My Poor Leaning Lehman

VT IF IT WAS MINE AFTER 2 MONTHS OF WORKING ON THIS & IT STILL HANDLES LIKE CRAP, I WOULD PART IT OUT & BUY A NEW ONE. IT MUST HAVE A BENT FRAME OR BENT REAR AXLE HOUSING IF IT ONLY DOGS ON ONE SIDE MORE THAN LIKELY WAS A SALVAGED BIKE ONCE UPON A TIME ??? GOOD LUCK

I built her from scratch Road Dog. The bike had less than 10k on it and I got my hands on a brand spanking new kit from a dealer that would sell me one back when I converted it. I had never ruled anything out, but I am pretty sure all that is solid. I think I have just about whipped it. If I had raked it years ago, we would not even be having this discussion. There are still a couple of weak spots in the swing arm design up through the 2000 models. HD changed from those silicone-filled swing arm busings to solid bearings just after the 2000 model year and those things naturally have some "mush". I think that is all I am left with and the next time I have 2-days with nothing to do on my hands and feel like it...I will change those out and stick something like Stabo bushings in there.

This was a pretty lively thread at one time. I need to cap it off with some good advice, which a few of you like me had already suspected.

I had helped my leaning problem greatly with the TG tree rake, but had commented that if I ever got the chance, I would trash those swing-arm cleave-blocks that us older rubber mounted motor folks were still running. The TG tree conversion helped it enough to prevent me from pushing the detonator handle and igniting all the C4 I had under the trike. Anyway, I had the occasion to rip out the rear end and while I was in there, I did install a set of Sta-Bo bushings and trashed the jelly-filled cleave-blocks.

WHAT a difference! I made all my routine testing loops (curves) and this thing now feels glued to the road. I am not promoting Sta-Bo and there are other manufacturers out there that make suspension improvement products. If you happen to have an early model, I think like 02 or earlier and plan to trike the thing, the first thing you need to do is eliminate the cleave-blocks with either a bushing or bearing kit. I have noticed only a very slight vibration in the floorboards, which is suppose to diminish as these bushings run-in. I don't care.....falling over in a right hand curve was my problem and I can live with the foot-tingle.

I found this thread interesting, because my MT VTX sometimes sags hard on a sharp right turn, sometimes not. I'm no where near the mechanic you sound like. I double checked my tire and shock pressures, and played around a little. I also crawled up under the kit, not sure what I was looking for, but found nothing that seemed loose or bent, or rotted rubber.

The only thing that made a difference was bumping the adjustable shock on the right rear one notch higher than the left. That's taken most of the sag out. I guess I'll replace the shocks, thinking the right one is weak.

Steve...I think Wizard has a MT, but his is on a late model frame and he would not have had those thing's (cleave blocks) that I was talking about. I do assume yours is a straight axle kit also. I tried different shocks during my investigation process, along with motor mounts and stabilizer links....anything that could move under stress....I swapped or eliminated and this included the tires. If you are not raked, the problem will be more noticeable. Raking mine took away much of the lean and made it rideable, but the sway never really disappeared. It is rather interesting that you and I have/had right hand turn problems. Don't overlook things as simple as tire pressure. I had to run mine up close to 30psi to hold it up so it would make a RH turn. Alignment....everything has to be aligned as close as possible. You have to eliminate any serious yaw.

I honestly don't know what a VTX is...but the swing-arm to transmission (or motor) to frame connection has to be rigid...within reason. A new shock may fix yours right up, but I would think that if you have a problem in RH turns....it would be the LH shock in question. That's where the load would be transferred to...the left side in a RH turn.

I can tell you how to check the alignment fairly easily if you want to PM me.

Good luck!

1550vt said:

Steve...I think Wizard has a MT, but his is on a late model frame and he would not have had those thing's (cleave blocks) that I was talking about. I do assume yours is a straight axle kit also. I tried different shocks during my investigation process, along with motor mounts and stabilizer links....anything that could move under stress....I swapped or eliminated and this included the tires. If you are not raked, the problem will be more noticeable. Raking mine took away much of the lean and made it rideable, but the sway never really disappeared. It is rather interesting that you and I have/had right hand turn problems. Don't overlook things as simple as tire pressure. I had to run mine up close to 30psi to hold it up so it would make a RH turn. Alignment....everything has to be aligned as close as possible. You have to eliminate any serious yaw.

I honestly don't know what a VTX is...but the swing-arm to transmission (or motor) to frame connection has to be rigid...within reason. A new shock may fix yours right up, but I would think that if you have a problem in RH turns....it would be the LH shock in question. That's where the load would be transferred to...the left side in a RH turn.

I can tell you how to check the alignment fairly easily if you want to PM me.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

Yes, that is confusing me some. When I make a sharp right, the right side of the trike frequently sags alot. It feels similar to having a very soft tire on that side. The force is going towards the left side, so I wouldn't expect the right side to sag. The bike was level. When I cranked the right shock up one notch, the left side went down 1/4 inch, the right didn't change. It handles fine to the left, before and after I adjusted the shock.

Weird.........

Yep...that sounds a bit weird, because you are throwing the weight away from the RH side. Must be a case of something "digging in" on the right as opposed to "laying out" on the left. I hope I am making sense....I am beginning to wonder myself.

Can you simply swap your shocks from one side to the other and see how it affects things. This..".it does it sometimes thing" will be even harder to catch. My thing did it's thing ALL the time.

1550vt said:

Yep...that sounds a bit weird, because you are throwing the weight away from the RH side. Must be a case of something "digging in" on the right as opposed to "laying out" on the left. I hope I am making sense....I am beginning to wonder myself.

Can you simply swap your shocks from one side to the other and see how it affects things. This..".it does it sometimes thing" will be even harder to catch. My thing did it's thing ALL the time.

Click to expand...

Good idea.

my first trike was a Leman---because of Leman's unwillingness to talk to me as a customer--i would never own another

Big_Steve said:

Yes, that is confusing me some. When I make a sharp right, the right side of the trike frequently sags alot. It feels similar to having a very soft tire on that side. The force is going towards the left side, so I wouldn't expect the right side to sag. The bike was level. When I cranked the right shock up one notch, the left side went down 1/4 inch, the right didn't change. It handles fine to the left, before and after I adjusted the shock.

Weird.........

Click to expand...

Could it be torque from the shaft drive powering through the rear??

John Lehman told me to drop the rear air pressure to 20 lb. I did and the trike handled much better and the tires wear more even. You don't need 27 lb. for the little the Trike weighs.