another question about my trike

[sunfighter]

The Lehman kit I've got is solid mount, so, what does the coil over shock do that's still on the bike? It's attached to the dog bones, but I see no way for it to move. Lateral control maybe???? just can't figure it out.

[Lee H. Mann]

The linkage you refer to is the actual rear suspension.

There are several braces that may not be visible at dis-assembly.

Since the VL800 Gypsy/Romani was a factory only conversion, installation manuals were not available.

I do have a Factory Manual for the VL800 (40 pages) and C-50 (50 pages). $1 a page.

For all intents and purposes, both manuals contain similar information but there are different frame(s) for the different years.

What frame changes did Suzuki make, I don't really know, but some brackets and braces used on the earlier model (VL800) are not used on the later model (C-50).

It is not a solid (rigid) mounted type suspension.

[sunfighter]

Well, I bit the bullet and dug into the trike. Finally got the motor on the floor. It was interesting to note that while the coil over setup was retained, it seems to have no purpose on the solid mounted Romani kit. I wasn't sure, so I placed a bottle jack under the spring assembly in case there was movement when I disconnected the dog bones. Nothing... never moved at all.

Now, it's time to open the motor and decide if I should go with a re-build or move the trike kit to a newer fuel injected bike. Poor thing looks pathetic sitting there.

[Lee H. Mann]

Well, I bit the bullet and dug into the trike. Finally got the motor on the floor. It was interesting to note that while the coil over setup was retained, it seems to have no purpose on the solid mounted Romani kit. I wasn't sure, so I placed a bottle jack under the spring assembly in case there was movement when I disconnected the dog bones. Nothing... never moved at all.

Now, it's time to open the motor and decide if I should go with a re-build or move the trike kit to a newer fuel injected bike. Poor thing looks pathetic sitting there.

In the early kits, the pin that goes through the dog-bone and the swingarm (#13 in above drawing) would seize in place and not allow the swingarm to operate. Some even broke and Lehman had to eat them. There is a zerk fitting to grease it but they were not greased from the factory. Lehman never made a rigid (frame) suspension trike and yours has full suspension. Probably just frozen up.

[sunfighter]

In the early kits, the pin that goes through the dog-bone and the swingarm (#13 in above drawing) would seize in place and not allow the swingarm to operate. Some even broke and Lehman had to eat them. There is a zerk fitting to grease it but they were not greased from the factory. Lehman never made a rigid (frame) suspension trike and yours has full suspension. Probably just frozen up.

Thank you for that info. That explains the grease zerk that was up there that looked like it never was greased. Also why I had to use a brass drift to get the dog-bone bolt.

[Lee H. Mann]

Thank you for that info. That explains the grease zerk that was up there that looked like it never was greased. Also why I had to use a brass drift to get the dog-bone bolt.

I guess you removed the pin also.

That needs to be cleaned up and the place that it resides needs to be cleaned so that the pin will float.

I would take a zip-saw and cut a small line the length of the pin and another around the pin where the zerk fitting and pin met.

That would allow grease to travel down the line to the ends so that it wouldn't seize again.

[sunfighter]

I guess you removed the pin also.

That needs to be cleaned up and the place that it resides needs to be cleaned so that the pin will float.

I would take a zip-saw and cut a small line the length of the pin and another around the pin where the zerk fitting and pin met.

That would allow grease to travel down the line to the ends so that it wouldn't seize again.

Will do.