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Author Topic: Trike front end wobble  (Read 4525 times)
BikerGran
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« on: September 01, 2014, 09:22:54 PM »

Just lately my front end has started to wobble - well you know, Gertie's front end that is.   All the wobble went away when I had the front end modded, now it's wobbling again - and yesterday I realised that it's only done it since I had the fork seals done, ie since the forks were out.  Well clearly if this were a bike I would loosen the pinch bolts and pump the forks to even them out then tighten up again - question is, how the heck do I do that with a trike?

When it was a bike I used to put it on the centre stand, put a couple of bricks on the carrier so the front end was off the ground, then I could bounce it.  Can't work out how to do it with all the weight on the front end - I expect it's simple and I KNOW that someone - probably lots of someones - on here will know!
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Olds
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« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2014, 10:29:46 PM »

Not sure about bouncing the front end, suppose you could put stands or timber under the frame near the balance point.
If it were me I'd check the upper and lower yokes are in line. Jack the front end up and check stem bearings  and also check the oil is to the same level in each tube.
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hunter
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« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2014, 09:25:30 AM »

Has everything been correctly replaced and tightend,Sounds to me like something is out of alignment or maybe loose.
As olds said jack it up and support it under the frame,and check it out.
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I
BikerGran
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« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2014, 05:53:15 PM »

Cheers people!  Headstock nut could have been tighter but it was by no means loose, all the pinch bolts on the forks were tight, couple of rear wheelnuts again were not loose but tightened them some more.  Will have a ride tomorrow and if it's no different I might try tightening the headstock bearing.

Other than that it has occurred to me that this might be just the effect of the forks being done, with fresh oil?  They hadn't been touched for years before so maybe the old oil had degraded and lost its viscosity?  Might try running the front tyre a bit softer.
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fifer
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« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2014, 08:11:00 PM »

The following is a non technical list of checks with the frame jacked up till the front wheel is free to turn { Ensure that both sides of the frame is supported } .

{ 1 }
To check whether the wheel is slightly out of true ;
Get a pencil and place it on a fork leg at 90 degrees so that the tip is touching any point on the wheel rim .
Hold the pencil in that position and slowly rotate the wheel . Any run out will be obvious .
Do the same on the other side . 

{ 2 } To check for slackness in the headstock bearings
Just position the wheel straight ahead and grasp both fork legs and gently push/pull them forwards and backwards .
Any wear should be easily felt

{ 3 } To check the headstock bearings are not slack , tight , or unevenly worn is very easy .
Just position the wheel straight ahead and gently nudge the tyre to the left .
The wheel should smoothly rotate to full lock .
Do the same on the other side
{ 3 A ]
If bearings appear to only be slack , adjust them slowly a tiny bit at a time up to the point that they are stopping the wheel flopping easily from left to right and then back off a tiny bit at a time till the forks / wheel moves easily and freely from lock to lock .
Tighten locknut and recheck bearing play .
Recheck { 2 } to confirm .
.
PS ; Maybe worthwhile getting the wheel balanced ?
.
.



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BikerGran
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« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2014, 08:50:26 PM »

Cheers Fifer - wheel and tyre are exactly the same as before the wobble started.

I'll check for the wheel being out of true - didn't think of that while I had it jacked up.

I checked the headstock bearing in the manner you describe and there was no obvious movement, I just felt that maybe the steering swung TOO easily.  I'll have another ride tomorrow and see what I think.

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digger06
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« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2014, 05:22:43 AM »

mine has to have the tyre pressure right to stop wobbles
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