Roadsmith rear end clicking noise

[camplejeune]

I own a 2014 HTS 1800 Roadsmith installed on a 2008 wing .

The rear end started to make a clicking noise that got worst at slower speeds. The noise stops when the clutch is pulled and drifting at any speed. I checked the u-joints, the rear had a slight side to side movement. I had a local mechanic shop replace both joints. Replacing joints did not correct the issue. There is no noticeable noise turning the differential by hand using either the wheels or the pinion yoke.

CV joints seem fine as well as the wheel bearings have no noticeable movement or noise. I plan to call the factory today to see if they have heard of any issues like this one. I might take this to a local trike shop and or drive line shop for them to test drive this before I start removing the differential and CV axles.

This noise is coming from the rear of the trike. Sure hope it is not an output shaft issue in the transmission? I checked this too by running the engine with out the shaft installed. I did not run the trike with the rear end off the floor.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

 

[camplejeune]

I own a 2014 HTS 1800 Roadsmith installed on a 2008 wing .

The rear end started to make a clicking noise that got worst at slower speeds. The noise stops when the clutch is pulled and drifting at any speed. I checked the u-joints, the rear had a slight side to side movement. I had a local mechanic shop replace both joints. Replacing joints did not correct the issue.

There is no noticeable noise turning the differential by hand using either the wheels or the pinion yoke. CV joints seem fine as well as the wheel bearings have no noticeable movement or noise. I plan to call the factory today to see if they have heard of any issues like this one. I might take this to a local trike shop and or drive line shop for them to test drive this before I start removing the differential and CV axles.

This noise is coming from the rear of the trike. Sure hope it is not an output shaft issue in the transmission? I checked this too by running the engine with out the shaft installed. I did not run the trike with the rear end off the floor.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Update: Lifted the trike and ran it with rear wheels off the ground. Clicking noise appears to be right side cv axle. Removed the axle and disassembled the cv joints. No apparent issue in the joints. Took the clean joints to a local drive line shop. He told me to reassemble and repack the joints. I showed him the video I made. The owner of the shop told me to inspect the differential.

For those of us who have been under these R/S kits know that the rear cover can not be removed for inspection without dropping the whole unit. Hopefully someone from R/S will comment on this post? I plan to call them to ask if these can be rebuilt or will I be forced to purchase a new one thru the factory. I bet they tell me to take it to my local R/S dealer. Money I really do not want to spend if I can do this work myself.

I am not a happy camper right now. More to come.

 

[bikerbillone]

Good luck Camp, had similar problems with my 2012 installed on 2005, new U joint cured the problem, sorry you were not so fortunate. If RS is no help, if you can ride to Zephyr Hills, pretty sure Greg at Just Wings could help you, he always kept mine going. Probably would be risky for for you though, then you'd have leave it, so maybe not a great idea.

 

[camplejeune]

Good luck Camp, had similar problems with my 2012 installed on 2005, new U joint cured the problem, sorry you were not so fortunate. If RS is no help, if you can ride to Zephyr Hills, pretty sure Greg at Just Wings could help you, he always kept mine going. Probably would be risky for for you though, then you'd have leave it, so maybe not a great idea.

Thanks, repacked the cv joints, installed the shaft. No change. I am taking it to the RS dealer. Gear sets will come from the factory. I will update everyone on the outcome.

 

[Burnerboy]

Camp,

How did you make out with the noise coming from your R/S conversion??

Many of us are wondering!

Ronnie

 

[camplejeune]

Camp,

How did you make out with the noise coming from your R/S conversion??

Many of us are wondering!

Ronnie

Hello Burnerboy,

Had the trike taken to the R/S dealer via a flatbed last Tuesday. The dealer has not contacted me yet. As soon I get word on the status I will update everyone. Thanks for asking.

 

[camplejeune]

Hello Burnerboy,

Had the trike taken to the R/S dealer via a flatbed last Tuesday. The dealer has not contacted me yet. As soon I get word on the status I will update everyone. Thanks for asking.

Hello everyone,

Spoke with the local R/S shop owner. He is unable to pinpoint the noise. He feels there is a gear issue, he also made a comment that the backlash or gear engagement slop may be excessive. He has been in touch with the factory. The suggestion is to have the differential shipped to them for further investigation.

R/S if you are following this thread. This kit is a 2014, the speedometer on this 2008 Goldwing is only showing 54,000 miles. I am hopeful that the factory will help me out with the expense of this investigation/repair, especially shipping fees.

 

[bikerbillone]

Oh my, not good news of course, hope RoadSmith helps you on this problem, it's the right thing to do. I think they will.

 

[camplejeune]

Oh my, not good news of course, hope RoadSmith helps you on this problem, it's the right thing to do. I think they will.

Good morning all,

Well, my Roadsmith Dealer went back thru I ever did to pin point the noise. They came up with the same thing I suspected. I had them proceed with the removal of the differential, they pulled the cover to find that both gears have chipped teeth. The differential was packed up and shipped back to the factory for investigation and to be rebuilt. R/S received it this past Wednesday, we are now waiting to hear back from R/S as to the status and total costs.

More to come. I will see if this site will me allow to share the pictures.

 

[Burnerboy]

Good morning all,

Well, my Roadsmith Dealer went back thru I ever did to pin point the noise. They came up with the same thing I suspected. I had them proceed with the removal of the differential, they pulled the cover to find that both gears have chipped teeth. The differential was packed up and shipped back to the factory for investigation and to be rebuilt. R/S received it this past Wednesday, we are now waiting to hear back from R/S as to the status and total costs.

More to come. I will see if this site will me allow to share the pictures.

Please keep us all post'd (i'm very interested, as I myself also have a R/Smith) and I totally don't trust my install'rr..............

Ronnie

 

[camplejeune]

Please keep us all post'd (i'm very interested, as I myself also have a R/Smith) and I totally don't trust my install'rr..............

Ronnie

Update! Not happy with Roadsmith. They charged me $856, this included the rebuild, tax and shipping. My total bill is north of $1,700 having my dealer handle this repair. I am very happy with the service from my dealer, not at all happy with R/S. Gears chipped with only about 30,000 miles !!! Not good!!! I have now asked my dealer to see what warranty R/S is giving me. I pick-up my trike next week. My next trike might just have a belt. I know two other trike owners that had issues with their Ford rear ends giving out on trips, and not R/S kits. R/S never responded to my thread here, are they not following us anymore? Sorry R/S, not happy right now.

More to come on the factory rebuild warranty.

 

[bikerbillone]

OMG, CampLejune, I was hoping R/S would treat you you right, guess I was wrong. There's a reason I'm riding a 2020 'belt drive' now after having given the R/S a test ride for over 7 years. I won't go into the reasons, that just stirs up lots of negative comments and serves no useful purpose.

 

[camplejeune]

OMG, CampLejune, I was hoping R/S would treat you you right, guess I was wrong. There's a reason I'm riding a 2020 'belt drive' now after having given the R/S a test ride for over 7 years. I won't go into the reasons, that just stirs up lots of negative comments and serves no useful purpose.

I understand bikerbillone. Can I ask what you are on now?

 

[bikerbillone]

2020 RTL Spyder, no regrets, wife loves the ride.

 

[John557]

roadsmith rearend

I too had the gears go out of my roadsmith trike a 2007 with a 2016 kit in 2019. The miles on kit was 13000 and out of warranty by 3 months it cost me $1800 to have it repaired at the local installer.

 

[camplejeune]

I too had the gears go out of my roadsmith trike a 2007 with a 2016 kit in 2019. The miles on kit was 13000 and out of warranty by 3 months it cost me $1800 to have it repaired at the local installer.

WOW! Sorry John, that really sucks. How does Roadsmith expect current customers to stay loyal when making a new purchase? You see R/S have yet to respond. Are they not looking into the faulty manufacturing of their gear sets?

This is really sad. Makes me start to consider trading this trike before the bad reputation destroys the resale value.

 

[camplejeune]

Update! Not happy with Roadsmith. They charged me $856, this included the rebuild, tax and shipping. My total bill is north of $1,700 having my dealer handle this repair. I am very happy with the service from my dealer, not at all happy with R/S. Gears chipped with only about 30,000 miles !!! Not good!!! I have now asked my dealer to see what warranty R/S is giving me. I pick-up my trike next week. My next trike might just have a belt. I know two other trike owners that had issues with their Ford rear ends giving out on trips, and not R/S kits. R/S never responded to my thread here, are they not following us anymore? Sorry R/S, not happy right now.

More to come on the factory rebuild warranty.

Hello everyone,

Brought my repaired trike home today. Ran just fine, nice and quiet. Roadsmith has given me a warranty of 12 months that includes parts and labor. My trike is the first one my R/S dealer has had to have rebuilt by the factory. Just joking I asked if he saved the crate he made to ship this differential in, he said yes.

Wish me luck.

 

[Burnerboy]

Hello everyone,

Brought my repaired trike home today. Ran just fine, nice and quiet. Roadsmith has given me a warranty of 12 months that includes parts and labor. My trike is the first one my R/S dealer has had to have rebuilt by the factory. Just joking I asked if he saved the crate he made to ship this differential in, he said yes.

Wish me luck.

Camp, I'm happy too hear that your bike is now running as you hoped for.... I also ride a R/S and as I mentioned above, I don't trust my builder (as he's very shaky, and not too be trusted) so taking back my trike to him is totally out of the question....

Ronnie

1/16/22