Motortrike rear end question

[Warlock]

Was servicing it today and noticed I have a little slack on the left rear side. I jacked it up and put a bar under the tire and could feel a little movement. Got good oil in rearend and axle seal isn't leaking. Also no noise or ruff Ness when spinning the tire. Do you think any concerns or just keep a eye on it.
Thanks, David

 

[Warlock]

Being a mechanic the more I thought about it. Going to pull it down and change both sides with new bearings and seals.
David

 

[Gorilla]

I like it when you answer your own question. Good thought if you felt it caused concern then address it. Keeps for peace of mind.

 

[Warlock]

Got it all done. Installed new skf bearing and new seals. Now I have piece of mind. Also adjusted the drum brakes. Next thing to do is new tires and rims,plus fork brace.David

 

[Skippy49]

What model Motor Trike do you have? We have what I think is a Gladiator on a Harley Road Glide and I've got the body off right now to do cams and I've spotted some things that I think the factory could do differently that would make it a better kit. Had to take the body off as the rear of it sat right down on the back bolt that held the mufflers on and it couldn't be removed without raising the body.

I'm going to change that myself, but it appeared to me that the entire rear frame assembly would all be better off if it were moved to the rear about 1/2 to 1, which would be easy to do at the factory. That would give greater adjustment in the drive belt and probably enable a sprocket change without a drive belt change. I was really surprised that I had to remove the whole body just to get the rear muffler hanger bolt out so I could remove the muffler, to get the rest of the exhaust off.

 

[Warlock]

I have the Coupe kit in a 1500 Goldwing. This is my first trike other than the Spyders I have owned. Got new rims and tires at the house waiting on me to get there. Got a few more days before leaving the ship to head home.
David

 

[Skippy49]

Are you in the service or working on a commercial ship? Hopefully it'll be warm enough to ride when you get home. Here-eastern Indiana, I probably won't get to ride anything until at least March and then only after some rains to get the salt off the roads.

 

[Warlock]

Working as a chief mechanic on a 6th generation drill ship. Almost 900 ft long. Just hope the oil prices go up. Not looking good out here.
David

 

[eastkytriker]

I have a motortrike coupe and the body covers the relay box so close the lid cannot be removed, anyone have a better idea than removing the body to change a relay.

 

[Skippy49]

It'd be nice if Motor Trike would chime in on some of these posts. At the minimum, we'd at least think they would look into suggestions on problems.

 

[Skippy49]

I think it is something to do with being in good graces with the forum. Might try sending your questions by email, Motor Trike Tech <tech@motortrike.com

I've emailed them in the past and I'll just say that they aren't very customer friendly.

 

[rodekyll]

Motor trike refuses to give me any help or information at all, even on safety related issues like brakes. I can't even relay parts and tech support requests through the dealer network. As soon as I reveal my build number the conversation ceases. Kinda shabby. I say that everyone gets a reference. This is theirs.

 

[Skippy49]

Motor trike refuses to give me any help or information at all, even on safety related issues like brakes. I can't even relay parts and tech support requests through the dealer network. As soon as I reveal my build number the conversation ceases. Kinda shabby. I say that everyone gets a reference. This is theirs.

They should offer to sell a parts book and a service manual, just like Harley will. Not everyone is near a dealer. I can't imagine us buying another Motor Trike due to the way they treat customers.

 

[Future Triker]

Motor trike refuses to give me any help or information at all, even on safety related issues like brakes. I can't even relay parts and tech support requests through the dealer network. As soon as I reveal my build number the conversation ceases. Kinda shabby. I say that everyone gets a reference. This is theirs.

I've gotta say, this comment seems somewhat deceptive based on your other post about the brakes and what you're working on. I may be wrong, but as I understand it, you have one of their kits and put it on a bike they don't offer a kit for. Not trying to be a jerk here, but I can see why you're not getting much help as I'm sure they make their components for specific bikes. I may be different in my opinions on this one, but I can't blame them for not helping. As a manufacturer, if they told you what to do & how to do it and it went wrong, they could be held liable & sued for it.

There's a risk one takes when building their own trike so to speak, when it comes to open information and technical assistance. It'd be like calling GMC and asking them why the brakes don't work on a Plymouth that you retrofitted their parts onto.

Once again, not intending or trying to be a jerk, but that's how I see it.

 

[Skippy49]

I've gotta say, this comment seems somewhat deceptive based on your other post about the brakes and what you're working on. I may be wrong, but as I understand it, you have one of their kits and put it on a bike they don't offer a kit for. Not trying to be a jerk here, but I can see why you're not getting much help as I'm sure they make their components for specific bikes. I may be different in my opinions on this one, but I can't blame them for not helping. As a manufacturer, if they told you what to do & how to do it and it went wrong, they could be held liable & sued for it.

There's a risk one takes when building their own trike so to speak, when it comes to open information and technical assistance. It'd be like calling GMC and asking them why the brakes don't work on a Plymouth that you retrofitted their parts onto.

Once again, not intending or trying to be a jerk, but that's how I see it.

If that is what is going on, putting a kit on a bike it's not designed for, I can certainly agree with you. My comments are just about the luck I've had getting information from Motor Trike concerning the trike that we had done at one if their dealers

 

[rodekyll]

No, I don't see you as being a jerk, but I think you misunderstand. First, nothing deceitful going on. I've been open with both motor trike and this group about what I've got and what I'm doing with it. To reiterate, I have incorporated parts of a wrecked motor trike conversion into my home build. I did not bolt up one of their kits to something it wasn't designed for. I used parts only from the wreck, and they've already told me they are Ford parts, not any MT development.

Second, I'm coming here for technical support, and the Trike Talk folks are helping. I've got an active topic here now. I'm not asking MT for procedures or advice. I'm just asking them to either sell me the parts I need or give me the information I need to buy them elsewhere/replace them with something else. They used to do that. Then they told me I needed to go through a dealer. Then the dealer said they couldn't help.

Sorry to drift the topic. Just wanted to clarify.

 

[Downtown Cowtown]

It'd be nice if Motor Trike would chime in on some of these posts. At the minimum, we'd at least think they would look into suggestions on problems.

Those are not problems, but challenges to a create a better product, person who solves the problems, makes money hopefully by doing so.

In the meantime, its a problem to the owner.

So the optimistic folks say.

 

[Future Triker]

No, I don't see you as being a jerk, but I think you misunderstand. First, nothing deceitful going on. I've been open with both motor trike and this group about what I've got and what I'm doing with it. To reiterate, I have incorporated parts of a wrecked motor trike conversion into my home build. I did not bolt up one of their kits to something it wasn't designed for. I used parts only from the wreck, and they've already told me they are Ford parts, not any MT development.

Second, I'm coming here for technical support, and the Trike Talk folks are helping. I've got an active topic here now. I'm not asking MT for procedures or advice. I'm just asking them to either sell me the parts I need or give me the information I need to buy them elsewhere/replace them with something else. They used to do that. Then they told me I needed to go through a dealer. Then the dealer said they couldn't help.

Sorry to drift the topic. Just wanted to clarify.

Safe to say I fully misunderstood your post. I'm sorry for that and will apologize for my "asslike behavior".

From what I've seen online in doing my research, I understand that they don't use an "off the shelf" caliper, but have them made for them. Something about tying into the factory Honda braking system & can't use a regular caliper for that?

I've seen a LOT of posts on TT lately about how they don't sell direct & are making everyone go through their dealers. I looked into this a little bit & it looks like it's because they're listed as a manufacturer from what I gather. Something about as an OE they are no longer set up to buy direct. Kinda makes sense I suppose, kinda like Ford, GM, Honda, etc.. Used to you could go to the assembly line, pick out a vehicle and snag it fresh off the line. Anymore you can't do that from what I've heard (doesn't much matter to me, no way Id buy a brand new vehicle of any kind anymore).

I think it is BS that none of their dealers will help you though, that just doesn't make sense since I'm sure they make some sort of profit on parts. I've never understood the logic of turning someone away who's trying to give you money, but that's just me maybe.

 

[rodekyll]

Gosh, I by no means meant to imply anyone was being "asslike" or otherwise mean. One of the things that impresses me about trike talk is the civility and expertise I read in the technical forums. (I have not opened some of the "other topics" so I don't know how it is in some of the dark threads). I just wanted folks to know that I'm not trolling motor trike or this forum. I'm just a traveler looking for directions.

The conversations with the dealers (won't name them) went from pleasant and "whatever we can do to help" before talking to their home office to "Motor Trike says they borrowed their brakes from Ford."
"and how much?"
"Motor trike says they borrowed the brakes from Ford."
"Ok then Thank for looking into it." end of conversation.

I don't understand it either. In the meantime my brakes need help and I am 4 time zones from my starting point and getting ready to roll from Indiana to Louisiana today. Better brakes would be nice.

 

[Future Triker]

No harm! The "asslike" reference was my own and not implied by you in any way. It is a nice change from most forums out there I'll admit.