Trike with Goldwing front end wobble

[usnavy8084]

Trike is now 90% done, so I thought I would take it for an experimental ride. I used the front forks/triple tree assembly from my 1983 Goldwing Aspencade with air suspension. At about 25 to 35 mph you feel a wobble. It gets worse when you take one hand off the bars to shift gears. Seems to clear up at about 45 MPH. I have "old mock up tires" on the back and a new tire on the front and don't know how much affect this has. I know the dreaded "goldwing tank slapper" and this is pretty close to it. I understand it's a wide open question, but I could be missing the obvious so any help would be appreciated.

 

[saab9k]

I use ballance beads in my front. It took that away. Road star champion trike

 

[Gorilla]

you might not have enough rake or the steering head nut is to loose.

 

[usnavy8084]

Forks have 47 degrees rake. I'll check the stem nut per the Honda procedure. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[drumdoctor]

1--Check the balance on ALL the wheels.<br /><br />
The rear tires can also affect the front end.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
2--Raise the front end off the ground--stand in front of the forks--grab the forks and try to &quot;lift&quot; them--this will tell you if there is any play in the neck bearings<br /><br />
<br /><br />
3--Add &quot;Balance Beads&quot;<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Gotta be safe!

 

[usnavy8084]

Update - Still using old "mock" up tires on rear and have ordered the steering stem bearings. Reduced air pressure in all 3 tires to 22 PSI and test rode. Not much change. Temporarily added the original gold wing inertia weight to the forks and it helped somewhat. I think most of the wobble is from the sterring stem bearings. What are "balance beads, where can you get them and how do they attach to the trike? Thanks for the help.

 

[Nana]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>usnavy8084</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=137295#post137295" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
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<div class="message">Update - Still using old "mock" up tires on rear and have ordered the steering stem bearings. Reduced air pressure in all 3 tires to 22 PSI and test rode. Not much change. Temporarily added the original gold wing inertia weight to the forks and it helped somewhat. I think most of the wobble is from the sterring stem bearings. What are "balance beads, where can you get them and how do they attach to the trike? Thanks for the help.</div>

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</div>This link will tell you about balance beads. There may be other brands, but this is one well-known brand: <a href="http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.php" target="_blank">Tire Balancing Products</a>

 

[saab9k]

Have found that, when first starting, sometimes a little wobble.

Then after been at 45 -65 mph, then slow lown the wobble is gone, the beeds have found their place.

 

[classycustoms]

Any idea what your trail is? If it's not right, it will wobble. Think shopping cart front wheel.

 

[pastence]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>classycustoms</strong>
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<div class="message">Any idea what your trail is? If it's not right, it will wobble. Think shopping cart front wheel.</div>

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</div>Yes reduce trail!!!! You must have some trail but should be somwhere between 1.5 and 3 inches check your geometry and run front tire at 40 psi and tighten head nut more than stock.

 

[usnavy8084]

I will use Triker Don's Calculator and get back with you on trail. Thanks

 

[usnavy8084]

Trail measures 3 3/4 inches. Thanks for the help.

 

[usnavy8084]

Re: Trike with Goldwing front end wobble - solved!

Disassembled the front steering stem and removed the forks. Found damage to upper & lower steering stem bearings and the fork fluid was pink but smelled like 90W. Cleaned both forks and filled with new Dexron transmission Fluid. Replaced both steering stem bearings and torqued to 16 ft/lbs which is 5 ft/lbs higher than the spec. With 32 PSI in the front and rear tires, the trike handles like a dream. Problem solved.