Slight "Clunk" When Backing Out My Trike

[lgjhn]

I had just completely rebuilt my shocks about a week or so ago ('06 GW w/2013 RS) and did a 450 mile shakedown run last week and all went very well....except for every once in a while I could feel a very slight vibration when going 75 mph or higher. At the time, I racked it up to maybe some slight tire mis-balance and continued on, but stayed below 70 just in case.

Normally, when getting ready for a ride, I usually just put the trike in neutral and hand push it out of my shop, then crank it up outside on the apron and let it warm up.

Earlier this week, while pushing it out, I kept hearing a very slight "clunk" at about every 3/4 rotation of the rear tires. It wouldn't do it when pushing it forwards, just backwards. Weird.

Well, I put it up on the lift to have a look/see at just what might be going on as this "clunk" was never there before and I was very concerned about it.

While on the lift, I jacked the rear up enough so I could freely spin the tires. Sure enough, I could hear the "clunk" when spinning either tire in reverse. I blocked one tire at a time thinking it might be a CV joint. Didn't matter which tire was blocked, it still had the "clunk" ruling out a CV (unless both were bad...LOL), and it sounded like it was coming right directly from the differential.

Before really digging into it any further, I called RS Support and talked to Mike to see if he might have some ideas. He suggested disconnecting the driveshaft to see if it still did it with no driveshaft as it quite possibly could be a U-joint itself.

I had several bikes in here this week for tires, oil changes, etc. and couldn't get back to it until this afternoon.

I got it back on the lift and went to loosen the nuts on the u-bolts that hold the U-joint to the rear yoke, and low and behold, I could turn one of em with my fingers without a wrench!

I started looking closer and that nut also had no lock washer....I'm thinking; "that's odd....the other 3 nuts all have washers." I completely undid it to test for the "clunk" and also to put a lock washer on it when putting it back together. When I pulled the u-bolt off, I noticed that all the threads were totally stripped for about 1/4" or so on that one bolt, and the reason for no lock washer was so it could get just enough of a "bite" to stay on.

I researched the part# and actually bought a new set of u-bolts at the local auto parts store and installed em.....no more "clunk" and no more "slight vibration" at higher speeds.

This u-bolt was stripped during the install...probably using an air ratchet. Instead of fixing it right, the lock washer was left off to get that little bite to tighten. It took several thousand miles for it to finally lose that "bite" and come loose, but it did. I'm glad I caught it before being way out in the middle of no where and have the rear U-joint completely fail.

FWIW, this is just one more item in a looonnnngg list of issues I've had with this particular install. I will leave the installer's name anonymous, but rest assured, they'll NEVER get another shot at putting their inept hands on anything else that I own....and I'm itching bad for a 2018 GW trike. Randy, if you're reading this, any and all of my future conversion business will be coming your way.

Love the RS conversion....hate this installer's work. Not only was it terrible workmanship, but also potentially very dangerous.

My rant is over....time to get back to enjoying riding.

[Gold Rush]

Good Catch Larry!!! Just goes to show that we can NEVER be too careful about the "little things". Knowing your ride (2, 3, or four wheel) and being aware of those unusual things is important. Glad you caught it early and the fix wasn't expensive.

[bikerbillone]

Should reveal the builder so none on this forum get screwed, or worse, injured, from this guy's shoddy work. You'd have to post it here on the forum, can't use PM here to keep it quiet or on a person to person basis.

[mhgoldwing]

My biggest gripe is the fact that none of the trike manufacturers, to my knowledge, enforce any kind of serious quality control on their installers. I heard about an installer yesterday that arbitrarily decides not to install a major ground wire between the kits and the bike resulting in audio problems. They are aware of it but it is allowed to continue.

My trike was a victim of multiple problems caused by the installer. Thank goodness my mfg. stepped up to resolve some of the issues but it still caused loss of riding time, vacation interruption and added expense. These bad installers really need to be weeded out.

[lgjhn]

Should reveal the builder so none on this forum get screwed, or worse, injured, from this guy's shoddy work. You'd have to post it here on the forum, can't use PM here to keep it quiet or on a person to person basis.

Hi Bill. It is my understanding that that shop is now completely out of business....I can see why....first hand. What's sad is that the owner is a really nice fella, and I believe IF he personally did the conversion, one would probably get a pretty good job. But he had a couple of young yahoos working in there that didn't know squat and just didn't care about doing, or making, things right. That situation, I believe, is what got that shop in trouble, it never recovered and went out of business.

FWIW, I do a heckuva lot of work out of my shop. I try very hard to provide good service and workmanship....nuts/bolts to the proper torque, in the right place, proper parts, etc. IF it isn't right, it doesn't leave here until it is. I'm old, slow and methodical, but it's done right. I guess I expected the same treatment when I had that conversion done. I didn't realize my expectations were so high, but when one shells out $15K for a conversion, one would expect it to at least be done right. Thus, my disappointment with this one.

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Larry - EXCELLENT job on paying attention to your trike, and taking the time to do periodic inspections/maintenance. Kudos to you, and happy you found this install issue before it became an issue.