Trike Lifting Point - Change Front Tire and Change Fork Seals

[B25bsaboy]

Good evening to you all,

Got my new to me 2008 Honda Goldwing GL-1800Lehman Monarch II trike home this afternoon from the original owner. THis Monarch trike was imported from the USA from the dealer H&H Trikes, Inc and from the paper trail, it was a brand new bike fresh off the assembly line from Marysville, OH. The mileage on this Goldwing is 13,000 original miles.

As with all new to me bikes in the past, I usually take everything apart to do an inspection under all the Tupper Wear. Started at the front and to my horror, discovered that the right fork seal has been leaking for some time. Just tried uploading some photos, but no cigar. From all the motorcycles I’ve restored & experience, the right seal failed.

Some questions for the masses, as I want to do the following:

1. Lift the front end just enough to remove the fron tire to replace with an Avon AV 71 Trike Tire and Paul down the forks to change out the seals.

Question: Where is the lift points under the engine to do this safely?

Second Question: What forks seals work the best for trikes rather than a standard Honda seal?

Third Question: What fork oil weight and brand is recommended?

Fourth Question: Wish I could up load a photo, but is the plumbing on the front forks telling me that this is an ABS setup?

Sorry for all the questions!

[Lee H. Mann]

Good evening to you all,

Got my new to me 2008 Honda Goldwing GL-1800Lehman Monarch II trike home this afternoon from the original owner. THis Monarch trike was imported from the USA from the dealer H&H Trikes, Inc and from the paper trail, it was a brand new bike fresh off the assembly line from Marysville, OH. The mileage on this Goldwing is 13,000 original miles.

As with all new to me bikes in the past, I usually take everything apart to do an inspection under all the Tupper Wear. Started at the front and to my horror, discovered that the right fork seal has been leaking for some time. Just tried uploading some photos, but no cigar. From all the motorcycles I’ve restored & experience, the right seal failed.

Some questions for the masses, as I want to do the following:

1. Lift the front end just enough to remove the fron tire to replace with an Avon AV 71 Trike Tire and Paul down the forks to change out the seals.

Question: Where is the lift points under the engine to do this safely?

Second Question: What forks seals work the best for trikes rather than a standard Honda seal?

Third Question: What fork oil weight and brand is recommended?

Fourth Question: Wish I could up load a photo, but is the plumbing on the front forks telling me that this is an ABS setup?

Sorry for all the questions!

Question: Where is the lift points under the engine to do this safely?

I use a flat paddle-jack just beneath the front of the engine, behind the oil filter.



Second Question: What forks seals work the best for trikes rather than a standard Honda seal?

I use All Balls seals and bushing kits, while disassembled replace the bushings.

Third Question: What fork oil weight and brand is recommended?

I use 10W Synthetic ATF and don't overfill (see explanation below).



Fourth Question: Wish I could up load a photo, but is the plumbing on the front forks telling me that this is an ABS setup?

The caliper covers would have ABS logo in them if it had ABS. Go to the photo upload page for instructions. Contact H&H to see if it had ABS. Regardless, the ABS would have been subverted when converted to a trike.



Reasoning behind ATF for forks:

I do a lot of fork seal and fluid changes on Harleys and Hondas. Standard fork oil seems not to last nearly as long as the ATF. I have re-serviced forks at 20,000 miles and found the ATF to be virtually clean, where the normal fork oil was like mud and full of aluminum from wear.