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AuthorTopic: Front end shimmy (Read 890 times)
ger42
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Front end shimmy
« Thread Started on Nov 8, 2011, 10:43am »
Took ??? ( no name yet) to the the gym about a 5 mile ride with a bunch of traffic lights. The ride there the front end wasn't too bad but on the way back anything over 35 and I was getting a really bad wobble. I have an email into Jim to see what he thinks. Anyone else had the problem?
The rear tires have been balanced.
Did not have a problem getting into traffic even beat a few cars from a stop when light turned green. Got to 55 on the way back but had to slow it down because of the wobble.
Didn't stay at any 1 speed kept going up and down with the speed from 35 to 45 other then the one time to 55.
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #1 on Nov 8, 2011, 10:53am »
Gerry,

I think that you may need to align the back wheels to the frame. The rear end needs to be perpendicular. I believe that several folk here have experienced the same problem.

ed
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #2 on Nov 8, 2011, 12:22pm »
What Ed said.

I know you adjusted the chain, check and make sure the rear is square to the front. Also double check front wheel tire pressure and trueness.

Jim
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ger42
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #3 on Nov 8, 2011, 2:36pm »
How do I check trueness of the front tire?
There are a few links to pics of the rear tires. I have 20 miles on the trike.
Looks like the outside of the left and inside of the right tire have wear so I guess the rear is not inline.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k308/Ger42/Trike/Trike%20Tires/IMG_0261.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k308/Ger42/Trike/Trike%20Tires/IMG_0260.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k308/Ger42/Trike/Trike%20Tires/IMG_0257.jpg
I can’t figure out how to get the front true to a wall to be able to measure. I think I’m going to build a run that is square to the wall of my garage with a slip that the front tire will ride in. I’ll keep it as tight to the tire as I can so when tire rolls into the slip the slip will true it up.
Next question. I measure from the wall to ???

I also thought about painting a stripe across each tire take it out for a spin then adjust the rear based on the paint wear. Keep doing this until I get even wear.

What have others done?

The worse part about this is having to remove then install the faring. Yesterday I installed the faring with the rear tires off helped some but I'm still having problems with the side brackets. Before playing with it I duct tape all the surfaces that might touch so i don't scratch them up. My suggestion if you want to make some money in the stock market buy some stock in a company that wakes duct tape. ;D
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #4 on Nov 8, 2011, 6:49pm »
Ger. you can do it by locking the front tire true to frame. You can adjust the rear axles with out removing back deck, I do. It is a bummer getting the upper bolts loose but you can do it. Than take measurement from center of tire of each on rear and adjust to it. Last time I did this I removed the tires and used the break disk to measure from the front wheel and it worked very well. Another thing to be checked is that you chain is lined up to the front sproket. This is done with a stright edge or a string from sproket to sproket.

Good luck, hope this helped

Mike
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #5 on Nov 8, 2011, 7:10pm »
Forgot, if the sprokets do not line up do not panic...The bracket with the 2 small bolts on the rear sproket will have 2 spacers on it. Remove the bracket and cut new spacers to align on the money, when you remove the 2 bolts the sproket will slide on the spline

Mike
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #6 on Nov 8, 2011, 7:33pm »
Good advice all around thus far.

1. Don't forget to check general tire balance the factory tires are just barely roadworthy IMHO look to adding tire beads for the easiest method to balance.

2. Also the other scary thing to check is the tightness of the top fork/steering nut!!! Mine was loose and the culprit of my shimmy at 35.
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #7 on Nov 9, 2011, 8:07am »
Tires have been balanced shop said there was some bounce but not bad for a 12" tire.
What do you use as the point on the front and what on the back? Tape measure or what as the measuring tool??
mike6736 how do you get to anything under the trike with the faring on?
Don't the brakes need to be off to set the length?
I am going to build ramps for the rear and front so i can work on the trike off the ground then I should be able to get to the bolts.
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #8 on Nov 9, 2011, 5:30pm »
String and tape will work fine. Use center of front tire. I put mine on car jack stands and can get under it well enough. You can adjust the rear axles if the stands are on the slide section side by side of gear box, I have done it many times. I remove the tires and use the break rotors to aligh the rear by droppping a string down off each rotor. You do not have to remove the deck... If you do remove the deck do so by removing the 2 bolts on top of deck and pull the plastic and metal under together, alsothe side front deck bolts. If you pull the black plastic the holds the plates on first the deck is very easy to get off.

Hope this helps, was school of hard knocks for me...

Mike
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #9 on Nov 12, 2011, 3:28pm »

Nov 9, 2011, 5:30pm, mike6736 wrote:
String and tape will work fine. Use center of front tire. I put mine on car jack stands and can get under it well enough. You can adjust the rear axles if the stands are on the slide section side by side of gear box, I have done it many times. I remove the tires and use the break rotors to aligh the rear by droppping a string down off each rotor. You do not have to remove the deck... If you do remove the deck do so by removing the 2 bolts on top of deck and pull the plastic and metal under together, alsothe side front deck bolts. If you pull the black plastic the holds the plates on first the deck is very easy to get off.

Hope this helps, was school of hard knocks for me...

Mike

How about putting a 2X4 on the ground in front of the rear tires. A 2X4 or any straight edge then measuring from the center of the front tire to the center of each rear tire on the 2X4.
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #10 on Nov 12, 2011, 6:34pm »
Would be close enough I wound think... You will just have to test drive and see, she will let yu know

Mike
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #11 on Nov 12, 2011, 6:39pm »
Yes, if it starts to vibrate around 20mph the rear is off a little.
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #12 on Nov 12, 2011, 6:49pm »
Would be close enough I wound think... You will just have to test drive and see, she will let yu know

Mike
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #13 on Nov 12, 2011, 8:15pm »
Hey Mikey,
There is an ECHO in here(HAHA)
Lefty
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #14 on Nov 13, 2011, 4:57pm »
Got the rear wheels measured up and bolted down. I painted a stripe across both tires yesterday so today when I finished I took it out for a test ride. Started right up let it warm up then off i go. Went about 2 miles got it up to 50 and no shimmy. I do get the front end shaking as I slow down. Starts around 20 mph. Tomorrow I'll see if I can jack the front up high enough to check the wheel and tire runout.
I purchased a tach Friday and tomorrow I'll hook it up. Just need to find a place to mount it.
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #15 on Nov 13, 2011, 5:05pm »
Ger,

Be sure to check to be sure that there is no play in the steering. Once the front is in the air there should be no play in the front wheel. Did you check the rear tires for play in and out at the hub.

ed
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #16 on Nov 13, 2011, 5:23pm »
My scooter not a trike shimmies too . I adjusted rear shocks and got front tire rebalanced it helped but not enough . Im gonna try firmer setting on rear shocks and rebalancing the rear .

I would like to stiffen up the forks as they are wimpy compared to a motorcycle .

At speeds of 50 or less its ok but above its almost stunt driving . I plan on a size up in width on my tires and go with Pirreli or Avon tires . Avon has a cool HP scooter as well as motorcycle class since I have 16 inch rims .
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #17 on Nov 13, 2011, 11:09pm »
I don't remember if you had that tire ballanced or not when you had the rears done but I can say the ones on it or on mine were not round. What adifference when I had the new tire on the front. While you have the front check the forks make sure they are tight also, like I said found all my problems left when the chino tires were replaced

Mike
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #18 on Dec 1, 2011, 12:12pm »
i have a 300cc ice bear magnum and from day one i have a vibration in the front end that shakes the whole trike. i have trouble getting to 50 miles per hour because the handelbars shake so much.i heard from others on the internet a nd they talked about getting a different tire so i decided to try that. i purchased a perreli tire and had it balanced and took it out for a test ride. what a difference that made. up to 20 miles per hour its a little rough but over 20 it smooths out and runs a lot smoother. maybe the old tire was out of round. i dont think they put on the best tires from the factory. hope this will be helpful to some of you who are having the same proplem i had. good luck
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Re: Front end shimmy
« Reply #19 on Dec 1, 2011, 6:04pm »
frenchy
Make sure your chain is snug and no slack in it. Try it and take it for a ride and let me know how you like it than

Mike
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