Motor Trike Air Suspension Air Bag Replacement

[bassfisher]

My 05 GW MT (I am assuming Adventure conversion) has leaking Air Bags (per the good old soapy water testing) They are on thier last legs.

Has anyone replaced thier own bags? If so, what replacement bag did you use (Manf and part number)? And how difficult is it to replace in my own garage?

MT has told me I must order the replacement bags thru a authorized dealer (of which I have no probelm doing at $70 each), but the dealer wants to charge me over $300 -$1000 for the install. And its about an hour's drive up to the dealer just to pick up the bags.

I would just rather do it myself

Thanks for any help

[cavie]

Don't you just love "Proprietary protection". Go to a good independent garage and see if he can identify them. Chances are they are from an auto. Not made just for the trike. No money in doing that. Most all SA conversions Brakes, rotors, rear ends and suspentions are adapted from car parts.

[Gold Rush]

My 05 GW MT (I am assuming Adventure conversion) has leaking Air Bags (per the good old soapy water testing) They are on thier last legs

Has anyone replaced thier own bags? If so, what replacement bag did you use (Manf and part number)? And how difficult is it to replace in my own garage?

MT has told me I must order the replacement bags thru a authorized dealer (of which I have no probelm doing at $70 each), but the dealer wants to charge me over $300 -$1000 for the install. And its about an hour's drive up to the dealer just to pick up the bags.

I would just rather do it myself


Thanks for any help

You don't say if your conversion is solid axle or independent suspension. That is important information.

When my '06 was converted in '11 one of the air bags leaked (the Adventure install manual calls them air springs). My installer replaced them both in about 30 minutes while I watched.

I'd be calling around to different installers. One of them will be happy to order the "air springs" and send them to you.

As I recall what caused my leak had something to do with the top bolt twisting. My installer sprayed a little soapy water on them before assembly. Also, they come deflated. Make sure you do not add air until they are in place.

Hope that helps.

[bassfisher]

Mine has the solid axle

My air bags (air springs) are leaking at the bottom

The more that I look at the service Manuals for the Adventure and the Sypder versions, Im thinking this is the Spyder 2+2 version

But I will check around town

[Gold Rush]

Mine has the solid axle

My air bags (air springs) are leaking at the bottom


But I will check around town

OK. That is not an Adventure conversion. Sorry I can't tell you which conversion you do have. I know there is a serial number stamped in the top of the solid axle differential housing just above the input shaft but that won't tell me a thing. Get that number then call MotorTrike again. They can tell you what you have and then you can talk replacement parts with a dealer/installer that is willing to work with you.

[bassfisher]

The more that I look at the service Manuals for the Adventure and the Sypder versions, Im thinking this is the Spyder 2+2 version

[3W-lonerider]

The more that I look at the service Manuals for the Adventure and the Sypder versions, Im thinking this is the Spyder 2+2 version

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.

here is a link to the bags I bought. you can use the fittings out of the old bags or buy new. same with the airline. you should be able to replace both bags in an hour.
I bolted the top in place then pulled the bottom of the bag down and bolted the bottom in place.



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.

[bassfisher]

Thank you so much for the link.

[Wayne Harmsen]

I installed the same air bags that Lonerider suggested to you on our 1500 Motor Trike.

Same results, much better ride, also found that 20 pounds of pressure two up is about right..

[bassfisher]

Ordered the Air Springs this morning from Airbagit in AZ (Same bags as the above link - only half the price)

http://www.airbagit.com/v/vspfiles/p...rBags_PAGE.htm

[3W-lonerider]

Ordered the Air Springs this morning from Airbagit in AZ (Same bags as the above link - only half the price)

for half the price I'm thinking the end caps might be plastic instead of metal.

if that is the case be very careful of the length of bolt you stick in the bottom.

because if you break threw the lower cap into the air chamber you'll never get it to seal.

[JoeB27]

I installed the same air bags that Lonerider suggested to you on our 1500 Motor Trike.
Same results, much better ride, also found that 20 pounds of pressure two up is about right..

Hi, I'm new to the forum and new to trikes. A week ago I brought home a 97 GL1500 Motor Trike. I've ridden Wings for some years, coming from an 03 1800. I have a question for you, not knowing much about the MT (or any other for that matter)...how difficult is it to replace the air bags? Did you access them just by removing the rear wheels? Did you have to go down a tire size like another poster mentioned?

Thanks for any help!

Joe

[bassfisher]

I cant tell you yet on how to install them, but should be pretty straight forward. Pull your rear wheels off and there they are.

Ill be doing mine tonight or over the weekend

[3W-lonerider]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and new to trikes. A week ago I brought home a 97 GL1500 Motor Trike. I've ridden Wings for some years, coming from an 03 1800. I have a question for you, not knowing much about the MT (or any other for that matter)...how difficult is it to replace the air bags? Did you access them just by removing the rear wheels? Did you have to go down a tire size like another poster mentioned?

Thanks for any help!

Joe

just remove the rear wheels and the air bags are easily assessable.
as far as tire size. I didn't have to. because there was about a 1/2 between the tire and the airbag and I rode it for a couple of weeks without the tire rubbing the bag. but I was due to get new tires anyway so just to give it alittle more clearance I decided to go down 1 size in width. to give it about an 1 inch of clearance.

[bassfisher]

Wow, that was such an easy job to do. Took me about 30-40 minutes. One bolt on the bottom and a nut on top.

The old Air Shocks were completely worn out. Cracked rubber at the bottom, they were really on their last legs.

Biggest thing was having the right sized tools. The Top nut, if I remember was 1 1/8. The bottom bolt was 3/4. The actually air line fittings went right in, just make sure to wrap some thread tape around them and double check to see they are holding pressure with the soapy water trick.

Ride is now great, wife noticed it right away.

Thanks for everyone's help on this

[3W-lonerider]

Wow, that was such an easy job to do. Took me about 30-40 minutes. One bolt on the bottom and a nut on top.

The old Air Shocks were completely worn out. Cracked rubber at the bottom, they were really on their last legs.

Biggest thing was having the right sized tools. The Top nut, if I remember was 1 1/8. The bottom bolt was 3/4. The actually air line fittings went right in, just make sure to wrap some thread tape around them and double check to see they are holding pressure with the soapy water trick.

Ride is now great, wife noticed it right away.

Thanks for everyone's help on this

glad you are now enjoying the ride. just keep in mind the air pressure will make a huge difference whether one up or 2 up. I run 17 psi with the wife and I on and have to drop it to 13 with just me.

if I left it at 17 it would bounce me all over the place.
take her on a road you know very well that isn't in the best of shape then see the grin on her face when ya stop.

so was each end metal or plastic?

if they are metal I'd like to order another set just to keep on hand. you never know.

[bassfisher]

Im still running my pressures at little higher, but will gradually work then down. Very satisfied with 25 2 Up. Did about 100 miles on Saturday adn she was very comforatable at the 25 psi. Im just so glad that I have not had to touch the pressure button during the entire time since the new install.

Weather should be good Wednesday on, and I will be riding to work by myself, will try to see how your lower pressures feel

Both ends are metal.

[JoeB27]

Im still running my pressures at little higher, but will gradually work then down. Very satisfied with 25 2 Up. Did about 100 miles on Saturday adn she was very comforatable at the 25 psi. Im just so glad that I have not had to touch the pressure button during the entire time since the new install.

Weather should be good Wednesday on, and I will be riding to work by myself, will try to see how your lower pressures feel

Sounds very good, thanks for the report. Can you give an answer to 3W-lonerider's question about the end caps? Plastic or metal?
I'll likely be installing a set very soon as well based on all the good reports.

Joe

[keepinon]

Question for Lonerider and/or bassfisher:

Did your old airbags look the same as the new ones? (minus the cracks & such... LOL)

When looking at both airbag sites, the 800# bag appears the same as the ones on my Valkyrie/MT Coup.

The wife says the ride is a little harsh for her, so if these help, it would be a small price to pay.

TIA
Dennis

[bassfisher]

Both ends were metal. Had to chase the bottom bolt threads a couple times to get rid of some of the casting residue, but that was easy, just took my time .

The bags do look different from the MT bags (the new ones look more like a full cylinder), but still do the same job. I did not have an issue with tire clearance.

It was great that the air line elbows threaded right in.

Like I said before, it was a very easy job to do, and I saved a bundle doing it myself.