icebear questions and problems By pfindeis (Read 7,165 times)

[pfindeis]

 I wish that I had found this forum before I bought my icebear PST150-19N.
 I'm doing my own setup as I am 57 and have built and rebuilt 2 wheelers Since I was 15. Only reason I purchased this is I've lost strength from  cancer,  3 surgeries and now more cancer and it ain't good.  So I just want to ride again.
 Enough of the pity party! 


Driving the Trike is scary. Wobbling shaking.  Heck I can't go 50 feet down the road.
Front forks will not compress.  I've given it the gas and jammed on the front brake.
 Dealer said it was stiff because of ground clearance.
Wheel is centered and rolls freely.  I then tightened the neck nuts.  Were a little loose.
After reading here I looked at the drive chain. Way too tight. Never saw a chain that tight. Loosened all the bolts to loosen it and align it with the frame. Of course it is at the loosest position. 
Dealer made a little joke about the tightness and advised that I ride it and it will stretch.
I know that a stretched chain is a worn out chain. Not to mention the damage it it can do to the bearings.
 So I pulled that junk chain and cut a piece of o-ring chain 1 link longer. Installed it and surprise surprise adjusted to the tightest position it is way to loose. Over 2 inches of play. Then cut a piece of o-ring chain 1link shorter and I had to almost remove the axle to install it.  Back to. It being way too tight again .
 Is there a smaller front sprocket available? I'd take a hit in performance as long as I could ride it. 

Hopefully someone here has some answers as I'm hitting a brick wall. Also thanks to anybody that takes the time to read this.
Pete

[crwford]

Most chains come in tight and will loosen after a while, Many trikes rear wheels need to be spin balance in rear, check tire pressures check triple tree see if loose adjust. Make sure disks brakes aren't dragging also check you rear axle Axle nuts are rear tight. Did you change your engine oil and gear box oil? If dealer did the PDI you should bring it back to him and yes about 2 weeks it might take. Also check you wheel nuts are the tight?

[pfindeis]

I'm doing the setup. Changed all fluids. Tightened bolts. Its slow going but doing a few things each day. Going to check the axle nuts in a few
Can't really ride it as i have no title or bill of sale. I'm in new york and if the cops stop me its going to be taken to impound.

After having  6 new street bikes and 7used bikes never rode with a tight chain.  Have seen  cracked engine cases from thrown chains. 

[Alleyoop]

Hi Pete, good to have you on the forumn. I see you bought the hotrod of the trikes and is why it does not have much give on the shocks. It is a what I would say a LOW RIDER heck the height of the seat is not even 2 feet off the ground

But if it wobbles back and forth something is out of whack and the things that could be out of whack are:
1. Tires need to be balanced especially the rear tires.
2. The axle is not aligned and is pulling to once side
3. The hubs are loose on the rear axle (grab the castle nuts and if you can wiggle them the whole wheel will wobble) so get a hammer and give the axle a nice little whack to push it back in NOT TO hard just a nice little whack. If the axle or both keep on coming back out I will show you how to fix that.

The chain tension from the bottom center should only be able to be pushed up about 3/4 of an inch.
If it keeps on either tighten up or loosening up the bolts on the brackets or not tight enough and or if it has adjusters on the bottom they are not holding.

If you could take some pictures of the axle from the rear an the chain side so I can see what kind of setup yours has.
Alleyoop

HERE IS WHAT YOUR AXLE IS MADE OUT OF: CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO EXPAND IT

[pfindeis]

I wanted to get more done but ended in bed. Fentanyl patch on Monday should help!
Anyway after rechecking the front I moved to the back. I noticed looking from the back the left tire looked different from the right. Right was more rounded. I'll. Try to get a pic before dark.

Should I have a mso / title by now?

Thanks guys

[Alleyoop]

Some dealers are slow in sending out the MSO, I would give them a call so you can go and get it registered and titled. Bummer you might have a bad tire DID it come with a warranty? if so you can maybe get another tire for it.
Alleyoop

[pfindeis]

I just got a email reply that it has been mailed

[Alleyoop]

Great!! now you can get it registered and be legal.
Alleyoop

[pfindeis]

Was hard to do anything this weekend but did get enough strength to put up on jackstands.
Took wheels/tires to Sears to have them check them out. Not even 5 minutes later the guys wanted me to look at them on their machine. Sure enough they are out of round and not worth balancing.

Guys on Facebook are saying to use 140 width tires. Idk how that could work stretching a. 4" tire onto a 8" rim

[Alleyoop]

HAHAHAHA, welcome to the club of CHEAP arse TIRES they put on. If a tire takes more than 3 oz's of weights to balance they are garbage, 3 and under is the rule they use.

Also you will be hard pressed to find 14 inch tires that 270 size. Everyone has a heck of a time finding tires that size and buy good tires with a little less width. I guess they use that size so you order from CHINA(HAHA).

You can find good tires sizes 205 ,225, 235s etc.. anything bigger and they do not come in 14 inch.

[pfindeis]

I saw some on www.jasonsgolfcarts.com/14_Golf_Cart_Tire_s/168.htm

And yes all are thinner 225's

[Alleyoop]

Yep that is what I have on mine GOLF street dot tires. Those are good tires.
Alleyoop

[crwford]

some times it's the rims I have one to prove it I just keep it for a spare.

[crwford]

I haven't had any problems with Jim of Rapid Repair with tires he seems to be able to get tires for me.

[pfindeis]

I haven't been able to do much lately but I did try different air pressures to see if the bouncing would be better but nope. I did get it up to 40mph, holding on for life from the bouncing wobble. At that speed I also had a real nasty vibration from the chain being so tight.
I'm going to order these kjmotorsports.com/sti-gtx-pro-4ply-dot-golf-tire-205x30-14.html
They Are 205's which should be a rounder profile tire on the wide rim.
I guess I should pull the tires and run it while on jack stands to check the rims.
Still have to call icebear to see what they'll do above it. The dealer I purchased it from suggested to put in dyna beads. Told him its not a balance issue and it's out of round tires-Google it as its real common with these and ATV tire..

Thanks to you all here for providing common sense answers, pete