Need a little help!!!

[ctriker1]

My 2012 VW Trike is killing me and leaving me stranded on the side of the highway and roads due to a short in my wiring. After trying to figure out why, I'm stumped on how to fix it. My back fender is vibrating so bad that it is literally pulling the wires out of the harness assembly inside the tail light. Which is causing me to have no tail light then eventually cause a short and hence leaving me stranded. I had a plate put in on the inside back where it connects but still way too much shaking going on in the fender.

Any suggestions?

[peteg59]

Welcome to TrikeTalk ctriker1.
That is a nice looking trike you have there.

As far as your fender issue goes, it is hard to tell from the pics you show.
I had initially set my trike up with rear fenders mounted to the rear swingarms. That was a major mistake, as there was way too much vibration passing through the fender brackets, ultimately causing them to fail.

I had to secure the fenders to the rear deck, where the vibration is almost nonexistent due to the deck being on the part of trike that is cushioned by the rear suspension.

If you can post a closeup shot of how the fenders are attached, perhaps a solution can evolve?
The tail light wiring can be always be extended if that is an ongoing issue.
However if the trike "dies" on the road due to a wiring issue, it is likely somewhere other than the rear tail lights but hard to tell without close examination of the wiring in general.
Any way to get a wiring diagram from the builder/previous owner?

[rhino 2]

Welcome to Trike-Talk
. I can't help much but someone I'm sure will be chime in soon to ask you the right questions so you can get the right answers...

[ctriker1]

Thanks for the info. I will take better pics tomorrow when the sun is shining. LOL I know it is from that fender because I have replaced the maltese cross light housing twice on that same side. It has been an issue for a while now. It's been rewired too. It's even ripping my tag apart. Each time I have taken off the lens, the light bulb and it's housing falls out into my hand and the wire comes out of the housing unit, and that's why it's shortening out. I've had to be towed the last time I got stuck on the side of 95, 125 miles from home at 10 pm on a Friday night. The worst part of that nite wasn't that I broke down, but not one person pulled over to see if I was ok even when I had to push it up the road. Sigh......

Welcome to TrikeTalk ctriker1.
That is a nice looking trike you have there.

As far as your fender issue goes, it is hard to tell from the pics you show.
I had initially set my trike up with rear fenders mounted to the rear swingarms. That was a major mistake, as there was way too much vibration passing through the fender brackets, ultimately causing them to fail.
I had to secure the fenders to the rear deck, where the vibration is almost nonexistent due to the deck being on the part of trike that is cushioned by the rear suspension.

If you can post a closeup shot of how the fenders are attached, perhaps a solution can evolve?
The tail light wiring can be always be extended if that is an ongoing issue.
However if the trike "dies" on the road due to a wiring issue, it is likely somewhere other than the rear tail lights but hard to tell without close examination of the wiring in general.
Any way to get a wiring diagram from the builder/previous owner?

[reverand2000]

Is that a California Custom Trike? If so I may have a wiring diagram if you need it.

[stinger608]

You state that you had a plate put in to attempt to stop the vibration. Did the plate get attached to anything or was it just put in to try and stop the movement?

If it's just one of the rear fenders, then there must be a stress crack in the fiberglass to cause this. If it wasn't a crack then both would be doing the same thing.


Also, welcome to TrikeTalk and that is a sweet looking trike man.

[ctriker1]

It is a California Custom Trike and as much as I love it, the guy that built it is a real asshole and won't even return any of my calls. I need some parts for it and he won't even reply. I have had nothing but trouble with them after they received their money. But one thing I did do, and that's download all the documents that his wife had sent me and I do have the wire schematics for my trike.


It's been rewired in the back already, the problem is the back fender is shaking so bad when I ride and of course all the pot holes that you try to miss and can't has pulled the wiring out of the bulb assembly and then that of course causes the short. I have replaced the brake housing twice but am still having issues. Like I said, I had a plate put in on the back of the fender but it still vibrates bad. And of course it's only on the one side. But thanks for your offer!

Is that a California Custom Trike? If so I may have a wiring diagram if you need it.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for the info and I'm hoping what you are saying is not the case. I have sunk so much money into this trike due to the poor workmanship and I know at this point, I will never get the money out of it that I put into it. However, I love it anyways and won't be selling it anytime soon or if I ever do. Just a lot of frustration when the owner won't return your calls or sell you any parts. I need to get another gas cap and am having trouble finding one. It's not one of those new screw on types but the old school line it up and twist.

You state that you had a plate put in to attempt to stop the vibration. Did the plate get attached to anything or was it just put in to try and stop the movement?

If it's just one of the rear fenders, then there must be a stress crack in the fiberglass to cause this. If it wasn't a crack then both would be doing the same thing.


Also, welcome to TrikeTalk and that is a sweet looking trike man.

[stinger608]

I am also hoping that it isn't a crack in the fiberglass, but not sure what else would cause just one fender to flex and "rattle."

[hawkeyefxr]

My VW Trike has the mudguards mounted on frames off the swing are. I have used silicon sealer where they are mounted to the frames and this works well. The Caterham seven car does the same.

As for the wiring you right about people ability to do wiring. My Trike had all sorts of problems. In the end i said **** it and rewired it. I found wires just twisted together under tape, what a cock up.
All ok now though.

Good luck with yours

[phreakboy]

Nothing to do with your issue, but I just noticed that we are from the same town. I dont have a trike yet but am hoping to pick something up soon and hope to see you around at some point.

It is a California Custom Trike and as much as I love it, the guy that built it is a real asshole and won't even return any of my calls. I need some parts for it and he won't even reply. I have had nothing but trouble with them after they received their money. But one thing I did do, and that's download all the documents that his wife had sent me and I do have the wire schematics for my trike. It's been rewired in the back already, the problem is the back fender is shaking so bad when I ride and of course all the pot holes that you try to miss and can't has pulled the wiring out of the bulb assembly and then that of course causes the short. I have replaced the brake housing twice but am still having issues. Like I said, I had a plate put in on the back of the fender but it still vibrates bad. And of course it's only on the one side. But thanks for your offer!






- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for the info and I'm hoping what you are saying is not the case. I have sunk so much money into this trike due to the poor workmanship and I know at this point, I will never get the money out of it that I put into it. However, I love it anyways and won't be selling it anytime soon or if I ever do. Just a lot of frustration when the owner won't return your calls or sell you any parts. I need to get another gas cap and am having trouble finding one. It's not one of those new screw on types but the old school line it up and twist.

[Gorilla]

Nothing to do with your issue, but I just noticed that we are from the same town. I dont have a trike yet but am hoping to pick something up soon and hope to see you around at some point.

welcome aboard.

[Bugman]

Welcome to trike talk

[dragvw2180]

I hope I do not sound like an idiot but I would look for the cause of the vibration instead of adding band aids . Have you checked the balance on the tire from that side , a high speed balance with a road force check might solve your problem . I am a retired automobile mechanic /shop foreman . Some times brand new tires are made incorrectly and even though they are balanced they will vibrate. Seen and fixed vibrations by doing a road force check , it will eliminate that as a possible vibration. Mike McCarthy

[LarryA]

ctriker get around some street rodders....they know fiberglass fender mounting and wiring.....spend some time...maybe a few beers....they have been there done that. larry

[LarryA]

triker....that is a beaut of a trike....regarding wiring, get the booklet ...how to wire your street rod...will help you to see how basic wiring is done.... also those fenders are wide ..will need some good bracketing.....look at early car fender braces for bracket ideas...the booklet and fender braces are found @ speedwaymotors.com... good luck larry