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Icelander
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« on: November 14, 2014, 08:31:16 AM » |
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Went to pull my valkyrie out of the shop yesterday and she was very reluctant to move at all. It got down to 28 degrees F that morning.
Checked the brakes and they weren't dragging. I finally got her out and on the road and she seemed to loosen up and roll fine after I got her out on to the major roads for a bit. Stopped to have lunch and had to fight her out of the parking spot. I'm able to get the rear wheel to lock of I mash the brake pedal and I'm able to roll the front wheel. After my ride home, I put my hand on the pumpkin and it was cold. So was the rear caliper. Could it just be the lubricants in the driveline that are restricting movement?
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1998 Valkyrie Tourer.
VRCC Member #36337
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old2soon
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« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2014, 08:42:14 AM » |
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Cold soaked. EVERYTHING was at ambient temps. 40 and under I take it easy for a few miles. Lubes thicken up when cold. Where I grew up in Il. you could/might see 30 below at times. Go start your vehicle and go back inside for another cup of coffee!  And these Valkyries are notoriously cold blooded. Brakes not locked you SHOULD be good to go.  RIDE SAFE. |
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2014, 08:48:24 AM » |
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When I decide to go for a COLD ride, I go out and run a little ceramic heater pointed up under the crank case for a half hour before starting (newer ones have tipover switches and won't run pointing up). Easier on the bike.
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5227
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2014, 02:35:13 PM » |
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Did you check tire pressure? Low tires are very hard to roll.
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Icelander
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« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2014, 09:16:10 PM » |
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Think I'm going to have to finish insulating the shop and get the radiant heat set up.
The tire pressure was good tho it was a little low. (33 vs 38 psi) Not enough so that I felt it warranted topping off the pressure.
Like I said, once she got warmed up, she seemed to roll ok. It was just those periods where she got to cool off. Tho I was surprised that after an hour in low 40 degree weather, she seemed difficult to roll again.
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1998 Valkyrie Tourer.
VRCC Member #36337
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heavyd
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« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2014, 05:41:01 AM » |
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I would agree that it is prob cold fluids/grease in the driveline. I noticed when I was loading the magna last night that it is stamped on the pumpkin to use different final drive oil at lower temps. I've never noticed that on the Valkyrie, but it makes sense. The moly or whatever grease you are using would prob be extra thick, even the engine oil would be thick below freezing.
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John Lane
Member
Posts: 147
Marysville Wa.
Marysville, Wa.
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« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2014, 12:37:32 PM » |
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Hi Kendall
I have been riding Draco to work all week and I work swing downtown. 25 deg. on the way home. These shaft drive bikes sure seem sticky when cold. I think it is the gear oil and what not in the drive. My Shadow was the same way. Once I get a few miles down the road everything is fine and I suppose trying multi-viscosity lubes would help but I just don't ride enough in the winter to bother.
P.S. It was a pleasure riding with you around Lake Whatcom and Chuckanut. We are looking forward to many more rides with you!
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John and Gina Lane
1998 Black Tourer
2013 F6B (Gina's)
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Pappy!
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« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2014, 02:49:07 PM » |
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Have had the same thing happen to me. Mine was/is the front brake. Haven't had to deal with it yet this year. When it gets cold down here the front brake will not release until it builds a little heat. I just ride it slowly around the block before leaving and it is fine the rest of the day.
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15231
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2014, 08:49:17 PM » |
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FWIW, 38psi is too low for any of the bike tires out there today unless you're running a car tire with that pressure. Before I went with a c/t I was running 40/42, front/rear on Metzelers. Many run even higher pressure in theirs.
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Icelander
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« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2014, 01:14:44 AM » |
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Well, I went out this morning and checked again and the pressure was low.(20) I ran the pressure back up to 38 and she rolled easier so the tire was at least contributing to the problem. This may also have contributed to the squirrely rear-end that I reported to John last weekend on our ride. (It was a great ride and I really appreciate John & Gina taking me along, tho I think I'm going to have to develop some more riding caluses before I do another 230 mile ride.) I'm going to go check it out tomorrow morning and see if Im losing pressure. Thanks for the feedback all. I'm going to swap out the rear tire shortly and will re-lube everything and check all the oils while I'm at it. Hopefully that will address any stickiness. |
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1998 Valkyrie Tourer.
VRCC Member #36337
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Valker
Member
Posts: 3004
Wahoo!!!!
Texas Panhandle
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« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2014, 05:48:20 AM » |
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Many folks run about 42 psi in their tires. Plus, it's called "full operating temperature" in all the manuals for a reason.
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I ride a motorcycle because nothing transports me as quickly from where I am to who I am.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2014, 06:50:49 AM » |
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FWIW, 38psi is too low for any of the bike tires out there today unless you're running a car tire with that pressure. Before I went with a c/t I was running 40/42, front/rear on Metzelers. Many run even higher pressure in theirs.
I've been running 34 in a bias ply rear Michelin that is up front. With good results. The radials that I have used up front I run at 40. |
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cookiedough
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« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2014, 11:22:36 AM » |
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Many folks run about 42 psi in their tires. Plus, it's called "full operating temperature" in all the manuals for a reason.
I run 44-45 psi in rear tire and 38-40 in front tire. I do think a lower rear tire pressure, say 40 psi, will help me get a tad more wear out of the sides of the tires though since I looked at the rear tire recently and only the 3" or so in the middle is worn down, the 1-2" on each side is darn near new still after 8000 miles. Maybe 44-45 psi is too much for us lazy granny drivers not too hard in the corners? |
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