Topic: 750 trike front wheel shake

[notn]

Does anyone on the forum have any expereience with Trikes? I have a "77" 750a  we are building into a trike to accomadate my wheelchair. We have run into a sever problem, at about 30 mph the front wheel shakes from side to side violently.  We have stock front forks.  Doers anyone know of a cure for this or maby can lead me to a website that deals with trikes ( I have looked but found nothing yet).  We have considered thies possibilities
1...weight distrabution problems.  this thing is heavy especially after I get myself and powerchair on it.  Not sure how I can solve that, moving me and chair further back cant be done.
2...angle of forks. would more rake help?  hate to start cutting on the head if I don't need to.
3... flexing front forks.  would a fork brace or dampener help. 
sure would appreciate any help or ideas.  You can see pics at www.notn.org.
thanks ....neal

[CycleRanger]

Here's the pix. Toward the bottom.
http://www.notn.org/mcyclemain.htm

Very cool project! 

Just looking at it I'd guess you've got too much weight on the front end.

[754]

 Raked triple trees are used a lot on trikes, they work well... Are you running a steering damper?

[lrutt]

I have a 750 side car rig. Almost the same and it will shake at that speed. But only if I take one hand off the bar. If I have both hands on it won't shake. Provides just enough dampning to supress it. Are you saying yours will shake even with your hands on the bar?

[brewsky]

I had a Gl1800 CSC trike and the front end shake was at a much lower speed than that and went away pretty quickly. I'm guessing there is some kind of resonance depending on a lot of factors.

A raked front makes it easier to steer, but with that much leverage with your bars, I'm not sure you would need it.

A link-type front end might be worth looking into.

[chewbacca5000]

First super cool project!  I admire anyone who even attempts to take something on like this.    Does it smooth out if you go faster?  If so I would just try the dampener first as that seems like it does not cost too much and is easy to install.  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=90969.msg1017106#msg1017106

[Xnavylfr]

You might try checking for info at www.Hondachopper.com  There are a lot of guys on there that currently have 750A trikes and some under construction. There are guys on there that was weened on these 750s and they can get the answers for you.
Just check Tommy Summers, he customized 750s when they first came ashore!

It sounds like to me you have a center of balance problem. A trike puts a lot of weight in the back so you wouldn't want to move anything farther back.

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[singedebile]

I read through your story there and really enjoyed it, I wish you luck with the trike!

[notn]

Thanks again for the ideas.
Yes it is heavy on the front end unloaded but when I get 500 pounds of power wheelchair and me in there the weight is just a touch in front of rwar axel.

do not have a dampener on it but did put a fork brace on it today and didn't help any however we did also set the right rear shock's to a higher setting as we noticed the thing kind of list to the left when loaded and it made a small difference but still shakes.

Oh yes it shakes with both hands, feet and what ever else you can hang on with.

kind of forgot about leading link fron ends. Use to use them on desert bikes back in "60's" and "70's" might have something there.

will check out hondachopper .com, thanks.
 there is no way I can power through the wobble as the throttle is via left hand console not on bars ( I am a c-6/7 quad, so both hands are paralized.  Right hand is busy strapped to right grip).
well will keep working on it, there is a answer to the problem somehow, if not Ill spend the summer crusing at the blinding speed of 25mph...I don't want a pickel-just want to ride on my motor-sickle, I don't want to die, just want to ride on my motor-cy-kl ....jess Im old enouth to remember Arlo Guthery.
thanks agn....neal

[754]

 Like I said most factory trikes rake the trees..