CSC Daytona Problems

[olguy]

I haven't read of these problems and the guy who did the conversion last year had not either so I'm just throwing them out here. It's been howling for a while. Turns out a carrier bearing was bad. Also he discovered the shock spring was rubbing the top of the shock. CSC said it was probably a bad shock although the shock was not leaking yet. CSC shipped a shock Tuesday so we'll see. Shop guy said it looked like the spring has a bend in it but he has one on the shelf if necessary. And the mufflers are slipping on the pipes although the clamps are as tight as he can get them. The kit has 10K on it.

The guy told me CSC had some carrier bearing problems a couple of years ago and redesigned the carrier housing and they had not reported any problems with the new design.

Still love it though.

[CSCguy]

Good thing they have a 3 year warrantee for such issues and it looks like they fixed it free of charge.

The spring would bend if the shock was bad since a spring doesn't have any lateral strength and if the pipe won't tighten I'd assume your installer used the wrong size clamps.

The weight loads are fairly important when you order b/c of the mono-shock design they use... if the trike was setup for a 150lb guy with no luggage, and you are a 350lb couple with 150lb of luggage and a trailer you will blow the shock quick. I'd make sure your shock preload is set for your weight (installer/dealer/or tech publication) and if you are a heavy guy/loader consider buying one of CSC's heavier duty springs for your new shock.

[olguy]

As I read the specs the stock suspension is set up for 650 lbs. More than enough for me and a couple of changes of clothes and no passenger. As for the clamps they were provided by CSC who told him to just tighten them some more. He will get some better clamps.

[Rick Kay]

I hate to hear about problems, and I hope the new shock takes care of your problem. Glad that CSC took care of you...

[CSCguy]

It sounds like you need the dealer to look at your preloader height. CSC's Daytona guide shows 600 lbs at 10-7/8" and 700 lbs at 10-11/16".

You don't want to use some high arbitrary weight.

[Mr.Wizard]

Muffler slippage could be due to the older style rubber cushion located at the rear of the trike. The conversion guys would have used your old ones. HD changed the design and made the rubber cushion a little longer. Sounds like a trip to HD is in order.

[olguy]

Muffler slippage could be due to the older style rubber cushion located at the rear of the trike. The conversion guys would have used your old ones. HD changed the design and made the rubber cushion a little longer. Sounds like a trip to HD is in order.

When did HD change? I bought the 2012 Electra Glide in Mar, 2012. I'll check with the parts dude tomorrow when I pick up my V&H X pipe.

[Mr.Wizard]

Going to guess but I think they changed to the larger rubber mount in 2011.

The smaller one is about 2" long as the longer one is twice as long.

[Sloufoot]

Going to guess but I think they changed to the larger rubber mount in 2011.

The smaller one is about 2" long as the longer one is twice as long.

I never have measured mine Wiz, but I also try to put the mounting bolts the same on each side of the bracket. When the rubber slides to one end, it can't get out of the mounting loop. It just hits the bolt head & nut on the muff.
Kind of strange they don't put a shouldered rubber that can't slide,,,,, but then again Harley is Harley...... But there is still a gap between bolts. I think he has more trouble with clamps than mountings.
Mine is a 2012.

[olguy]

The Super Trapp tunable mufflers that CSC uses just slide on metal to metal. The clamps they provided were the old radiator style (for lack of better description) that have one screw to tighten. They were as tight as the tech could get them but did not squeeze the muffler pipe to seal it, let alone keep it from rotating. The reason they were slipping is the shock failed and when the scoot would bottom out the boucing caused the exhaust pipe to bang against the lower A frames. Enough times and hard enough to actually dent the A frames. In the photos you can see the shock spring bowed and also the wear on the shock. The muffler mounting bushings are also in bad shape. Hopefully I'll get it back Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. No ride for 3 weeks is really getting on my nerves.

[Rick Kay]

The Super Trapp tunable mufflers that CSC uses just slide on metal to metal. The clamps they provided were the old radiator style (for lack of better description) that have one screw to tighten. They were as tight as the tech could get them but did not squeeze the muffler pipe to seal it, let alone keep it from rotating. The reason they were slipping is the shock failed and when the scoot would bottom out the boucing caused the exhaust pipe to bang against the lower A frames. Enough times and hard enough to actually dent the A frames. In the photos you can see the shock spring bowed and also the wear on the shock. The muffler mounting bushings are also in bad shape. Hopefully I'll get it back Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. No ride for 3 weeks is really getting on my nerves.

Daaaang! Hopefully you'll be on the road sooner, rather than later.

[olguy]

It sounds like you need the dealer to look at your preloader height. CSC's Daytona guide shows 600 lbs at 10-7/8" and 700 lbs at 10-11/16".

You don't want to use some high arbitrary weight.

The length of the spring for different weights depends on which spring is installed As I said, CSC thinks it's a failed shock.

[CSCguy]

It's definitely a failed shock.

The disconnect here is I was trying to say that if the shock is not properly adjusted it can cause failure. If it bottoms out a few dozen times, sayonara. I suspect you are a good size guy, ride with a passenger and a trunk full of cargo and never set the shock after you purchased the bike???? ammirite?

[olguy]

As I understand it the kit came from the factory with the shock set for 650# load. As I weigh 275, have never had more than 40 or 50 lbs cargo and never have a passenger that should be sufficient.

[bikerbillone]

I have read about some CSC drive train problems, can't speak to yours. What can ya say, "nothing is perfect".

[olguy]

I have read about some CSC drive train problems, can't speak to yours. What can ya say, "nothing is perfect".

My dealer told me there were quite a few carrier bearing failures a couple of years ago. Enough that CSC redesigned the bearing housing. I doubt if I will ever know why the bearings and shock failed on mine. Still like it though. Stuff happens.

[bikerbillone]

Oh yes, stuff does happen. Most are happy with their trike selection.

[CSCguy]

As I understand it the kit came from the factory with the shock set for 650# load. As I weigh 275, have never had more than 40 or 50 lbs cargo and never have a passenger that should be sufficient.

Hence why I posted the shock heights from CSC's manual.

Last try here - The SPRING/SHOCK itself is rated for UP TO 650 pounds with the preload adjusted for it (full-tilt). OTHERWISE the shock/spring is only rated at what your preload is adjusted for.

Look at the round adjuster nut on your spring... when you crank it down on the spring you increase the load capacity of the unit. Think it out with me here - if there is little preload on your spring (aka, riding closer to the bottom on the shock) and your 300 pounds hits an uneven section of road where does the shock rod go? TO THE BOTTOM of the shock housing, right? When it hits the bottom of the housing, where does the rest of the energy go? USUALLY, the rod tries to go vertically and tears thru the shock housing. At a minimum, the seals bust.


I have a lot of experience in the automotive suspension world, so I'm sorry if what I consider basic is not so much to you... not trying to sound anything but helpful.

CSC will probably send you a heavier duty spring and you'll never have to worry about it again. If your installer is decent, he'll know how to set the preload. Ask him to explain how it's set when he puts your new shock on. Happy trails.

[olguy]

Just spoke with my installer. When he removed the shock spring it was actually bent. CSC is sending a new one. Maybe I'll have it back by Friday. I know how the load weight is adjusted. And I have discussed this at length with my installer. The settings depend on which spring, expected load etc. And it's not something an owner needs to do. My installer has been doing this for 8 years so I'm confident he knows how to set up the shock. He has also been CSC dealer of the year a couple of times.