1996 Road Hawk Handicapped Trike

[hawkmtn33]

Hi all, newbie here and to Road Hawks. I've had everything from big V-8 Trikes to my recent GL1500. made them all drivable to fit me as I'm a T-10 Paraplegic. Hardest part was and still is getting on and off of them and taking my chair with me. I recently saw and purchased off of Ebay a 1996 Road Hawk specifically built for a handicapped individual back then.

It's been through a few owners and some changes were made, it used to have a steering wheel with VW steering box but was changed to T-bars, looks like the shifter was setup somehow on the front right with some kind of a linkage but now it's been Rube Goldberged on the left of the column, wiring is a total mess, if I don't keep it on a charger the battery go's dead.

I've changed the neck and wheel bearings on the Springer front end and that pretty much took care of the death wobble that it had, still some wobble in it though. Changed the bearings in the wheelchair turntable and that rotates really nice once again. Been tracing out dozens of broken wires and found a lot of live ones, been removing the ones that are dead and capping off all the live ones. I have been reading a lot of posts in here and there is so much good info, I want to say thank you to everyone.

I'm trying to get this Trike up and running and make it safe for me to ride, as it alleviates the getting on and off problem and allows me to be in my chair to ride so fixed the problem of taking my chair with me on my old trikes. Parts are so hard to find for it, can't find any literature or wiring diagrams. Any info would really help me out a lot, I've enclosed a pic below. I've already contacted, Road Smith in both MN and Fla. but not much help so far. That's not me on the trike but the last owner.

 

[Gator Monroe]

Hi all, newbie here and to Road Hawks. I've had everything from big V-8 Trikes to my recent GL1500. made them all drivable to fit me as I'm a T-10 Paraplegic. Hardest part was and still is getting on and off of them and taking my chair with me. I recently saw and purchased off of Ebay a 1996 Road Hawk specifically built for a handicapped individual back then. It's been through a few owners and some changes were made, it used to have a steering wheel with VW steering box but was changed to T-bars, looks like the shifter was setup somehow on the front right with some kind of a linkage but now it's been Rube Goldberged on the left of the column, wiring is a total mess, if I don't keep it on a charger the battery go's dead. I've changed the neck and wheel bearings on the Springer front end and that pretty much took care of the death wobble that it had, still some wobble in it though. Changed the bearings in the wheelchair turntable and that rotates really nice once again. Been tracing out dozens of broken wires and found a lot of live ones, been removing the ones that are dead and capping off all the live ones. I have been reading a lot of posts in here and there is so much good info, I want to say thank you to everyone. I'm trying to get this Trike up and running and make it safe for me to ride, as it alleviates the getting on and off problem and allows me to be in my chair to ride so fixed the problem of taking my chair with me on my old trikes. Parts are so hard to find for it, can't find any literature or wiring diagrams. Any info would really help me out a lot, I've enclosed a pic below. I've already contacted, Road Smith in both MN and Fla. but not much help so far. That's not me on the trike but the last owner.

View attachment 49680

Prayers sent that you will get it sorted out and it will provide you with the Fun and happiness we all get from these rigs , love your diligence ...(Party)

 

[MR TRIKE]

1996 VW Trike

Hi all, newbie here and to Road Hawks. I've had everything from big V-8 Trikes to my recent GL1500. made them all drivable to fit me as I'm a T-10 Paraplegic. Hardest part was and still is getting on and off of them and taking my chair with me. I recently saw and purchased off of Ebay a 1996 Road Hawk specifically built for a handicapped individual back then. It's been through a few owners and some changes were made, it used to have a steering wheel with VW steering box but was changed to T-bars, looks like the shifter was setup somehow on the front right with some kind of a linkage but now it's been Rube Goldberged on the left of the column, wiring is a total mess, if I don't keep it on a charger the battery go's dead. I've changed the neck and wheel bearings on the Springer front end and that pretty much took care of the death wobble that it had, still some wobble in it though. Changed the bearings in the wheelchair turntable and that rotates really nice once again. Been tracing out dozens of broken wires and found a lot of live ones, been removing the ones that are dead and capping off all the live ones. I have been reading a lot of posts in here and there is so much good info, I want to say thank you to everyone. I'm trying to get this Trike up and running and make it safe for me to ride, as it alleviates the getting on and off problem and allows me to be in my chair to ride so fixed the problem of taking my chair with me on my old trikes. Parts are so hard to find for it, can't find any literature or wiring diagrams. Any info would really help me out a lot, I've enclosed a pic below. I've already contacted, Road Smith in both MN and Fla. but not much help so far. That's not me on the trike but the last owner.

View attachment 49680

Hello Jim-

My name is Dick Lindholm also MR TRIKE. I am the Owner of The Trike Shop now known as RoadSmith. I am the person that built your Trike, along with my Great Staff. In the fall of 1995, I got a call from a gentleman in Birmingham, AL who was in a wheelchair and wanted to know if i could build him a trike he could mount and drive from his chair. I had never had such a request, but i said over the winter when we were slow i will make what he needed.

He was a pharmacist in Birmingham. I extended the frame by 4 feet and made a double box tubing frame to support the added weight. I cut a 4 foot circle of plywood and made a lazy susan turntable with a flip down ramp for easy entrance. I put all controls on top for easy access. I and my wife delivered the trike to AL in the spring. The new owner was SOOOOOO HAPPY!!! I saw him at several MC Rallies for a few years then i was in SC one year at a Honda Rally when i met the original's brother who said his brother died and he now owns the trike, he was not handicapped but wanted it to remember his brother who had gotten a new lease on life with that Trike.

I have not known where the trike went for the last 10 years. Glad to hear it is going to somebody who has like needs. As far as the wiring, its pretty basic. I am sure it has had a changes since i built it, but any good mechanic with a circuit and continuity tester should be able fix anything. Make sure you always maintain a 30 amp circuit at the starter solenoid so you protect the entire wiring harness. Use inline waterproof fuses where needed. Replacing the neck bearings is normal wear.

If i can be of an help, call me on my cell # 1-386-299-8081. I live in Ormond Beach, FL and Retired at 72 yrs. old. I own a 2004 RoadHawk 4 speed w/ a 2333cc high performance motor and my wife has a 2002 Runabout Automatic with a 2110cc high performance motor both look like new. We still enjoy riding, but not as much traveling as we used to do.

KEEP-ON-TRIKIN

Dick

 

[hawkmtn33]

Many thanks Gator.

 

[LarryA]

reply

Welcome Hawkmtn.....may I suggest you look up speedway motor.com.....look for the booklet (How to wire a Street rod)..... not vw specific, but will cover just about all wiring situations......Larry

 

[hawkmtn33]

Wow many thanks for all that info Mr. Trike and really glad to make your acquaintance. I loved reading it all, thank you once again.

Mr.Trike I just wanted to add that I will definitely keep you, your Mrs. and everyone here informed as to my progress. I was already able to find an original windshield from RoadSmith Trikes in MN. I received it in the mail yesterday Evening, and tomorrow morning my local mech will be taking it in to clean out the carbs, change the fluids, tune it up, and thankfully his son is really great at wiring problems, I will post pictures as it progresses.

I cannot say thank you enough for the way you put this Trike together, I know once I have it going, it will give me such freedom and independence once again, I also give many thanks to all the members here, it looks like I found a place I can call home, the men and women of this site are really so wonderful, I thank you all for the fantastic welcome I've received.

 

[hawkmtn33]

Many thanks Larry, will check out the web site.

 

[Doug D.]

Dick,

That's one helluva piece of engineering! Great work for a great cause!

Jim,

Welcome to Trike Talk from Mid-Mo! This is a great place full of great folks only too eager to help. I hope you get her ironed out soon and get back in the wind.

PEACE and ride safe! ~

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Wow!

And it looks like you have the hook up already.

Please post your progress.

 

[hawkmtn33]

Just wanted to bring everyone up to date. So far have the wiring working, was able to get a new windshield for it and the correct one at that. I ran it up and down the road a few times but she backfires like crazy and stalls out. So off to my local mech to take a look at it and it's been there for the last few weeks.

He's stumped as to why he can't get it running the way he wants it too, plus we found an oil leak and a trans leak that he's checking out for me. Guess it will be next Spring before I'm riding it, but I want it safe and ready to go anywhere Will keep everyone up to date Once again I thank everyone for all the info, this place rocks.

 

[peteg59]

Glad to hear you're gaining on it, Jim. Forward progress is good both from a project standpoint and from a mental standpoint.ThumbUp

Just a quick question for you: How is the rear brake setup?

 

[Gorilla]

Just a thought a vacuum leak?

 

[hawkmtn33]

Glad to hear you're gaining on it, Jim. Forward progress is good both from a project standpoint and from a mental standpoint.ThumbUp

Just a quick question for you: How is the rear brake setup?

The rears are disk brakes, there are 2 sets of calipers on both sides, the handle bars have a master cylinder and brake lever on both sides, the right brake controls one set of calipers on both sides and the left brake controls the other set of calipers. There are no front brakes on it. I'm guessing it was setup this way, so that if one side fails than there is still the other set that will work.

 

[Kristie]

Welcome from central ND!

 

[hawkmtn33]

Still working on it.

Wanted to touch base with everyone. My mechanic is still working on the Trike, it's a real hard starter and keeps stalling out. They've cleaned and adjusted carbs and still same prob. Will keep trying, nice weathers coming and I want to ride hopefully we'll get it figured out.

 

[grandpanystrom61]

A awesome set up you have for this Trike. I do want to see you ride and enjoy it.

Vacuum leak cold be the cause, also could be losing upper end supply from the coil breaking down.

Stock engine, or has it been modified ? If you are running Kad's, they can be touch and most will need upgrading and re jetting once you play with the engine in upgrades.

How is the exhaust look, white smoke is lean or oil burning, black smoke is rich, and if you have black suet at the end of the tail pipe she is running to rich, or carbs are flooding.

Now the next thing is regulator and fuel pressure supplied to carb's, if it matters with what you have.

Modified engines also wind up timing a bit different than stock, so be aware it may need to be advanced some more than stock.

28 to 32 BTDC at near 2500RPM's, well mine is 34 to 36 BTDC at 3800 RPM's... as I increase RPM's the timing marks just keep climbing and it tops out at the 36 BTDC at 3800 RPM's.

If your are running a set of kad's, I will see if I can send you a link to the info I have about them. My mind just remembers something about idling and running, but stalling out and dieing when you give it the gas. To much gas or not enough........ is what I think.

 

[hawkmtn33]

Thank you

A awesome set up you have for this Trike. I do want to see you ride and enjoy it.

Vacuum leak cold be the cause, also could be losing upper end supply from the coil breaking down.

Stock engine, or has it been modified ? If you are running Kad's, they can be touch and most will need upgrading and re jetting once you play with the engine in upgrades.

How is the exhaust look, white smoke is lean or oil burning, black smoke is rich, and if you have black suet at the end of the tail pipe she is running to rich, or carbs are flooding.

Now the next thing is regulator and fuel pressure supplied to carb's, if it matters with what you have.

Modified engines also wind up timing a bit different than stock, so be aware it may need to be advanced some more than stock.

28 to 32 BTDC at near 2500RPM's, well mine is 34 to 36 BTDC at 3800 RPM's... as I increase RPM's the timing marks just keep climbing and it tops out at the 36 BTDC at 3800 RPM's.

If your are running a set of kad's, I will see if I can send you a link to the info I have about them. My mind just remembers something about idling and running, but stalling out and dieing when you give it the gas. To much gas or not enough........ is what I think.

Thank you so much for all this info, I'm going to take this over to my mechanic today and see what he can come up with. Once again thank you so much for all this info, Jim.

 

[LarryA]

hawkmtn33...... check the valve lash, valve springs, especially the intakes.....if a spring is broken or lash is too tight the piston coming up on compression will blow your intake fuel/air mixture back out f the cylinder ......making starting and idle almost impossible....also I'm assuming a good blue spark at cranking rpm, and timing set around 10 deg. if a miss shows up after the engine warms up........again check valve lash....better a tad loose than too tight. These, and most engines don't have to be perfect to run pretty darn good! good luck on your trouble shooting!

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

You keep saying carbs.....as in plural.

What carbs do you have?

Stock or stock type solex or kadron single barrel carbs can corrode and plug up solid in the low speed fuel circuit.

I had an empi copy of a solex that was so plugged that I was wondering if I was wrong or if it had not been machined from the factory. After several attempts I did finally get a wire through it. Just kept breaking wires out of the wire brush and stabbing at it.