Started inspecting and maintenance on my trike

[Warlock]

Checked and adjusted valves. Had several that was barely in specks so I ended up adjusting about half of them. Bike has 42000 miles on it and don't know any service or maintenance done on it. Left fork was leaking and I think using the seal saver worked. Installed new plugs and changed the oil. Will have to have new front pads in around 6000 more miles. Ordered Dan Marc fuel shut off and will install when arrives. Still got to de smog bike and will sank carbs once I get all this done. All of the stuff I use to do has never left me. I did forget how easy these bikes are to maintenance. Checked all the trike parts and rear end oil. All in great shape. I will have to get me a extra u joint for safe keeping. This kit uses the u joint and their drive shaft fits it. Pretty neat set up. Got to order a new seat and still deciding on what rake kit to put on it. Will probably rebuild both forks when I install the new rake kit. Maybe Monday do a good clean up on it and take some pictures. It also has the stock exhaust and man forgot how good these things sound. I might end up and do the Ragnar cut. Will see how I like the stock set up. Still got to check the belts and will probably add a 4* trigger wheel to it. Would rather a 6* but I think they are hard to find.
David

[3W-lonerider]

if you bought a motortrike, they now have an updated drive shaft and ujoint. it is a much improved setup.
the thing that happens to the old setup is the splines between the honda joint and the drive shaft start to get play in them. then they start to osolate in an elliptical, fashion. you will feel it as a vibration. the new setup the shaft goes into their joint only 1 way because of how they have it splined. in my opinion it is worth more  than buying a honda joint.
i thinking i paid 150 for the new shaft and joint. the ujoint that replaces the honda joint is alot beefier to also on the new setup the short end of the joint goes towards the engine which makes a longer distance between the front and rear joint. and that makes a world of difference to.
check out this forum. if the drive shaft has been updated the front ujoint will be green, if thats the case a honda joint will not work with that drive shaft. it is splined different between the joint and shaft.
as far as rake kit. i'd go with with a 6 or an 8 degree. don't waste your time with a 4 and 1/2. not worth it. i have a 6 on mine. used a 4 and 1/2 for a couple of years before going to a 6 and i would'nt go back.
also if you feel a wiggle in the back end. check all jamb nuts holding the heims in the ladder bars and also check the bolts holding the heims to the rear, they occasionally like to work loose.if you have any questions about a motortrike i can pretty much answer all of them. i also switched to bigger airbags under mine and it made a 100 percent improvement in the ride over the tiny ones motortike uses.
https://www.triketalk.com/forum/

[Warlock]

if you bought a motortrike, they now have an updated drive shaft and ujoint. it is a much improved setup.
the thing that happens to the old setup is the splines between the honda joint and the drive shaft start to get play in them. then they start to osolate in an elliptical, fashion. you will feel it as a vibration. the new setup the shaft goes into their joint only 1 way because of how they have it splined. in my opinion it is worth more  than buying a honda joint.
i thinking i paid 150 for the new shaft and joint. the ujoint that replaces the honda joint is alot beefier to also on the new setup the short end of the joint goes towards the engine which makes a longer distance between the front and rear joint. and that makes a world of difference to.
check out this forum. if the drive shaft has been updated the front ujoint will be green, if thats the case a honda joint will not work with that drive shaft. it is splined different between the joint and shaft.
as far as rake kit. i'd go with with a 6 or an 8 degree. don't waste your time with a 4 and 1/2. not worth it. i have a 6 on mine. used a 4 and 1/2 for a couple of years before going to a 6 and i would'nt go back.
also if you feel a wiggle in the back end. check all jamb nuts holding the heims in the ladder bars and also check the bolts holding the heims to the rear, they occasionally like to work loose.if you have any questions about a motortrike i can pretty much answer all of them. i also switched to bigger airbags under mine and it made a 100 percent improvement in the ride over the tiny ones motortike uses.
https://www.triketalk.com/forum/

Thanks for the info. I must have the old drive shaft. Mine looks like the stock u joint on the front. Sounds like I need to talk with you about the trike. Always helpful talking with someone with knowledge of a product. Did you use any fork extenders with your 6* rake? Will try and get hold of Motor trike for a up dated drive shaft.
David

[3W-lonerider]

yes you will need fork extenders. if you order the rake kit from darrel at vtx extreme. he will have first knowledge of the fork extenders that you will need. i'm thinking i used 1 and 1/2 inch. but really can't remember.
 the fork extenders go under the top cap. unscrew the cap, screw on the fork extenders and install the cap.
if you ever want to contact me personally. my email. is honda1284@comcast.com
funny thing about the drive shaft. when i bought mine it was 140 or 150, somewhere around there.
now i see they are around 300, talk about inflation. but like i said before the honda ujoint works but it the way it is designed it likes to wear and goes into an eliptical motion if you can understand what i'm saying.
new system solves all of that issue.
plus the new system you can grease both front and rear joints.
plus you can replace the front ujoint. its put togather like a normal car ujoint. so you would never need to buy the whole yokes and everything. just the joint.
i've got over 100,000 miles on my new drive shaft and there is no wear in the splines and the joints are still nice and tight.

[Warlock]

yes you will need fork extenders. if you order the rake kit from darrel at vtx extreme. he will have first knowledge of the fork extenders that you will need. i'm thinking i used 1 and 1/2 inch. but really can't remember.
 the fork extenders go under the top cap. unscrew the cap, screw on the fork extenders and install the cap.
if you ever want to contact me personally. my email. is honda1284@comcast.com
funny thing about the drive shaft. when i bought mine it was 140 or 150, somewhere around there.
now i see they are around 300, talk about inflation. but like i said before the honda ujoint works but it the way it is designed it likes to wear and goes into an eliptical motion if you can understand what i'm saying.
new system solves all of that issue.
plus the new system you can grease both front and rear joints.
plus you can replace the front ujoint. its put togather like a normal car ujoint. so you would never need to buy the whole yokes and everything. just the joint.
i've got over 100,000 miles on my new drive shaft and there is no wear in the splines and the joints are still nice and tight.

Going to take my driveshaft out and grease the splines with Guard Dog paste. Of course going to mark everything to get them back together right. Your info has helped me a lot. Going to send you a e mail shortly.
thanks, David

[3W-lonerider]

Just line your yokes up like you would on a car drive shaft and your good.