you have a flash light, you can see it without removing anything by turning the handle bars fully to the left and looking under the meter panel.