Front U-Joint failure

[Saltywheels]

What was a fun week end in Palm Springs,CA, turned into a disaster on the way home. Suddenly heard & felt a grinding noise & the bike seemed to be in neutral without the indicator being lit. Realized I'd either lost my clutch or damaged my drive shaft. A few days ago I did bottom out rather sharply so was suspicious. CA I-10 is not exactly a convenient place to break down. Long straight stretches make for crazy fast drivers with an over-powering roar of traffic, making talking on the cell a frustrating experience. Finally got a tow from Brothers Towing. Dave, the driver, was the nicest, friendliest person we could have had! The GWRRA tow plan I had only covered me for 35 miles (have since changed my plan to full coverage of 100 miles ..duh!!) No matter, we got the trike towed 90 miles to JBJ Cycles in Santa Ana.$$$$$$
Turns out the front U-joint failed & bent the drive shaft. And all this with only 9k miles on the clock (bought it with 3k). Many $$$ later I picked up the bike this morning. But you know the worst part wasn't the $$, but having to leave the Ol Trike outside the shop overnight Sunday, all day & overnight Monday. Needless to say, the pucker factor was extremely high as I drove from home to the shop on Tuesday...hoping & praying it was still there! :Pray:It was:woohoo:
Any body had a similar experience?

[hitime]

My front u-joint was failing during a trip I made recently. I got a ride with a towing company of almost 300 miles. Was told that if I had stopped and started one more time the u-joint would probably have come apart. Fortunate part: all covered by warranty, even the towing.

The u-joint is a known problem with the motortrike, so they took care of the bill. I don't know if CSC has a similar history.

All-in-all, I'm glad we both got the trikes fixed and back on the road with no major damage or injury. Could have been a whole lot worse!

[Saltywheels]

Nice trike ! It looks just like the 05 CSC I just bought that I'm going to go pick up and ride home from Amarillo next week.

The drive shaft issue was one thing that really concerned me about the straight axle CSC's - so much that I decided to look for a IRS instead.

A guy that was selling an 07 CSC trike in Yucca Valley told me all about the CSC trikes and what to look for on them. I wish I could have bought his trike but it was too much for my budget.

I know what you mean about the I-10 ! I was doing 75 on the way home on my Victory Vision and cars were passing me like I was standing still.

Tom

Tom: My CSC has IRS. Wifey loves the ride. Send me a p/m when you get back from Texas & we can go ride! We are riding up to Laughlin the end of the month (25-27) for a GWRRA 'Rally in the Valley'. Just a long week end jaunt. Are you a member of the GWRRA? Every week end seems to have something to do. Enjoy yr ride back fm Amarillo. Post some pics when you're back! Take care.

[Nordic Valk]

About to trike my 1999 Valkyrie Interstate with a CSC kit. What exactly are those things you speak of to look out for or know about the CSC? I have heard nothing but good but if there is a negative please give me some feed back. Mark

[Saltywheels]

Mark, I am not aware of this being an ongoing problem. Just happened to mine. I firmly believe it was the result of the hard bottoming-out i had refered to. Strangely enough, CSC uses a Valkyrie U-joint & shaft even on the 03 GL. I would just call CSC & ask them if this was ever a problem that they had to correct. Actually, I plan to do that myself. Ghalib

[kj5ix]

From the other board:

Before I proceed with this post, I would like to THANK WingWing for being an absolute Angel and running almost 185 miles to pick up the parts for me, Will (from CSC) for going above and beyond to get my drive shaft fixed & back on the road over night and Larry (from Trikes by Design) for supplying me with the parts at no charge.


My Drive Shaft went out last week - right in the middle of bike week
BUT if it had to go out, it couldn't have happened at a more opportune time.
We had *just* pulled out from the CSC trailer. I pulled out onto the street which of course since it was bike week was full of traffic!!
Right in between the two lanes I suddenly heard the most G-d awful noise and that's as far as I got.
The bike was now sitting in traffic like a lame duck
The guys from CSC heard what happened (yes, it was that loud) and came running as they thought I was in an accident.
We pushed the bike into a parking lot near the CSC trailer.
Both Will (from CSC) and WingWing checked the bike and Will (from CSC) immediately started making phone calls.

I would like to send out Kudo's to CSC!!!
They gave me their DEMO bike from the show at NO charge (even if it was a Harley! LoL).
Will then called Larry (from Trikes by Design) and made sure he had the parts to fix it. The parts were also NO charge!!
Will kept the bike over night since I had the Harley and fixed it the next morning at NO charge!!!

Again, I want to THANK WingWing for being an absolute Angel and running almost 185 miles to pick up the parts for me,
Will (from CSC) for going above and beyond to get my bike fixed & back on the road over night and
Larry (from Trikes by Design) for supplying me with the parts at no charge.

[2fromTX]

Any body had a similar experience?

Yup, Had not even owned the trike for 3 hours when I lost the U-joint about 45 miles north of Abilene(where we bought it). The place we bought it from had already closed,and the prior owner was not answering his phone(hmmmmm)
Got her towed back to Abilene($200) grabbed a motel($100) called the shop we bought it from as soon as they opened,and they came and picked her up. Found out that whoever replaced the u-joint last forgot to install the little .35 cent washer that compresses the spring that holds spline shaft/u-joint in place.

Original joint was still usable,but Ronnie put in a new one anyway and wrapped the old one in a rag and said to keep it as a spare. When I asked him what I owed him, he just smiled and said,"nuthin but a beep whenever you go by" Helluva nice guy and an awesome mechanic!!!

[Saltywheels]

Thks kj5ix & TX. I know all about that noise. Mine wasn't so much loud as it was a grinding from hell!! 40++ years on bikes & had never heard anything like it. My tow, after getting it discounted cost me $260 + the $145 cab ride home. !@#$%. Talked to Kyle at CSC yesterday. Very helpful. Explained why the original 03 GLs take a Valk off-set drive shaft & U-joint. Together we guestimated that the cause 'probably' was caused by a bent drive shaft that ultimately overloaded the U. I had bottomed out hard a few days prior & right away felt I could have a problem. My hunch was right & I shoulda listened to it!!

[Sarge]

My 02 Lehman blew at about 25k. My mechanic said it was probably due to poorly packed cups from the factory (ya can't grease im). Any how I now have 76k w/o failure.