High Speed Shake

I have a 1995 Gold Wing with a Motor Trike conversion. During the last two years, this is the third time I have had it in the shop trying to get rid of a high speed shake. On the interstate usually at 60+ MPH, after hitting a bump or going on an overpass, or when it is extremely windy, my trike starts shaking violently - the entire trike. It is so bad, that people following me can see the shake quite easily. I slow down a bit, and it quits shaking. I have had two mount brackets at the front welded, front tire replaced two years ago, back tires replaced this year and spin balanced, also had to replace the drive shaft this year, because as I took off one day, there was a horrible clanking sound.

Now my trike is in the shop again still trying to get rid of the shake, and I am told that it needs two new progressive air shocks. I believe them that the shocks are shot, but the ride wasn't bad, except the shaking at high speeds. If I thought the shocks would fix the shaking, I would replace them immediately, but they said they can't promise that will fix it. Have any of you had the same problem, and how did you fix it? Thanks.

triker.mullins said:

I have a 1995 Gold Wing with a Motor Trike conversion. During the last two years, this is the third time I have had it in the shop trying to get rid of a high speed shake. On the interstate usually at 60+ MPG, after hitting a bump or going on an overpass, or when it is extremely windy, my trike starts shaking violently - the entire trike. It is so bad, that people following me can see the shake quite easily. I slow down a bit, and it quits shaking. I have had two mount brackets at the front welded, front tire replaced two years ago, back tires replaced this year and spin balanced, also had to replace the drive shaft this year, because as I took off one day, there was a horrible clanking sound.

Now my trike is in the shop again still trying to get rid of the shake, and I am told that it needs two new progressive air shocks. I believe them that the shocks are shot, but the ride wasn't bad, except the shaking at high speeds. If I thought the shocks would fix the shaking, I would replace them immediately, but they said they can't promise that will fix it. Have any of you had the same problem, and how did you fix it? Thanks.

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I have a friend that has a GL1800 that did that same thing when he first bought it. Turned out to be what I think is called Hili joints or something like that. They are adjustment to align the trike chassis to the bike. Once three of them were adjusted and tightened and the fourth one replaced all is well... Hope that helps. :xszpv::xszpv:

Gold Rush said:

I have a friend that has a GL1800 that did that same thing when he first bought it. Turned out to be what I think is called Hili joints or something like that. They are adjustment to align the trike chassis to the bike. Once three of them were adjusted and tightened and the fourth one replaced all is well... Hope that helps. :xszpv::xszpv:

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I think youre talking about the HEIM joints.

triker.mullins said:

I have a 1995 Gold Wing with a Motor Trike conversion. During the last two years, this is the third time I have had it in the shop trying to get rid of a high speed shake. On the interstate usually at 60+ MPH, after hitting a bump or going on an overpass, or when it is extremely windy, my trike starts shaking violently - the entire trike. It is so bad, that people following me can see the shake quite easily. I slow down a bit, and it quits shaking. I have had two mount brackets at the front welded, front tire replaced two years ago, back tires replaced this year and spin balanced, also had to replace the drive shaft this year, because as I took off one day, there was a horrible clanking sound.

Now my trike is in the shop again still trying to get rid of the shake, and I am told that it needs two new progressive air shocks. I believe them that the shocks are shot, but the ride wasn't bad, except the shaking at high speeds. If I thought the shocks would fix the shaking, I would replace them immediately, but they said they can't promise that will fix it. Have any of you had the same problem, and how did you fix it? Thanks.

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Do you have a rake kit on your trike?

mick said:

i think youre talking about the heim joints.

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that's it!!!!!

Bazooka said:

Do you have a rake kit on your trike?

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A rake kit will make a heck of a difference at High and low speed shake. Make sure bearings are good and torqued properly.
Also, how is front tire balanced..weights, Dyna beads, Rideon, etc.? A tire slightly out of balance will be very noticeable at higher speeds. Also do you have a fork brace, such as SUPERBRACE advertised on this site. I had high and low speed shake when I got my Trike but after installing the rake kit from Zook, and Superbrace, I have none at any speed. Also I run Dyna Beads for balance.

triker.mullins said:

I have a 1995 Gold Wing with a Motor Trike conversion. During the last two years, this is the third time I have had it in the shop trying to get rid of a high speed shake. On the interstate usually at 60+ MPH, after hitting a bump or going on an overpass, or when it is extremely windy, my trike starts shaking violently - the entire trike. It is so bad, that people following me can see the shake quite easily. I slow down a bit, and it quits shaking. I have had two mount brackets at the front welded, front tire replaced two years ago, back tires replaced this year and spin balanced, also had to replace the drive shaft this year, because as I took off one day, there was a horrible clanking sound.

Now my trike is in the shop again still trying to get rid of the shake, and I am told that it needs two new progressive air shocks. I believe them that the shocks are shot, but the ride wasn't bad, except the shaking at high speeds. If I thought the shocks would fix the shaking, I would replace them immediately, but they said they can't promise that will fix it. Have any of you had the same problem, and how did you fix it? Thanks.

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I went threw this with my trike this past summer.
usually the problem is either a bad heim joint or lose bolts going threw the heim joints.
but couldn't find either of those problems to be the result. what I did find was the drive shaft was getting some play in it. when hitting a bump it was going into an elliptical spin instead of running true.
that shaft was making the whole trike shake.
I replaced the shaft with the newly designed shaft that motortrike has put out and no more shaking.
btw. I have over 100,000 ,miles on my trike kit alone. 188,000 on the trike. and just this past year I finally had to replace a broken heim joint. it broke in the threaded part and not the joint. so I'd say these heims hold up pretty well.

First let me say that Motor Trike is one of few manufacturers that does not publish and installation or repair manual on their kits / none of them, they state they are dealer only items, as only trained installers need this information... WELL I BEG TO DIFFER.... I think a booklet should be furnished with all kits sold and reviewed with the installer when your trike is picked up... I guess they don't expect their kit owners to do any maintenance or work on their kit.

Well some years back George Patrick did this manual for 1800's but it also has items that reference adjustments of Heim Joints, ladder bars, shocks, alignments and other parts of Motor Trike Kits - as it doesn't cover everybody's kit please read thru the section of interest as you scroll thru the sections... a Special Thanks to George for Taking the time to revise the instructions. Hopefully it is of use for those that own a Motor Trike and here's hoping Motor Trike revises their policy regarding installation & owners manuals and starts coming into the 20th Century by providing information about their products to customers.

The following is provided for reference only, it does not pertain to all models and is specific for those models listed but could be used on other models:

http://www.junkmaster.com/kj5ix/MTServiceManual.pdf

Thanks to George Patrick for building this manual.... hopefully adjustments found here will be useful!!!

I had what sounds like the identical problem, but it never started until I changed front wheels (long story). Now have the original front wheel back on with balancing beads in the tire.

Start with the easy "stuff" first. Try about 3 ounces of balancing beads (Dyna Beads or Counter Act) and see if things improve. I have beads in all 3 tires just to cover all vibration possibilities.

Let us know how/what you do to solve the problem...

I had a very similar shake at 65 to 71 miles a hour on my 2012 GW CSC trike after chasing it for 15,000 miles it was the left rear wheel bearing.

I wish you a lot of luck in finding a fix to your shake, I have been chasing that problem on my 1500/motortrike for two years now. I have replaced the front tire, both back tires, cleaned, repacked and torqued the steering head bearings, serviced the forks with new oil and the shake is still there. The only thing that I have found to help was to increase the pressure in the rear tires from 23 to 28 psi it makes the sidewalls stiff enough to stop the side to side wiggle at highway speed. Sorry I couldn't be any more help.

My wifes 750 MT was doing the same thing. I had to replace all the bolts in the hiem joints because the bolt were egg shaped due to lack of maintaining them. I replaced them with grade 8 bolts. that took care of it. When we bought her the 1300 I replaced them with the grade 8's

This is just my 2 cents worth and not a reply to the OPs issue.
But I recently changed my windshield from the OEM to a National V-Stream.
I now have a wobble or shaking at 90+mph.
So Ive just learned to slow down a bit. In reality 80ish is my tops mph on the trike.
But had to check out everything.

As to the OPs issue.
More then likely too low a rear tire pressure or more then likely.
The Heim joints.