2004 Gold Wing Lehman Monarch 2 Shock troubles

[scaldedchevy]

Hello,

I do not own a trike, but I am researching this for my father in law. He does not own a cell phone or computer and wouldn't know how to turn it on if he did. He is one of the last hold-outs, so him looking into this online is out of the question.

Several years ago I bought him a 2004 Honda GW trike (Lehman Monarch 2). He only recently came to me and told me that he has always had problems with the shocks, and anytime my mother in law rides with him it always bottoms out. He said that he has adjusted them as far as they will go with no change. By adjusting, I mean by hand (please see pics).

Having never owned a trike, I do not know if that means that the original air shocks are not there but should be, along with the shocks in these pictures that my son took for me. As I am typing this, I am also trying to find that out. What I would like is a recommendation of how to proceed and set this up for him.

I bought him the trike because he has a terrible back with multiple back and neck surgeries, and this trike is his last hope to do something that he loves. So, I would like to give him the option to be able to adjust the suspension from the console instead of putting it on a lift. That being said, his budget is not great and neither is mine right now, so if traditional but adjustable shocks only is also an option, I would like to hear about that also.

I do understand how the air ride works, having owned an 88 GL1500 and after having the pleasure of buying three air ride systems on ebay before finding one that was sound. However, I do not know how the Lehman Monarch 2 suspension is set up, and how it should be set up.

Thank you in advance for your time and input. I am at work right now near the Gulf, and I have my son back home trying to find out further information to see if the air ride shocks are in place.

James

 

[Mick]

It looks like he has the main shock set at its stiffest setting and hes probably getting a real harsh ride. The Monarch II uses also the main Honda shock which is adjustable from the left lower control panel. What happens with the Honda shock is over time it doesnt start working from "o" but it starts pumping from a higher number.

https://goldwing.eurekaboy.com/reservoirfill.htm

You can check it by turning on the key zeroing it out and then bringing it to a higher setting and when the noise increases thats when its really starting to work. Lehman in 2007 change the springs on their main shock to a stronger progressive spring because of body rub when fully loaded. What signs does he get that tells him the trike is bottoming out on the ride? My girlfriend and I set the Lehman shock on the 4th setting and the Honda shock on 18 and between the 2 of us we hit around 500 LBs. Years ago a company made an air shock for the Monarch IIs but I dont think it worked well as it wasnt around too long.

 

[scaldedchevy]

Thank you for your reply. So it shows 25. It will go down, but when you try to adjust up it says Suspension Error. And you can’t hear anything pumping.

james

 

[scaldedchevy]

Can you give some insight as to wear the compressor would be? I’ve crawled all over it and can’t see it. I can see there is an air line going into the top of the Honda shock, but I can’t find an outlet or a compressor. Thank you.

james

 

[Mick]

The hydraulic pump is on the frame on the right side and you can see it inside the right wheel well . To service it you have to pull the right rear wheel to get access to it. If you want to try quick and dirty disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes reconnect it and try again.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/932385/Lehman-Trikes-Monarch-Ii-Honda-Gl1800.html#manual

 

[scaldedchevy]

The hydraulic pump is on the frame on the right side and you can see it inside the right wheel well . To service it you have to pull the right rear wheel to get access to it. If you want to try quick and dirty disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes reconnect it and try again.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/932385/Lehman-Trikes-Monarch-Ii-Honda-Gl1800.html#manual

Thank you, I will try this later this afternoon whenever I get home. If I do need to add hydraulic oil to the shock, what is the best way to access it? I’m assuming I would probably need to pull it?

thank you

james

 

[Mick]

I wound up unbolting it and unplugging it and removing it from the frame. Make sure its zeroed out before removing and working on it. Take a marker and make a mark on which way the hydraulic hose is oriented on the top as it has to go together the same way. I took the top off drained it and refilled it with 5 w fork oil. Ive seen some guys use jack oil also.

https://goldwing.eurekaboy.com/reservoirfill.htm

Hope this helps for you.

 

[Papa Zook]

Thank you, I will try this later this afternoon whenever I get home. If I do need to add hydraulic oil to the shock, what is the best way to access it? I’m assuming I would probably need to pull it?

thank you

james

I would suggest that you do not attempt to add oil. It is a sealed system from the factory and does not leak oil unless it is tampered with. That is not going to be your issue. What Mic was discussing was a full drain and replacement of the oil and if you are not pretty well schooled in this procedure you will wind up worse off than when you started, as in air in the system, improper oil level, etc.

 

[scaldedchevy]

I wound up unbolting it and unplugging it and removing it from the frame. Make sure its zeroed out before removing and working on it. Take a marker and make a mark on which way the hydraulic hose is oriented on the top as it has to go together the same way. I took the top off drained it and refilled it with 5 w fork oil. Ive seen some guys use jack oil also.

https://goldwing.eurekaboy.com/reservoirfill.htm

Hope this helps for you.

It does help, thank you. Is this the pump?

 

[scaldedchevy]

I would suggest that you do not attempt to add oil. It is a sealed system from the factory and does not leak oil unless it is tampered with. That is not going to be your issue. What Mic was discussing was a full drain and replacement of the oil and if you are not pretty well schooled in this procedure you will wind up worse off than when you started, as in air in the system, improper oil level, etc.

Thank you. I have replaced multiple air rides and refilled air shocks on older GL1500's, but I agree I do not think this is my issue . I think my issue is either power, or pump.

James

 

[Papa Zook]

Try disconnecting the battery for about 20 seconds or so and then reconnect it. If the problem that caused the error to appear has gone away, this will reset the error message. However, if the problem that caused it is still present, the error message will return.