shock mount on motortrike

[3W-lonerider]

was on a trip last week and the upper shock mount stud broke clean off the frame. had to ride it with the trike leaning badly for another 250 miles before i could get it fixed.
how many others here have had the same fate.
and heres my question to motortrike
why would'nt that stud be the whole way threw the frame and be welded on both sides. instead of just being welded on one side.
with the shock sticking away from the frame at least an inch that puts alot of stress on that frame mount..
BTW. it was not the weld that broke. it was the frame that broke around where the stud is welded in.

[msrvpeig]

I've owned two Motor Trikes, put 30k on the first one and have over 80k on the second one. No issues with the shock mounts.

[3W-lonerider]

ok..looks like i'm the only one this has ever happened to. story of my life. if it's virtually impossible to happen i can achieve it.

[haddont]

My mechanic told me that one of the problems with a Motor Trike is that they put the shock mounts at an inefficient angle so you can't get full use out of the air bags. It also makes it almost impossible to maintain a consistent pressure in the shocks. I suppose the weird angle would also place extra stress on the mount. Other than cutting the mounts off and moving them so they would be straight up and down he didn't have a fix for the issue. I'll try to remember to have him check for stress cracks around the mounts the next time I have it in for service.

[3W-lonerider]

i agree with your mechanics assesment on the shock mounting.

thing of it is. when you put enough air pressure in the bags to compensate for potholes and such. when you hit a frost heave the seat will drive your spine straight up threw your neck. not enough pressure and you hit a dip it feels like the whole backend is going to be rippped off. there is no happy medium.

my original airbags got weather cracked and started leaking. contacted motortrike and found that the new airbags, the ends are plastic. so i found a set online from a company in florida that i bought a set from. now these airbags are twice the size as the ones motortrike uses. the original airbags i had to keep at least 35 to 40 psi in them to at least get a half desent ride.

The new airbags, i keep 15 lb. in the for just me and 20 lb. in them when the wife is on. first time the wife rode with these new airbags i went on a road that we were on before that is extremely rough. before she would be all tensed up waiting for the potholes and heaves. after we got threw the rough part she asked me when they fixed the road.. i told her they did'nt. thats the difference between the old and new airbags.

One thing i did do was drop a size in tire width. because the new bags are only 1/2 inch away from the tires.

You would not believe the ride difference. like going from a pinto to a lincoln. i do have a solution to the shock issue.

if and when it breaks again. i'll be cutting the ends off the tubes that stick out holding the shock mounts. and welding solid stock into those tubes. drilling a hole threw the solid stock and using shoulder bolts threw them.

if i'm on the road and break a shoulder bolt no big deal. replace it and keep on trucking. the main thing about the shock situation that really irritates me though. is the fact that they made the mount on the bottom so the eye of the shock had to be welded to one side. this makes it almost impossible to switch to another brand shock. here is the link to the new airbags i put on mine. if anybody else might be interested.

800lb Sleeve Air Spring - 1/8" Port Air Bag

now they claim this airbag is 6 inches collapsed and 10 inches extended.

when i put mine on i only had to pull the airbag down 1 inch to get the bottom bolt in. and theres still sleeve up in the bag. so i'm thinking more like 13 extended. but these new bags are awesome.

[haddont]

3W-lonerider,
You said you went to one size narrower tire. I currently have 225/60 15 on my trike. did you go to a 215/60 15? I bought the new airbags you mentioned and am waiting for the mechanic to put them on. What size tires did you get and have you had any rubbing issues?
Thanks,
Tim

[3W-lonerider]

i went with a yokohama 215/65/15.

which kept the tire at the same height as stock but went narrower by 1/2 inch. i had no rubbing problems with the stock tire even with it being as close as it was.. i just felt more comfortable and ease of mind giving alittle more room for the air bag.

let me know how much you like those bags. and post on this site whether you like them or not.

i love em... like i said my wife and i togather go around 500#. stock bags we had to maintain 40 psi. these new bags i maintain 18 to 20 psi.

you have to hit a pretty good sized hole to bottom it out and it still gives us a very nice cushy ride without launching us off the seats when we hit humps.

[skuuter]

My mechanic told me that one of the problems with a Motor Trike is that they put the shock mounts at an inefficient angle so you can't get full use out of the air bags. It also makes it almost impossible to maintain a consistent pressure in the shocks. I suppose the weird angle would also place extra stress on the mount. Other than cutting the mounts off and moving them so they would be straight up and down he didn't have a fix for the issue. I'll try to remember to have him check for stress cracks around the mounts the next time I have it in for service.

Just a "Little Note" here....and not saying this wouldn't work for You, but if You change the angle location of the air bag (this is basically Your spring on the Trike), You also are affecting the "Spring Rate".....this is why Race Cars have several Spring/Shock Locations...sometimes changing an angle has the same effect as changing a Spring Poundage Rate.....