Pulling to the right

[bjacmarsh]

I have a 2008 GL1800 that was triked in New Hampshire in November, 2014 with a Hannigan kit including the 180 front end. The trike is everything I had hoped it would be, performing flawlessly on our first long cruise from New England to Key West and back in the fall of 2015. Last November I took it to a local Honda dealer and had all the fluids changed and some other work done including a new ignition switch. I am now experiencing a pull to the right when I release the handlebars. It's a pretty good pull. I've tried increasing the right rear tire pressure to account for any crown in the road - no change. I hear a pulsating rubbing sound which seems to come from the front and matches the rotation of the front tire like a pad is touching the rotor on each turn of the wheel. This pull to the right has only started since the fluid changes. I am wondering if you have heard of this before and have any suggestions. The trike is going back to the dealer in a couple of weeks for the recall (I have your bulletin).

Do you think this recall could have anything to do with the pulling to the right?

 

[ectrike]

Have you checked the rotor to see if they are hot when you stop? Why did you replace the ignition switch?

 

[bjacmarsh]

Have you checked the rotor to see if they are hot when you stop? Why did you replace the ignition switch?

No excessive heat in either rotor, also no unusual wear. Had to replace ignition switch because key would not go in any farther than half way. A real pain as I had to borrow truck and trailer to get it to dealer. Price to replace switch was over $700. Now forks won't lock.

 

[hogcowboy]

It really sounds like one of the pistons isn't retracting so you got a pad dragging. I would think you should feel some heat down there though. Might try taking a large screwdriver with a plastic handle and tapping the caliper with the plastic part using it like a hammer but tapping. It may retract. Or there may be a bubble behind it so it won't. So if it that doesn't do it you'll need to dig deeper or take it to a shop. Not good to have potential brake issues.

 

[bjacmarsh]

It really sounds like one of the pistons isn't retracting so you got a pad dragging. I would think you should feel some heat down there though. Might try taking a large screwdriver with a plastic handle and tapping the caliper with the plastic part using it like a hammer but tapping. It may retract. Or there may be a bubble behind it so it won't. So if it that doesn't do it you'll need to dig deeper or take it to a shop. Not good to have potential brake issues.

Thanks for your input. I think you may be on to something. I've just had cervical spine surgery so when I took the old girl out the other day I was only able to go around the block so it may not have had a chance to heat up too much. It's going in the shop in a couple weeks so I will ask them to look at the piston issue and hope that it solves the problem.

Thanks again for your help.