Engine compression hold on hill?

[mike696]

Hey guys (and girls), I've a 2017 Try-Glide and noticed something unusual.

Whenever I park on an upward incline in 1st gear, I noticed that the engine compression does not prevent the trike from slowly rolling backwards in small increments at a time. I've used parking brake, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Question is any reason that engine compression does not prevent trike from backing up in small jerks?

Tried search, but couldn't find any thing,

Thanks,

Mike

[Jack Klarich]

Interesting, I have not seen this problem yet but will be checking on it

Have you adjusted your parking brake ?

As the rear pads wear this will need to be done, tho I would think the engine compression should hold it UNLESS we may lose thru the hydraulic clutch?

[Teufelhunde]

It's a 2017 and the 17's and later are supposed to have a "slipper" clutch. I haven't researched the technology, so I don't know how it works, but could this be the issue? I would expect that the parking brake should hold it, however.......

Lon

[Jack Klarich]

It's a 2017 and the 17's and later are supposed to have a "slipper" clutch. I haven't researched the technology, so I don't know how it works, but could this be the issue? I would expect that the parking brake should hold it, however.......

Lon

Lon, my understanding of this clutch is it acts like a lock up type clutch to smooth out the drive train

We are supposed to feel it as we down shift, the clutch slowly unwinds to smooth out the down shifting load

[MDO]

It holds my 2017 Freewheeler. I frequently park on inclines. If your parking brake is not holding, like Jack said, adjust it per your owners manual, it will hold it just fine when adjusted properly.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

You could always use a velcro strap on the front brake to engage the front brake ... My 08 Honda Champion Conversion did not have a parking brake. I made the strap as suggested on this site, worked great.

[Jack Klarich]

You could always use a velcro strap on the front brake to engage the front brake ... My 08 Honda Champion Conversion did not have a parking brake. I made the strap as suggested on this site, worked great.

Carry a long piece of Velcro in your trunk

You will be amazed at all the uses for it

When I rode my Streetbob to Sturgis from Florida All my gear was strapped on my Motherswell fender rack with Velcro straps, it made the trip pretty darn good Plus you dont have to worry about the hooks from bungee cords nickin the paint and chrome

[hogcowboy]

It holds my 2017 Freewheeler. I frequently park on inclines. If your parking brake is not holding, like Jack said, adjust it per your owners manual, it will hold it just fine when adjusted properly.

Your Freewheeler maybe light enough that with just engine compression it would still hold. I don't know about that slippery clutch though. But I think you are right on the money with the brake adjustment.

[ultrafxr]

Harley's slipper clutch has a 'slip and assist' ramp system that opens the two halves of the clutch hubs slightly during high loads to the drive train, allowing a moderate slip that reduces shock to the drivetrain during rapid downshifting. That wouldn't have any affect when parked. It is possible the clutch might be slipping for some other reason - warped / defective plates, etc., but that would most likely be noticeable when accelerating. Also possible that as you stated the engine compression is too low and allows movement. Easy enough to get that checked.

[mike696]

Thanks for all the help and humor. But I do think the slip assist clutch is the culprit. I Goggled slipper clutch and think the slowly crabbing backwards on a hill may be the explanation. I have adjusted the parking brake (which I definitely would NOT trust to hold a bike) and it made no difference. Reverse gear in manual transmission cars have been used to keep cars from rolling backwards on hills for years.

So I have concluded that the "improvement" the slip assist clutch H-D made to help absorb the shock of gear changes (due to weakness of some other drive train parts) may have caused another issue.

I guess I'll just have to be more careful when parking my Trike on an incline. NO, I WILL NOT BRING A SET OF WHEEL CHOCKS IN MY TRUNK!

Ride safely.

[427dave]

I put an engine in with higher compression, no problem now

[hogcowboy]

Any other time I might suggest clutch springs as an outside possibility but I know absolutely nothing about these slipper clutches and what makes them work or not.

[mike696]

I stopped by my local HD Dealer and asked the service writer what was happening and he said he has seen it before. There is nothing wrong, but the weight of the TriGlide and degree of incline will allow the bike to creep backwards overcoming the engine compression. He said to use the parking brake (I did) and not to park on any steep inclines.

So, problem not solved, but issue was explained.

Hope this might help other TriGlide riders.

Thanks everyone for the help.

Mike

[Sidecarbill]

Maybe do a leak down test there have been problems with the valve seats. Do a search for valve seat problems on the m8.

[MDO]

Once again I'm in the minority here. I like the operation of the new clutch.

[Jack Klarich]

Once again I'm in the minority here. I like the operation of the new clutch.

I like it, but wish it was adjustable

[Old Road Dog]

ME:hey Doc it hurts when I do this.DOCon't do that.

[hogcowboy]

I stopped by my local HD Dealer and asked the service writer what was happening and he said he has seen it before. There is nothing wrong, but the weight of the TriGlide and degree of incline will allow the bike to creep backwards overcoming the engine compression. He said to use the parking brake (I did) and not to park on any steep inclines.

So, problem not solved, but issue was explained.

Hope this might help other TriGlide riders.

Thanks everyone for the help.

Mike

Yep. Typical response. "They all do that". Just BS but then I went with a Indian now because I was tired of that typical response to every little thing. I just wish Polaris/Indian made a trike. Not sure yet if I want to go thru the hassle of triking my Indian but sure wish sometimes it was already done.

[Old Road Dog]

After H.D's sellout of American workers I hope Indian does come out with a trike.Ill give my Freewheeler to my nephew and buy an Indian.

[tom w]

You could always use a velcro strap on the front brake to engage the front brake ... My 08 Honda Champion Conversion did not have a parking brake. I made the strap as suggested on this site, worked great.

I use the same e brake system on my motor trike/ ultra . I was too cheap to pay for the umbrella brake. Has worked good for me .