Tow Pac Bearing Questions Also Light on Rear Fender?

I would feel my bearings after a hour or so on a hot day in Alabama and the left side would be warmer by far than the right side of my Tow Pac installed on 01 Gold Wing 1800. I took wheel off left side plenty of grease so I added some by packing the bearings inside and outside bearing put it all back on. It has bearing buddy addition and one bra was cracked so replaced both. Right side grease had plenty and looked better than left side so did nothing to that side just put new bra on it. Bearings looked good on left side had plenty of grease but I can not figure why it get warmer than right side any ideas from anyone. All adjustments as to tightness of bearings were the same on each side. I did not knock inside bearing out just looked at outside it was like new so reached in with finger and packed inside bearing and it had plenty of grease or so it seemed. It is not getting super hot but can feel a difference between the two sides. Tire pressure is the same 40 on each side 41 in rear tire on GW. Other part of my question it has a small triangle single white light in front of fender on both sides right side good left side burned out but not sure where to look for replacement. Looks like led light it is clear single light in middle of triangle which is about 1 &1/2 inches long. Any ideas on bearings or light appreciated. Bike rides great with Tow Pac. Thanks guys

If both bearings were adequately packed and adjusted nearly the same, perhaps the wheel height adjustment is different side to side, loading the bearings differently...

Additionally, thinking out loud here, if road crown in your area is such that the road surface might be putting more downward force (same as wheel height adjustment) on the left hand wheel, that might be contributing to slightly more heat on the left hand side...

Might also be just bearing differences... If you own a infrared digital temperature gun, you might check temperatures with that and see what variation there is...

Les

dadztoy said:

If both bearings were adequately packed and adjusted nearly the same, perhaps the wheel height adjustment is different side to side, loading the bearings differently...

Additionally, thinking out loud here, if road crown in your area is such that the road surface might be putting more downward force (same as wheel height adjustment) on the left hand wheel, that might be contributing to slightly more heat on the left hand side...

Might also be just bearing differences... If you own a infrared digital temperature gun, you might check temperatures with that and see what variation there is...

Les

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Thanks will take the time to really observe the road surface next ride I had thought about the road difference.

noting to do with the bearing problem but you don't need all that pressure on those tires. The don't carry any weight.

cavie said:

noting to do with the bearing problem but you don't need all that pressure on those tires. The don't carry any weight.

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Most on here say 40 lbs in each tire for bike to track correct with out any problems. That is where mine are and it rides and handles fine but I can see your point but if I take the tires down two pounds at a time till I fine an area that seems fine I might give it a try. I can drop two pounds at a time go ride it come back do two more but will have to see if that does not work will go back to 40 lbs like it is now and let ur ride. Thanks Larry

All I can tell you from a few years of experience with my wife's rig is that I have NEVER had the bearings feel warm, even on long trips in hot weather with all day riding.. I check the tire alignment every so often and have found that to be out a little a couple of times. Getting the alignment in is a REAL pain in the behind, but worth the effort in handling and tire wear. I also completely remove the bearings and clean them and the axle and wheel housing EVERY year, and/or before a long trip, depending on mileage since last redo. Her's is an older one with the small wheels/tires. She carries 40 lbs in her tires also, and don't believe those tires don't carry weight, because they do. It's yer ride and yer $$$, but if it were mine, I'd have those bearings off and cleaned and new seals installed. Just because the drums are full of grease means nothing. A failed bearing or blown tire on one of these can only result in......well, you figure it out........

bilgebreath said:

All I can tell you from a few years of experience with my wife's rig is that I have NEVER had the bearings feel warm, even on long trips in hot weather with all day riding.. I check the tire alignment every so often and have found that to be out a little a couple of times. Getting the alignment in is a REAL pain in the behind, but worth the effort in handling and tire wear. I also completely remove the bearings and clean them and the axle and wheel housing EVERY year, and/or before a long trip, depending on mileage since last redo. Her's is an older one with the small wheels/tires. She carries 40 lbs in her tires also, and don't believe those tires don't carry weight, because they do. It's yer ride and yer $$$, but if it were mine, I'd have those bearings off and cleaned and new seals installed. Just because the drums are full of grease means nothing. A failed bearing or blown tire on one of these can only result in......well, you figure it out........

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Thanks for the tips-- Tires seems to be in line it handles good and wear is even across the tires mine has the larger tires on it. I use to build on a small scale pontoon trailer and sort of know my way around shop stuff but first time with a tow pac attachment. I am going to remove the bearings again on left side all the way the outside one looked good but I know at times it is the inside one that shows the most wear. Will surly check all that again we are retired and work camp traveling different seasons and working in campgrounds with our home base in Ala where we come twice a year. I still have my shop area so going to really look into this much more before we go to next job and if I find nothing this time I will have to assume that it is the extra pressure as to crown of the road being more on left side but will see. Yep I know about not wanting to have a problem on the road riding. I thank you for you info always appreciated ride safe. Larry Collins

seeing said:

Thanks will take the time to really observe the road surface next ride I had thought about the road difference.

Click to expand...

Road crown would be my guess also. Left side would have to have a little more weight/downward pressure on the bearings due to the crown.

ps. Had a TowPak for a couple years and after a stop of nearly 400 miles (with a couple old man breaks), I took a HF infrared temp reading and both hub areas were relatively the same.

It is possible that both tires are not in contact with the road at all times. The left being on the crown is.

All very good replies and FWIW, I too run about 40 PSI in my Tow Pac tires... The guys at Tow Pac told me that you should be just be able to pull on the tire and rotate it when it's in contact with the ground... That's how I adjusted my wheel height and the bike rides very well and shows no sign of tire wear...

Alignment is not difficult, just a bit tedious as I find I have to remove the fenders while doing it... See Shelbylen's post about his homemade wheel alignment tool - mine is similar and taking your time and getting good alignment will pay off in tire longevity at a later date...

Les

Hi TP friends, I own a 1995 GW Aspc. Lives in Namibia, Africa, and are busy installing my Insta Trike 12" kit imported all the way from the US. I do not quite get the idea of the wheel alignment method described here. Please help. Running a Continental 175/75-16 on the rear and 155R12 Hangkooks on the outrigger. Hav'nt been out riding as installation is not finished yet due to tire delivery delay.

Welcome Willem,

glad to have you on board the forum... Take a look at the first 2 pictures in the link below and I think it will become clear of what wheel alignment is...

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/21724-Tow-Pac-Alignment-amp-Darkside-Tires

In addition to the parallel alignment shown in the link, you also want to be concerned with downward force on both wheels... That is accomplished by the adjustment nut on the back of the InstaTrike kit -see your manual for that adjustment... Downward force on the wheels should be such that when grabbing the Tow Pac wheel with both hands, you can JUST break the wheel loose from the pavement...

And as a last bit of information, most of us with 12" wheels run 40 PSI in the Tow Pac tires...

Welcome aboard,

Les