Motor Trike drive shaft

[Larry Yeager]

I have a 02 Gold Wing with a 05 motor trike kit has anyone else ever had problems with the drive shaft. I was turning off the main road on to second road it sounded like the trans had stripped out, got towed home and looked under it and drive shaft is broken. Trike has 80,000 I have owned all but 7,000 Thanks for any information.

[CrystalPistol]

I recall a post about MT's driveshafts a while back, but I only saved these pics for a buddy as I don't have a MT. Redesign (fatter in middle shaft, deeper splines, longer rear yoke on front U-joint, greasable too. It looks pretty robust to me.

Maybe the deeper spline engagement at the front of shaft to U-joint rear yoke is what inspired me to tighten up my own trike's fit with a bushing? Anyway, new updated shaft looks great to me. It would not fit my trike though, not with that bigger front U-joint shown.

[scwingman]

When did MT start using the updated shaft?

[msrvpeig]

I too have a Motor Trike, solid axle, 2005 Goldwing, kit installed in 2006. I purchased the second generation drive shaft, approx, 5 yrs ago, as a precautionary move. I believe it was $105-110, shipped to my house from Motor Trike. I now have 150,000 on the trike. No driveshaft issues, original or replacement.

[Larry Yeager]

I got in touch with motor Trike inflation out the roof they told me that it would cost me $362.00 I think that is a little steep. But what can you do just bite the bullet and reach for the plastic. Thanks for your input.

[Warlock]

I recall a post about MT's driveshafts a while back, but I only saved these pics for a buddy as I don't have a MT. Redesign (fatter in middle shaft, deeper splines, longer rear yoke on front U-joint, greasable too. It looks pretty robust to me.

Maybe the deeper spline engagement at the front of shaft to U-joint rear yoke is what inspired me to tighten up my own trike's fit with a bushing? Anyway, new updated shaft looks great to me. It would not fit my trike though, not with that bigger front U-joint shown.

Thanks for the picture. I have the old drive shaft on the trike I just bought. Going to take the drive shaft out and put guard dog paste on the splines. Going to mark it so I will get it aligned back right. Looks like I need to grab my plastic card also and order one just in case.

David

[msrvpeig]

I got in touch with motor Trike inflation out the roof they told me that it would cost me$362.00 I think that is a little steep. But what can you do just bite the bullet and reach for the plastic. Thanks for your input.

Larry, if you have NOT already ordered the replacement, pm me your email address and I will send you some additional information.

[Larry Yeager]

larryyeager1953@gmail.com. Thanks for any help I had not been able to ride much the past few years because of back pain had surgery a few months ago and feeling a lot better and then drive shaft broke. Thanks again Larry

Larry, if you have NOT already ordered the replacement, pm me your email address and I will send you some additional information.

[Dwarven1]

Larry, if you have NOT already ordered the replacement, pm me your email address and I will send you some additional information.

I just found this thread as I went to grease the u-joints on my 03 Motor Trike and discovered that the blue driveshaft HAS no front zerk - just got off the phone with my motor trike dealer and he was saying it would be about $400 installed. Would you send me that information, too? my address is my screen name at gmail.com.

I tried to message you but for some reason I do not have permission to do so. Strange.

Ross

[Larry Yeager]

I would like to thank everyone for their post on this thread if anybody has any more information for me they can email me at larryyeager1953@gmail.com

[Larry Yeager]

Larry, if you have NOT already ordered the replacement, pm me your email address and I will send you some additional information.

larryyeager1953@gmail.com

[msrvpeig]

I just found this thread as I went to grease the u-joints on my 03 Motor Trike and discovered that the blue driveshaft HAS no front zerk - just got off the phone with my motor trike dealer and he was saying it would be about $400 installed. Would you send me that information, too? my address is my screen name at gmail.com.

I tried to message you but for some reason I do not have permission to do so. Strange.

Ross

Email sent this afternoon. I too have not been able to PM anybody. Not sure when the "you do not have permission" issue started. Good luck.

[Larry Yeager]

As I understand it if you're not a paying member then you can't do much posting or pming security and member privacy.

[rhino 2]

Email sent this afternoon. I too have not been able to PM anybody. Not sure when the "you do not have permission" issue started. Good luck.

You have to be a gold club member contact Zook for the information👍👍

[trike tech]

Haven't been as active on here lately; been too busy chasing my tail & simply haven't had time. To help "shed a bit of light" I figured I would reply to this thread since cost of our driveshaft assembly has come up a few times. Also I know several shops as well as people you talk to will refer to it as a "new driveshaft design"; it was released in 2013 & has been unchanged for the past 6 years.

When we officially "released" our current driveshaft design we immediately "obsoleted" the previous version (one driveshaft for the GL1800 instead of 4 possible variations due to output shaft length changes & variances between solid axle & IRS. Plus, it's a more user friendly design for maintenance and installation). Because we gave customers no options if they had a driveshaft "issue" & HAD to purchase our "updated" version we initially priced the complete assembly so that we simply covered our expenses for production of the parts (we ate the labor cost for assembly of the components, etc).

After several years the decision was made to no longer provide the parts at cost and changed the pricing to "normal retail" which is where the price increase came into play. To the best of my knowledge we did not look at competitors pricing for driveshaft assemblies, but we did take a look at what Honda retails the front universal joint for the GL1500 for (which is what the "old style" solid axle driveshaft assy's used) for baseline pricing (front yoke from Honda retails presently for $160-175 depending on who you call).

I know that was long winded and not "needed", but figured shedding a bit of light on the behind the scenes part wouldn't necessarily hurt any either. Plus may help better "understand" the price increase a few noted in comparison to several years ago.

[CrystalPistol]

it was released in 2013 & has been unchanged for the past 6 years.

Knew it had been a few years, didn't realize that far back? Time flies. It is a stout looking unit.

[trike tech]

Knew it had been a few years, didn't realize that far back? Time flies. It is a stout looking unit.

I still catch myself saying we did it 3 or 4 years ago.. Then I realized we're better than halfway through 2019.. I know they said time flies faster as you get older but this is getting a little out of hand; needs to slow down at least a little bit!

[Warlock]

I still catch myself saying we did it 3 or 4 years ago.. Then I realized we're better than halfway through 2019.. I know they said time flies faster as you get older but this is getting a little out of hand; needs to slow down at least a little bit!

Posted it on the wrong spot. Put it on the right one.

David

[Warlock]

Haven't been as active on here lately; been too busy chasing my tail & simply haven't had time. To help "shed a bit of light" I figured I would reply to this thread since cost of our driveshaft assembly has come up a few times. Also I know several shops as well as people you talk to will refer to it as a "new driveshaft design"; it was released in 2013 & has been unchanged for the past 6 years.

When we officially "released" our current driveshaft design we immediately "obsoleted" the previous version (one driveshaft for the GL1800 instead of 4 possible variations due to output shaft length changes & variances between solid axle & IRS. Plus, it's a more user friendly design for maintenance and installation). Because we gave customers no options if they had a driveshaft "issue" & HAD to purchase our "updated" version we initially priced the complete assembly so that we simply covered our expenses for production of the parts (we ate the labor cost for assembly of the components, etc).

After several years the decision was made to no longer provide the parts at cost and changed the pricing to "normal retail" which is where the price increase came into play. To the best of my knowledge we did not look at competitors pricing for driveshaft assemblies, but we did take a look at what Honda retails the front universal joint for the GL1500 for (which is what the "old style" solid axle driveshaft assy's used) for baseline pricing (front yoke from Honda retails presently for $160-175 depending on who you call).

I know that was long winded and not "needed", but figured shedding a bit of light on the behind the scenes part wouldn't necessarily hurt any either. Plus may help better "understand" the price increase a few noted in comparison to several years ago.

Just bought a 97 valkyrie with the Motortrike kit and noticed it has the old style driveshaft. Wanting to get a up grade one, but just ordered a 6 degree triple tree and dealer quoted me $395.00 plus tax for the up grade driveshaft. Will have to wait to get one once I get the other stuff paid for. Just up graded the air bags and took the 235/60/15 rear tires off and installed 215/60/15. Now maybe no hydro planing with the narrower tires. I will get there one day. Little by little.

David

[Gorilla]

Just bought a 97 valkyrie with the Motortrike kit and noticed it has the old style driveshaft. Wanting to get a up grade one, but just ordered a 6 degree triple tree and dealer quoted me $395.00 plus tax for the up grade driveshaft. Will have to wait to get one once I get the other stuff paid for. Just up graded the air bags and took the 235/60/15 rear tires off and installed 215/60/15. Now maybe no hydro planing with the narrower tires. I will get there one day. Little by little.

David

And that is how to attack it LITTLE BY LITTLE.