New Motor Trike Driveshaft??

[JaysGone]

Since Ive owned my bike used but still under warranty till October.
Ive had the CV joint seals replaced on both sides.
Since this has been fixed.
Ive had a little noise.
When letting off of the throttle and then gassing it back up.
Regardless of the gear Im in.
There has always been a slight klunk for lack of a better word.
I know its a universal joint clunking someplace.
Just wondering out loud here.
Without calling MT and asking........
If maybe the new drive shaft is in order??

What do you guys think???
Should I make a 3 hour ride to an authorized dealer and have it checked out by them??
Truthfully any of you who read my 1st posting here.
I had my troubles getting the bike fixed soon after buying it.
MT and a local bike shop did work it out eventually to a degree.
I ended up with a very large out of pocket expense for me back then.
But a 3 hour ride with no guarantee its going to be looked at isn't something Im in a hurry to do.
Unless I can make an appointment with said dealer??
MT couldn't help me in that way last time.
Its not possible for me to leave the machine for days out of town like this.
Just thinking out loud here.........

[roscoe 07]

motor trike has a new design driveshaft give them a call they say they will replace old shaft with new if you are having shaft problems they are suppose to be sending me one when they get a shipment in they have taken good care of my small issues

[bustedwing]

One way to find out is to jack up first one side (rear) then the other side. Grab the tire and turn it forward then backward listening for the sound you are talking about. There is a difference between a cvu joi, which goes between the differential and the axil, when a u joint is in a drive shaft, although some 4x4 use them in the front drive shaft. If you hear the noise in one side but not the other then more then likely you do have a cvu joint going bad.but it doesn't take a bike shop to fix it, a good tech can do it if you know one. Good luck.

[JaysGone]

One way to find out is to jack up first one side (rear) then the other side. Grab the tire and turn it forward then backward listening for the sound you are talking about. There is a difference between a cvu joi, which goes between the differential and the axil, when a u joint is in a drive shaft, although some 4x4 use them in the front drive shaft. If you hear the noise in one side but not the other then more then likely you do have a cvu joint going bad.but it doesn't take a bike shop to fix it, a good tech can do it if you know one. Good luck.

Thanks for the diagnostic tips.
Im such a novice at trike mechanics.
I can rebuild a car engine do almost anything to a V-Twin.
This GW.........................another world.

Last time I did as you suggested, I found the play is in the yoke at the rear of the driveshaft where it goes into the differential.
For whatever reason, I have full floor boards<aqua shields> Ive never been able to see the front of the driveshaft.

Both CV joint seals were replaced in January.
It only makes the clunking sound as I give it gas between shifts.
If it were a car Id be looking at the drive shaft universals.
This bike with its spring loaded drive shaft is a mystery.
Having nothing to go on Im not sure whats normal vibration or play and what isn't.

Ill take another peek today.
Again thanks.

[JaysGone]

motor trike has a new design driveshaft give them a call they say they will replace old shaft with new if you are having shaft problems they are suppose to be sending me one when they get a shipment in they have taken good care of my small issues

If you spoke with Richard.
How did you approach the drive shaft replacement??
What are your symptoms??
I already feel like a cry baby with this bike.
I had spoken to Richard several times prior to buying the bike to make sure the warranty was transferable and bought it on his say so that it would be.
I then had a lot of issues having a local shop do the CV joint repairs. MT sent parts under warranty and I got stuck for big labor charges.
I just don't honestly know what its should be, and whats normal or acceptable.
I have very minor vibrations and the klunking sound which if Im easy on the throttle doesnt happen.

I bought this used from an out of state dealership and it would seem the PO just rode it and didn't do any maintenance at all in 3 years.
I only had an acquaintance in Texas give it a visual inspection.
Then bought it on his report.

Thanks
Jay

[RRSCOTT]

Your noise sounds like it is coming from the front u joint. Where the back shaft goes into the front u joint. I have that in mine. I waiting for a new driveshaft from my installer.

[JaysGone]

Your noise sounds like it is coming from the front u joint. Where the back shaft goes into the front u joint. I have that in mine. I waiting for a new driveshaft from my installer.

If your reply is for me?
Today a real strange thing happened and i thought I blew up the trike.
I was accelerating onto the Interstate doing about 60ish in 4th and all of sudden it started to bang around in the what Im guessing is the driveshaft area.
I grabbed the clucth pulled it in and shifted into 5th and kept going.
It seems fine now.
But that scared the heck out of me???
Never heard a rattelling and banging like that before.

Maybe a ghost shift at 3K rpm??
I dont really know.
I am going to have it looked at soon.

Jay

[roscoe 07]

If you spoke with Richard.
How did you approach the drive shaft replacement??
What are your symptoms??
I already feel like a cry baby with this bike.
I had spoken to Richard several times prior to buying the bike to make sure the warranty was transferable and bought it on his say so that it would be.
I then had a lot of issues having a local shop do the CV joint repairs. MT sent parts under warranty and I got stuck for big labor charges.
I just don't honestly know what its should be, and whats normal or acceptable.
I have very minor vibrations and the klunking sound which if Im easy on the throttle doesnt happen.

I bought this used from an out of state dealership and it would seem the PO just rode it and didn't do any maintenance at all in 3 years.
I only had an acquaintance in Texas give it a visual inspection.
Then bought it on his report.

Thanks
Jay

i talked to richard he knows im on my 3rd driveshaft the last shaft lasted about 1000 miles mine was too short i had a spacer made so my shaft engaged in front yoke further richard gonna send a new shaft so i dont have to have a spacer call me if you have any questions david 979 798 9360

[JaysGone]

Thanks David.
Im going to try and get my local to look at it on saturday, but odds are he wont while I wait and Ill have to leave it.
Only one guy thats qualified to do trike repair in the shop.
So Ive never been able to get it my way yet.
Ill let you know for sure.
The trikes riding fine after that scare on Monday.
I was affraid Id get home shut it down and that would be it.
So again Im going to feel like a fool if it shows nothing..........

Its one of those if it isnt obvious......it doesnt exist till you break down.

[JaysGone]

Well
Ive spoken to a few folks that know a thing about high horse power and weak transmissions.
More or less what I described to those who do know from racing engines and wrong gearing.
What I more then likely suffered from that day was "Gear Lash".

In other words in 4th gear at 3500-4K rpm the Honda transmission just aint up to it. Loading it up if not 100% fully in gear it will do what my bike did.

Now I don't know if this is common or a 1 time deal wrong rpm at the wrong speeds.
But I know what I wont make a habit of doing anymore with this 6 cylinder engine.
Also I was told to take the clutch lever off of its softest setting and move it up a number or two. That in itself might have contributed to it NOT being fully in gear.

[JaysGone]

Your noise sounds like it is coming from the front u joint. Where the back shaft goes into the front u joint. I have that in mine. I waiting for a new driveshaft from my installer.

You hit the nail on the head.
100% correct diagnosis.
I hope your current shaft is in better shape then mine was.
Im lucky Im still here to type this.
The driveshaft was totally shot in my case.
Read my newer post about what went on today.

[RRSCOTT]

My new driveshaft came 2 weeks ago. works great!