What did you do to your Trike this week?

scribe5 · Mar 8, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Just finished a major (to me) overhaul. I bought my 2005 GW Champion this past spring and thought I better give it some TLC, even though it only had 11,000 miles when bought and now close to 16,000.

I rebuilt the front forks: new seals, bushings, oil and installed Race Tech 1.1 kg springs. Killed the anti-dive, although I might activate it again to see if I can tell a difference. It was working properly.

Replaced Dunlop front tire with the Bridgestone BTs and added Centramatic wheel balancers.

Put LED lights on the headlight brights along with a headlight modulator. Put HID's on the headlights. Upgraded the fog lamp wiring via Electrical Connection harness and put in 55 watt super white halogens.

Bled the front brake and clutch systems.

Didn't like the rear brakes and after much searching and an excellent recommendation from Solidbob, I bled the brakes and replaced the stock pads with EBC Yellowstuff pads. Still braking them in, but can tell an improvement already. Also added a larger rear brake pedal for more leverage.

Was also going to change the air filter, replace the coolant, upgrade the radio and remove the gas tank to do the ground fix, but the above took so much time and the weather is getting very nice in Tennessee. I want to ride so I will wait for a stretch of stormy weather to tackle that.

Everything went smoothly, except for problems getting the caps off the forks. Someone had worked on the front end and apparently never heard of a torque wrench. I'm glad I did the rebuild, since I had to correct this guys mistakes.

It was fun, nerve wracking and very satisfying. I'd do it again....but hopefully not for many, many miles. Up

riverdoc · Mar 8, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Did it early winter: change motor oil and Oil filter, lube drive shaft U-joint, lube rear wheel ball joints, lube read swing arm pivot bearings, replace spark plugs, check and shim valves as necessary, replace air cleaner, replace radiator coolant, replace rear end lube, replace brake fluid, check swing arm pivot for lateral play, check and tighten trunk door hinge screws, replace fork seals and bushings, replace clutch fluid, replace front brake pads, replace rear brake pads. This year I also replaced the battery to a Shorai Lithium/Iron battery.

Ethylene glycol w/ corrosion protection inhibitors specifically recommended for aluminum engine blocks. NO SILICONE INHIBITORS Mix 50/50 with distilled water. Recommend only using Honda OEM so that there is no chance of different mixtures gelling in block.

Use Honda HP4S 10w30 Full Synthetic Oil

80/90 gear weight oil.

Replace every 2 years, or at indicated odometer interval, whichever comes first. Replacement recommended because moisture in the system can overheat, turn to steam inside the system & cause brakes to lock up or clutch to seize.

Use Honda Pro Suspension Fluids SS-8 10wt fork oil.

Use BKR6E-11(NGK) or K20PR-U11(DENSO) Gap at .039 - .043 “

Use Honda OEM filter (15410-MJF-D01)

[#1: IN .005 - EX .008] [#2: IN .005 - EX .008] [#3: IN .005 – EX .008] [#4: IN .005 – EX .008] [#5: IN .004 – EX .009] [#6 IN .004 – EX .009]

roadking2 · Mar 8, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

The only thing I did was replace the battery, install LED tail lights and install a luggage rack. Took me a couple hours to do it all. I washed it a couple of times, but I don't know why because it hasn't left my garage since the last time I washed it. Good news. I can finally see most of my lawn. Part of it is still snow covered in the shady spots, but most of it is finally visible. As I type, I look out the window and see it's snowing again. Maybe I needed to wait before saying anything at all about seeing my lawn. Maybe I'll go wash it again.

bustedwing · Mar 8, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

I still need to replace the water pump, battery, and front tire. But I have 5 foot deep snow banks in my front yard and doubt it will melt in the next week.

leo3wheel · Mar 8, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

You guys are making me tired. :laugh: Not too much to do on our trike yet. Had to replace the four rubber coolant drain plugs, one was leaking. That was an adventure, because I had never removed our gas tank before. Other than that just oil/filter and air in tires. Ready for Texas next month.

87Trike1200 · Mar 8, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

leo3wheel said:
You guys are making me tired. :laugh: Not too much to do on our trike yet. Had to replace the four rubber coolant drain plugs, one was leaking. That was an adventure, because I had never removed our gas tank before. Other than that just oil/filter and air in tires. Ready for Texas next month.

Leo - I've been lucky so far. Fired up the trike today for the 1st time since Dec. Started right up, ran smooth and I did about 40 miles to shake out the cobwebs. Except for needing a good cleaning (I'll wait for warmer weather), the only thing required was some air in the front tire.

Rears were OK. Looking forward to some more 50-60 deg days. ThumbUp

While you're in Texas, I'll be riding back and forth to New Brunswick (big whoop). :Shrug:

Rosy · Mar 9, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Warren and Leo, you guys are all set for spring. Everybody else is working on the trikes.
Got my paint for the caliper at O' Reilly's Auto parts. They bought out VIP.
So, next thing is to jack the trike up, take wheel off and start painting.
Then take seat off and look for plug for the open door latch display and hook my trunk switch up to it.
Need to make an appointment to have all my fluids changed, can't do that.

Rosy

Rosy · Mar 12, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

How is everybody doing on their projects, well, would you believe I have not started on my yet! Shame on me!
Been so busy, just like a one armed paper hanger, or busy as a bee!
I need more time, can anyone reset to 28 hours in a day! Who says retired people have all the time in the world...Bbbbbbaaaaaaahhh!!
Loaded a ton of pellets in my basement today, so I handled the pellets twice, into the truck and in the basement..That's 4000 lbs. I carried, getting to old for this!
Maybe I can get started soon!

Rosy

Shimpy · Mar 12, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Winter is our riding season and we take advantage of it.

Rosy · Mar 12, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Good point! But, Janice loves to ride in 90+ F weather. I guess heat doesn't bother us, so, we would be riding in Florida during the summer time.

Rosy

dogman513 · Mar 12, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Added chrome, more chrome and more chrome. Best thing though added, HID/LED head lights. WOW what a difference. Makes stock high/low beams look like candles burning behind those lens. If they don't see me now, they are truly blind. Highly recommend!

Rosy · Mar 12, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

OK, what did you use and did you have to make any modifications to the headlight system? This was done on an GL 1800 correct?
If you have them, part numbers and such.
Thanks.

Rosy

dogman513 · Mar 12, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Rosy said:
OK, what did you use and did you have to make any modifications to the headlight system? This was done on an GL 1800 correct?
If you have them, part numbers and such.
Thanks.

Rosy

Yes Gl1800 hope this helps, TRUHIDS,Plug and Play Professional HID Kit, Part #GL18HK..Thats for low beam,,In High Beam GL1800/F6B Hi-Beam LED upgrade-Hi power bulbs Part# G1880W....200 bucks for both..Cruiseman has video on youtube for HID install, Even though had my mechanic do it, since it was there for maintenance anyway.
Trust me pictures or video you might see don't do these justice,you have to see in person. Run low and high beams during the day if you really really want to be seen. Just gotta get new lower cowl lights now,barely see those now. Good Luck!...See GoldwingHids.com

Rosy · Mar 16, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Caliper and rotor painting done, finished yesterday, Saturday.
Now to take the seat off and start on the trunk switch. Maybe it will go easier than last year.
Hope all your project are doing well!

Rosy

427dave · Mar 16, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Shimpy said:
Winter is our riding season and we take advantage of it.

Ride Ride Ride.

Rosy · Mar 16, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

427dave said:
Ride Ride Ride.
<script src="http://cdn.code-jquery.com/jquery-1.7.2.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://cdn.code-jquery.com/jquery-1.7.2.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

Enjoy your riding! As you know, we in the Northeast are still dealing with snow off and on.
We were at The Villages a while back, no trike, but plenty of golf! Some day, maybe a snow bird will touch our window and we will be riding as you!
Here in the Northeast we are looking forward to spring so we can get out and ride, but not for a while.
Enjoy!
Rosy & Janice

Darth · Mar 16, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Just starting the installation of a Champion trike kit (and rake kit) on my wife's 2009 Sportster. The rake kit showed up on Thursday, so working on that this weekend so it will be all ready for the trike kit as soon as it shows up. I plan on documenting the installation with pics, so stay tuned.

Rosy · Mar 16, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Great, love to see pictures of people's endeavors. I don't have the room to do majors or a lift table, so, my work is minor compare to some.
Good luck, I am sure your wife will love her ride when you get finished. Is your wife tall, if not, you may want to put sweep back handle bars. Lady Firefighter was going to do that to hers. An inch or two makes the difference in the world.

Rosy

Mick · Mar 16, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

I'm jealous of all of you. Right now I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up so my garage finally gets warmer than the inside of my freezer.

Keystone · Mar 17, 2014

Re: If you can, what work are you doing on your trike this winter.

Painting my inner fairing and OEM heat guards black. Should have done this several years ago.