2000 softtail Leahman trike front end wobble

[WallyRay]

Bought 2000 Softtail with Leahman kit, has wobble in front end at all speeds. Previous owner was told by installing dealer this was normal for trikes, it has a stabilizer on front but no easy steer kit. You don't dare let go of bars at any speed the wobble is so violent I thought I broken two fingers trying to grab the bars. I have remounted the stabilizer, played with tire pressures, checked front and rear tire runout. Was wondering if easy steer kit would help? Anybody have any ideas? Unit only has 11,000 miles on it.:Shrug:

 

[Loner]

Sometimes there is just no substitute for nominal trail specs, and yours seems to be one of the trikes that exemplify that. With its stock rake of 34 degrees the need for trail correction will manifest itself just as you have described. Sometimes I make assumptions, so if you aren't familiar with trail a bit of searching within this forum will bring you up to speed. Reducing the trail measurement is exactly what the 'raked triple trees', or 'EZ Steer kits', or similar solutions are directed toward.

If you plan to stick with the trike for the foreseeable future, invest in a good raked triple trees kit. They can be a do-it-yourself one afternoon project if you are mechanically inclined. For your softtail my personal opinion would be 4-1/2 to 6 degree trees, although a professional supplier (i.e., Randy, aka Bazooka on this forum - highly recommended) could be more specific with you.

One more fix you might try before you pop the bucks for the steering kit is to tighten your current forks' stem nut a bit, or at a minimum make sure it is up to the maximum recommended specs. That is a critical point for trike steering and if even slightly loose (or not tight to specs) can be the culprit to exactly the behavior you describe.

Good luck, I feel quite certain that with a little tweaking in this area you can stop your wobbles, and the trike will become your best friend.

 

[Gorilla]

that answer is right on. i would suggest the trees even if the stem tightening helps.

 

[WallyRay]

Thanks for the info, very helpful. Love the trike, can't see me going back to two wheels. As soon as I can save up the money I will buy a good set of trees.

 

[pcombe]

Sometimes there is just no substitute for nominal trail specs, and yours seems to be one of the trikes that exemplify that. With its stock rake of 34 degrees the need for trail correction will manifest itself just as you have described. Sometimes I make assumptions, so if you aren't familiar with trail a bit of searching within this forum will bring you up to speed. Reducing the trail measurement is exactly what the 'raked triple trees', or 'EZ Steer kits', or similar solutions are directed toward.

If you plan to stick with the trike for the foreseeable future, invest in a good raked triple trees kit. They can be a do-it-yourself one afternoon project if you are mechanically inclined. For your softtail my personal opinion would be 4-1/2 to 6 degree trees, although a professional supplier (i.e., Randy, aka Bazooka on this forum - highly recommended) could be more specific with you.

One more fix you might try before you pop the bucks for the steering kit is to tighten your current forks' stem nut a bit, or at a minimum make sure it is up to the maximum recommended specs. That is a critical point for trike steering and if even slightly loose (or not tight to specs) can be the culprit to exactly the behavior you describe.

Good luck, I feel quite certain that with a little tweaking in this area you can stop your wobbles, and the trike will become your best friend.

:Agree:
Also if your a do it yourself kind of guy I will let you in on a little secret, The raked triple tree comes with new bearings and races in the frame neck.
These races can be a bear to remove. (especially the bottom) If you can put a small tack weld on the old race it will fall out of the neck with a single tap, also it gives you a surface to tap on. beats trying to gouge a surface above the race.

 

[pcombe]

Thanks for the info, very helpful. Love the trike, can't see me going back to two wheels. As soon as I can save up the money I will buy a good set of trees.

check with zook, I bought mine from him at about half the price of the others and they are damn nice trees.ThumbUp

here something for you to check out, google--pcombe library/photobucket