Question for guys with raked triple trees.

[artyc264]

I put together my sidecar rig over a year ago. It was AMAZING for a grand total of seven days. Then it felt like I lost my suspension. I've done so many repairs with no change. The only two things I haven't done are put back the stock trees, remove the sidecar and go for a test drive. The other is replacing the dampers and springs in the forks. Any guys out there with raked triple trees that can offer any advice? I'd love to talk with you. Thanks, Arty 781-413-6488

[GJS]

Hi Arty,

I have a 6degree kit in my girl.
All is well at the moment.

Given you were good for a week, then it went south, sounds like you have a specific problem.
My gut says fork fluid is not right, but really, I have no idea.

What are the symptoms?
Diving? Loss of control? ...
Give us some clues...


Cheers,

GJS

[john]

  " 6degree kit "                 looks sooo good           

[MP]

I have Darrels rake kit on my hack rig.  Hannigan car.  No problem.  It cannot be the raked kit.  Something else is wrong.

Exactly what do you mean by suspension went away?  What are the symptoms?  What changed?

MP

[John Schmidt]

Might be the rear shocks gone south with the extra loading from the side hack.

[artyc264]

testing!

[artyc264]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help. I'll try to explain, on the 8th day it felt like I had no suspension. The whole rig felt like I had square tires. So I've replaced all three tires, serviced the drive shaft, had the forks rebuilt by a very good Honda tech, using the same dampers and springs, measuring the exact amount of new fork oil, new Progressive heavy duty 13" rear shocks, tried a new Progressive shock and spring on the sidecar. After every change, it's as if I've done nothing. I am mechanic and should be able to figure this out. Bouncing the bike, the forks and rear shocks appear normal. On the road feels like no suspension.

[Ricky-D]

If you ride something that has no suspension, you'd know right away what having no suspension feels like.

Try riding a hardail motorcycle and that will give you an idea.

Yours is just a stiff feeling suspension.

Lighter weight oil in the front shocks would help soften them up.

Taller rear shock set on the softest ride setting may help in the rear.

Also the air pressure in the tires will have some affect also, so you can lower the pressure for additional softness.

***

[GJS]

From your description something happened between day 7 & 8.
What changed?
Was weight added to the sidecar?
Did you somehow move the centre of gravity?
Did your mistress run off with a transgendered girlfriend?

something changed!

Focus Arty.......

[artyc264]

Thanks GJS, You're right on. Something happened/changed from day 7 to day 8. I've gone over my alignment countless number of times. Nothing moved/changed. I've removed the sidecar and gone for a test ride. The bike still felt very stiff. The ease of steering during the first 7 days was effortless. From day 8, I now pretty much have to keep both hands on the handle bars at all times. I know this is very tough to explain and even tougher to diagnose from thousands of miles away.

[Alien]

Just a shot in the dark here, but might the added stress of steering the sidecar have finished off your steering head bearings?  You mentioned the steering feeling stiff.

[R J]

Your side  hack has moved on you. 

Get you long 2X4 out and realign the chair.

Sound like you might have too much camber.

That is one of the problems with a chair, they do not stay in alignment too well.

Good luck and keep us posted on what ya found.

PS:  set themnew shocks on 1........

[artyc264]

testing!

[artyc264]

A little more info, it's horrible at highway speeds. The whole rig shakes. The faster you go the worse it gets. I've added about a 100 lbs of weight in the sidecar. It helps a little with the shaking. I've gone over my alignment so many times. I've got it set with paint marks. Nothing has ever moved. I've got the new shocks and sidecar shock set at the lowest spot. Again those magical first seven days, no shaking and no weight added. The mystery continues! Thanks, Arty

[artyc264]

I installed a new set of the All Balls steering head bearings when I installed the raked triple trees.

[Farther]

Have you re-torqued the head bearings and what condition is your upper shock bushings?

[MP]

Your side  hack has moved on you. 

Get you long 2X4 out and realign the chair.

Sound like you might have too much camber.

That is one of the problems with a chair, they do not stay in alignment too well.

Good luck and keep us posted on what ya found.

PS:  set themnew shocks on 1........

As a sidecar owner, try this!  NONE of the other ideas, excepting bearings, seems to make sense.  IF the settings for the alignment of the car have moved, if will handle TERRIBLE!

Check the car alignment.

MP

[fudgie]

He said he removed the side car and the bike solo felt the same. hmmmm.....

[artyc264]

testing

[artyc264]

Thanks to everyone who responded. At this point I'm ready to remove the raked trees and re install the stock trees. Try and sell the bike, sidecar and raked triple trees seperately.

[artyc264]

testing

[artyc264]

Anybody on this site interested in a used 2011 Texas Ranger Sidecar? $2,499.00 Arty @ 781-413-6488

[tank_post142]

is the bike good with the sidecar removed ?

[artyc264]

testing

[artyc264]

It was very difficult to ride the bike without the sidecar attached. After about a half hour of riding,  the bike was not a soft ride. It still felt like no suspension. Again, thanks for all your advice. Arty

[Warlock]

I put together my sidecar rig over a year ago. It was AMAZING for a grand total of seven days. Then it felt like I lost my suspension. I've done so many repairs with no change. The only two things I haven't done are put back the stock trees, remove the sidecar and go for a test drive. The other is replacing the dampers and springs in the forks. Any guys out there with raked triple trees that can offer any advice? I'd love to talk with you. Thanks, Arty 781-413-6488

Need to recheck you head bearings. Also too much fluid in the forks will make for a hard supension.
david

[artyc264]

Well again, I installed new All Balls head bearings when I did the triple trees. My buddy at the dealership installed the exact amount of fork oil. So the mystery continues. I re aligned the rig. None of my paint marks had moved. However my measurements were way off. I totally don't understand that. At low speeds the handlebars pull left very hard. At highways speeds the whole rig shakes.

[R J]

My son and I put a raked tree under the Chevy Trike.

We thought we had it aligned correctly and this weekend we found out we were off center of the front wheel by almost 2".

We got that straightened out by adjusting the right 4 link rods.    Then we realized we put too much of an angle on the drive shaft.

Took 1/2 the adjustment out of the right links and added it to the left links.

Got it to be on center with the laser beam we use.    Took it out and wrapped it up to about a dollar.  Caught a little wiggle as we went past $.95 and it stopped at a dollar ten.   Yupper, we checked all of out adjustments and every thing was dead on by the laser.    By now I'm p(e)ssed off to the extent I was ready to start throwin things.     Walked by the front end and accidentally rubbed the front wheel tread.   It jumped over and right back.    I said, self, that is not correct.    Pulled the Laser again and everything checked on the front wheel.  So, I grabbed the handlebar and wobbled it back and forth.   No resistance, that not right.    So I walked up front and set there and looked that steering section all over.      Spotted the shock dampener.   Took it loose and compressed it, it almost got my finger tip it went in so quick.

Told my son, I sure wish I knew what this damn shock is off of.    So we got the wire buffer out and removed some paint.    Found some #'s, called our friendly parts store and had him run the #.     It had been superseded by something else.   He started in on this superseded ramblings and when he took  breath I hollered at him.      Got his attention, told him I didn't want all the supersede sheet, just order me the # it was superseded to and ship it today if possible.  

2:00PM we got the part, I put it on, jumped up in the saddle and took off.   Grandson hollered he wanted to go, so stopped, he jumped in fastened his belt and we took off.       Went out to the mile bridge, checked for traffic, NONE, so pulled around to the bridge and jabbed the old girl in the butt.    She went up to $1.45 and no shake rattle or roll.     Turned around at the far end of the bridge and went to the shop.     Parked in it's parking space when stored there.  got in my truck and came home.

About an hour later my son called and he said his son told him grandpa's ride runs like a scalded dog and runs out smooth.

So, the moral of the story is, look for the most unlikely thing and you will probably find your problem.      We have been fighting this wiggle for 4 years come Sept.   I've forgotten now what we originally changed that caused it.   Think we put some more tension on the 4 link, but not sure.

Sorry for being so long winded.